Quantitative study on the trade and ecological aspect of spice plants in the markets of District Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background: This study is the first large-scale medicinal plant survey in the herbal markets of seven Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study provides the first significant catalogue on medicinal plants trade, price patterns, routes and utilization.Methods: Based on semi structured questionnaires, interviews and group discussions with 210 informants (92.86% men and 7.14% women) and personal observations were conducted.Results: A total of 161 plant species and three species of fungi were documented. Among the plants with highest Use Value, Allium cepa were used as anthelmintic and carminative, Bergenia ciliata for bladder stones and Brassica campestris for dandruff and angina. The reported data were analyzed using various ethnobotanical indices such as Use Value (UV), Use Report (UR), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Cultural Importance Values (CIV). The most cited used plant part was seeds (22.90%), followed by fruits (19.88%), leaves (15.67%) and root (10.24%). The UV ranged from 0.18 (Seriphidium kurramnse) to 0.86 (Allium cepa, Bergenia ciliata, Brassica campestris, Carum carvi, Coriandurm sativum and Plantago major). RFC ranged from 0.976 (Allium cepa, Piper nigrum and Punica granatum) to 0.076 (Nymphaea alba and Seriphidium kurramnse). The highest mean Cultural Importance (mCI) value was recorded for Allium cepa (0.842) and lowest for Ferula assa-foetida, Terminalia chebula and Croton tiglium having each (0.083).Conclusions: The current research confirmed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province is an interesting area for traditional plant use that should be studied in more detail.Keywords: Quantitative study, medicinal plants, herbal markets, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

This paper presents the first quantitative ethnobotanical study of the flora in the semi-arid region in the southwest part of Algeria. The aim of this ethnobotanical survey in the region of El Bayadh situated in the semi-arid part of Algeria was to identify the main medicinal plants used by the local inhabitants to treat different diseases and to collect all the data on their therapeutic characteristics. One hundred informants of different ages were interviewed for this study (69 women and 31 men). Both quantitative and qualitative information were collected through open semi-structured face-to-face interviews with the local people. Data were organized and analyzed by descriptive statistics. The ethnobotanical data were analyzed using various important quantitative indices calculated for each of the recorded medicinal plant species like use value (UV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance index (RII), informants’ agreement ratio (IAR), informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), and family importance value index (FIV). In addition, a correlation analysis was performed to check the level of association between RFC and both UV and RII. It was reported that 44 useful plant species, belonging to 26 botanical families were used in the treatment of various diseases. The Asteraceae family was the most common family (6 species, 13.64%, FIV = 0.94) of all the medicinal plants recorded in this study. Leaves were the most commonly used plant part, accounting for 50.77% of the plants reported. Eighty-three diseases were identified and grouped into eleven categories, dominated by diseases of the nervous system and sensory organs (ICF = 0.94), which were treated with local medicinal plants. There is a clear dominance of Artemisia herba alba Asso. (Chih) in the three important ethnobotanical indices (UV, RFC, and RII).We found in this study five plant species having maximum fidelity level (100%) where they were used to treat only one disease. The Pearson correlation coefficient between RFC and UV (0.986**), and between RFC and RII (0.713**) showed highly positive significant association between RFC and both UV and RI of plant use in the study area. We deduce that herbal medicine is used in selfmedication of the local population; however, we also draw attention to the fact that the incoherent and limitless use of the medicinal flora constitutes a potential risk contributing to the degradation of the plant biodiversity of the area of study. These results may complement the database of the national medicinal flora and support research in phytochemistry and pharmacology to discover new drugs and approve ethnomedicinal knowledge.

Medicinal plants are important treasures for the treatment of different types of diseases. Current study provides significant ethnopharmacological information, both qualitative and quantitative on medical plants related to children disorders from district Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan. The information gathered was quantitatively analyzed using informant consensus factor, relative frequency of citation and use value method to establish a baseline data for more comprehensive investigations of bioactive compounds of indigenous medicinal plants specifically related to children disorders. To best of our knowledge it is first attempt to document ethno-botanical information of medicinal plants using quantitative approaches. Total of 130 informants were interviewed using questionnaire conducted during 2014–2016 to identify the preparations and uses of the medicinal plants for children diseases treatment. A total of 55 species of flowering plants belonging to 49 genera and 32 families were used as ethno-medicines in the study area. The largest number of specie belong to Leguminosae and Cucurbitaceae families (4 species each) followed by Apiaceae, Moraceae, Poaceae, Rosaceae, and Solanaceae (3 species each). In addition leaves and fruits are most used parts (28%), herbs are most used life form (47%), decoction method were used for administration (27%), and oral ingestion was the main used route of application (68.5%). The highest use value was reported for species Momordica charantia and Raphnus sativus (1 for each) and highest Informant Consensus Factor was observed for cardiovascular and rheumatic diseases categories (0.5 for each). Most of the species in the present study were used to cure gastrointestinal diseases (39 species). The results of present study revealed the importance of medicinal plant species and their significant role in the health care of the inhabitants in the present area. The people of Bannu own high traditional knowledge related to children diseases. In conclusion we recommend giving priority for further phytochemical investigation to plants that scored highest FIC, UV values, as such values could be considered as good indicator of prospective plants for discovering new drugs and attract future generations toward traditional healing practices.

Monitoring in vitro antibacterial efficacy of 26 Indian spices against multidrug resistant urinary tract infecting bacteria

BackgroundThe utilization of plants and plant resources for various ethnobotanical purposes is a common practice in local towns and villages of developing countries, especially in regard to human and veterinary healthcare. For this reason, it is important to unveil and document ethnomedicinal plants and their traditional/folk usage for human and livestock healthcare from unexplored areas. Here we advance our findings on ethnomedicinal plants from Haripur District, Pakistan, not only for conservation purposes, but also for further pharmacological screenings and applied research.MethodologyInformation of ethnomedicinal plants was obtained using a carefully planned questionnaire and interviews from 80 local people and traditional healers (Hakims) in Haripur District, Pakistan, from 2015 to 2017. Informed consent was obtained from each participant before conducting the interview process. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, such as relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV) and Jaccard index (JI), were calculated for each recorded species. Correlation analysis between the RFC and UV was tested by Pearson’s correlation, SPSS (ver. 16).ResultsA total of 80 plant species (33 herbs, 24 trees, 21 shrubs and 2 climbers) belonging to 50 families were being used in the study area to treat livestock and human diseases. Lamiaceae was the most dominant family with 7 species (8.7%), followed by Fabaceae with 6 species (7.5%), and Moraceae with 5 species (6.2%). Local people used different methods of preparation for different plant parts; among them, decoction/tea (22 species) was the popular method, followed by powder/grained (20 species) and paste/poultice (14 species). It was observed that most of the species (~ 12 to 16 species) were utilized to treat human and livestock digestive system-related problems, respectively. The Jaccard index found that plant usage in two studies (District Abbottabad and Sulaiman Range) was more comparable. Local people mainly relied on folk medicines due to their rich accessibility, low cost and higher efficacy against diseases. Unfortunately, this important traditional knowledge is vanishing fast, and many medicinal plants are under severe threat. The most threats associated to species observed in the study area include Dehri, Garmthun, Baghpur, Najafpur and Pharala.ConclusionThe study has indicated that local people have higher confidence in the usage of ethnomedicinal plants and are still using them for the treatment of various ailments. Comparative analysis with other studies may strongly reflected the novel use of these plants, which may be due to the deep-rooted and unique socio-cultural setup of the study area. However, awareness campaigns, conservation efforts and pharmacological and applied research are required for further exploration and may be a step in the right direction to unveil prospective pharmaceuticals.

This chapter presents the species of plant parasitic nematodes infesting Piper nigrum (mainly Radopholus similis and Meloidogyne spp.), cardamom (mainly Meloidogyne spp.), ginger (mainly Meloidogyne spp. and Pratylenchus coffeae), turmeric (mainly Meloidogyne sp., Radopholus similis and P. coffeae), other spice plants, Piper betle (Meloidogyne incognita, Radopholus similis and Rotylenchulus reniformis), Piper methysticum, Hyoscyamus muticus, H. niger, H. albus, Withania somnifera, Bacopa monnieri, Chlorophytum borivilianum and Mentha sp. are presented. Information on symptoms of infestation; biology, life cycle and host range of the nematode; disease complexes; extent of damage on crops; and control measures (cultural, chemical and biological control, and resistance in crops) is included. Tabulated data on plant parasitic nematodes associated with Piper nigrum, cardamom, ginger, turmeric, fennel, fenugreek, coriander [Coriandrum sativum], cumin [Cuminum cyminum], celery, dill and vanilla are also presented.

Exploration of ethnomedicinal plants, diversity and their practices in human healthcare in Tehsil Mandan, District Buner, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Background: This study's primary goal was to collect and document uses of plants by local residents of Shawal Valley, South Waziristan, Pakistan. Methodology: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview 65 residents (24 women and 41 males). The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and Jaccard Index (JI). Results: The research region is abode of 60 plant species belonged to 32 families of ethnobotanical significance. Lamiaceae family contributed maximum number of species (7), followed by Pinaceae (6 species). The most preferred plant parts among the reported species were the leaves (60%), followed by the stem (28.3%). Thymus mongolicus was found to have the highest RFC (0.86), while Adiantum capillus-veneris had the lowest (i.e. 0.02). The UV was between 0.02 and 1. Thymus mongolicus was found to have the greatest UV (UV=1); whereas, Adiantum capillus-veneris had the lowest UV (0.02). Twelve plants had a fidelity level of 100% while Quercus dilatata had the lowest (33.3%). Plants' ICF values varied from 0.87 to 0.96. The Average Direct Matrix Ranking revealed that Quercus dilatata received the highest rating (1st) for its many uses, followed by Pinuswallichiana (2nd), and Rumex dentatus (3rd), Pinus gerardiana (4th), and Zingiberofficinale (5th). Conclusion:Ethnomedicinal research indicates that indigenous people in the studied area are knowledgeable on the use of plants. These plants and indigenous knowledge must be preserved.

Background: The use of plants for different ethnobotanical purposes is a common practice in the remote areas of developing countries, particularly in reference to human and animal healthcare. For this aim, it is important to document ethnomedicinal use of plants for human and livestock healthcare from unexplored regions. Objective: The current study aimed to document the use of medicinal plants and to assess their conservation status. We hypothesized that Central Kurram, due to its remoteness and maintenance of traditions would show distinct differences in medicinal plant use in comparison to other areas of Pakistan. Method: The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and  was analyzed using various quantitative indices including use value (UV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), use report (UR), fidelity level (FL), informant consensus factor (ICF) and family importance value (FIV). Plant samples were collected identified and then processed as voucher specimens following standard ethnobotanical practice. Results: One hundred twenty participants including 80 men and 40 women were interviewed. The participants reported a total of 106 plant species, belonging to 96 genera and 50 families. There were two families of pteridophytes (2 species), 2 families of gymnosperm (4 species) and 100 species belonging to 46 families of angiosperms. The local population used therapeutic plants to heal 114 different diseases in 19 aliment categories in the study area.  A total of 106 species belonging to 50 families were documented as used to treat different types of illness. The UV ranged from 0.01 (Artemisia scoparia and Malva sylvestris) to 0.75 (Conyza canadensis). The RFC varied from 0.025 (Hyoscyamus niger and Senecio crysanthemoides) to 1.992 (Ephedra intermedia). The species with 100% FL were Astragalus stocksii and Artemisia scoparia, while the FCI ranged from 0 to 1 for insecticides and acoustic disorders. The conservation assessment revealed that 49 plant species were vulnerable, followed by rare (34 spp.), infrequent (7 spp.), Dominant (5spp.) And 5 endangered species.   Conclusion: The current study showed that Central Kurram has a significant diversity of medicinal plant, and the use of medicinal plants and plant-based remedies is still common in the area. A total of 106 medicinal plant species, belonging to 50 families were documented for the treatment of 114 disorders.   The residents used medicinal plants in treatment of important diseases such as Covid-19, cancer, dysentery, as diuretic, wound healing, and sexual diseases.

The Ethno-medicinal studies have been carried out for the first time in Charmang, Tehsil Nawagai, district Bajaur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. In this project a total of 64 medicinal plants belonging to 39 families and 58 genera and species have been documented, which are being used by the local communities for the treatment of different human sicknesses. Among 64 plant species, 58 medicinal plants species were found as compared with the 12 earlier published articles. This study mainly focused to protect the world’s cultural tradition and to document the importance of medicinal plants present in the research area. A complete data has been established on the general and worldwide uses of the projected study to find out new possible species for further studies. A general field surveys was arranged in the desire area, which was based on semi-structured meetings of 135 local sneaks. To assess the exact herbal knowledge, the data were investigated using quantifiable Ethno medicinal records as RFC (Relative Frequency Citation) and UV (Use Value), separately. The local interviewed peoples used 64 plant species belonging to 58 genera in 39 families, mainly Lamiaceae, Rhamnaceae and Solanaceae. The type of most common diseases (25%) was Respiratory diseases (Asthma, Throat infection, Cough etc.). The present study was emphasized based on ironic herbal knowledge to know the novel findings of medicinal plants in district Bajaur, KP, Pakistan which could be a standard use for upgrading the knowledge in terms of plant phytochemistry, pharmacology and biological activities for the efficiency and safety of medicinal plants.

Ethnopharmacological survey on medicinal plants used in herbal drinks among the traditional communities of Pakistan

This study presents the diversity of anthelmintic plants in the cotton zone of Central Benin. The aim was to identify the medicinal anthelmintic plants used by small ruminant breeders in cotton zone of Central Benin to treat gastrointestinal parasites. Three hundred and sixty breeders were selected during individual semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Different quantitative indices of cultural importance were calculated in order to determine the level of use of plant species. Jaccard similarity index (JI) was calculated and Pearson’s correlation was determined for Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC). In this study, a total of 99 medicinal species, of which 63 have anthelmintic potential, were listed, including Khaya senegalensis, Launaea taraxacifolia, Napoleonaea vogelii, Momordica charantia and Vernonia amygdalina, which all had UV and RFC above 20%. Each of them had a Fidelity Level above 50% and an Informant Agreement Rate (IAR) value close to one. Pearson’s correlation showed a significant correlation between RFC and UV with r = 0.94, and the studies were clearly independent (IJ < 50%). This study showed that the cotton zone of Central Benin represents 4% of the total flora of Benin, with many anthelmintic plants such as Launaea taraxacifolia and Napoleonaea vogelii that require further investigation.

Spices are known for their stability against microbial action; that being so, they are included in the group of stable foods. This preservative property of spices is related to the presence of antibacterial compounds in their composition. Such compounds could be used to control the food contaminating bacteria. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial property of the essential oils from Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume, Coriandrum sativum L., Cuminum cyminum L., Mentha. piperita L., Ocimum basilicum L., Origanum majorana L., Pimpinella anisum L., Piper nigrum L., Rosmarinus officinalis L., and Zingiber officinalis Rosc. against food related bacteria. Therefore, 10 species of degenerating food bacteria were selected. The solid medium diffusion procedure was used to carry out the antimicrobial assays. The results showed that essential oils from E. caryophyllata and C. zeylanicum are efficient in inhibiting all assayed bacterial strains. The other assayed oils presented some antibacterial activity but with smaller action spectrum. The research of the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils is quite promising, and it is a possible alternative for replacing food additives.

This paper presents the first application of ethnobotanical studies to screen for allelopathic species among medicinal plants for sustainable weed management. This study assesses the possible relationship between ethnobotanical indices and allelopathy of medicinal plants. Ethnobotanical data were collected in 2016 by using semi-structured interviews with 140 informants in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Ghana. Data were analysed using statistical tool and ethnobotanical indices including use value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC). The Sandwich and Dish pack methods were respectively used to evaluate allelopathy through leachates and volatiles of collected samples. Ninety-five species belonging to 43 families are reported in this study, with leaves (52%) cited the most utilised plant part. Cleistopholis patens (UV = 0.54; FL = 90.7%; RFC = 0.37) and Ocimum gratissimum (UV = 0.37; FL = 38.4%; RFC = 0.35) were among the most cited species. Thirty-two species showed inhibition (≥49.3%) by leachates, while twenty-four species were found with potential volatile inhibitory compounds against lettuce radicle growth. There was a significant positive correlation (Pearson) between the UV and RFC of medicinal plants and allelopathy by leaf leachates (r = 0.639 **; p = 0.01 and r = 0.653 **; p = 0.01 respectively). This systematic documentation of medicinal plants in Ejisu-Juaben Municipality shows medicinal plants with ethnomedicinal values and potential allelopathy that can be utilised in sustainable weed control.

Background: This is the first quantitative study of poisonous medicinal plants in which the practitioners of traditional medicine in the Moroccan central Middle Atlas region were interviewed to document and analyze their traditional ethnobotanical knowledge used to prepare plant-based drugs.Methods: To collect ethnobotanical data on poisonous medicinal plants, 58 practitioners of traditional medicine were interviewed. The quantitative measurement of the obtained data was accomplished by quantitative indices such as the use value (UV), family use value (FUV), relative frequency of citation (RFC), fidelity level (FL), relative importance (RI), informant consensus factor (ICF), and cultural importance index (CI).Results: Among the 83 poisonous medicinal plants recorded, Ruta montana L. had the highest rate of UV (2.293). Furthermore, Anacyclus pyrethrum L. demonstrated the highest RFC (0.810), while Carum carvi L. had both the highest RI (95) and CI (0.155). Five species were distinguished for their high-fidelity levels, among which Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel had the highest FL values for the treatment of dermatological and digestive disorders. The other four species were Ruta montana L. for treating respiratory, oral, and neurological diseases, Urtica urens L. for treating osteoarticular and urogenital diseases, Verbascum sinuatum L. for treating ophthalmic diseases, and Ammi visnaga, (L.) Lam. for treating cardiovascular disorders. Ophthalmic disorders had the highest value of ICF (0.743), and a very significant positive correlation was observed between RFC and UV (R² = 0.5968) and between RI and CI (R² = 0.9999) was observed.Conclusions: The present study reveals that traditional medicine practitioners in the central Middle Atlas region utilize many poisonous medicinal plants in traditional herbal medicine. Although these plants have therapeutic virtues, their toxic potency necessitates vigilance in use.Key words: Poisonous medicinal plants, Quantitative ethnobotany, Taditional phytotherapy, Central Middle Atlas region