Ethnopharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants used to treat diabetes mellitus in Maidan valley, Dir Lower, Pakistan

Abstract

This ethnopharmacological investigation aims to collect, identify, and document distinguishable medicinal plant species and remedies used by the local people for the management of diabetes in the Maidan valley in the district Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The local people of the valley have relied on botanical antidiabetic herbal formulations. The ethnobotanical interviews, questionnaires, inquiries, and group discussions were conducted from March 2019–January 2022 to obtain traditional knowledge from the local people. Quantitatively, ethnopharmacological data were analysed using indices, Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Use Value (UV). The study identified 42 plant species belonging to 36 genera and 27 botanical families. Most of the species belong to Poaceae, while leaves were the most frequent morphological parts used. In this study, powder was the primary mode of herbal formulation. The highest RFC value was 0.47 obtained for Ziziphus nummularia (Burm.f.) Wight and Arn, and the highest UV was 0.97 for Sarcococca saligna Mull Arg. Local communities of the area use a large number of plant species for diabetes shows the importance of herbal formulation in the basic human ailments of this remote area. In future studies, we hope these medicinal plants will be further phytochemically screened for new antidiabetic properties.