Abstract
The objective of present study was to document and preserve ethnomedicinal knowledge use to treat different human ailments by traditional healers of Dera Ismail Khan region, Pakistan. Field work was conducted between February 2012 and January 2013 using semistructured questionnaires. Data was collected from 120 traditional healers through questionnaire survey. Traditional healers in the study area use 70 plant species mostly herbs (57%) for ethnomedicinal and other purposes. The highest FIC values (0.80) were obtained each for gastrointestinal and kidney problems followed by respiratory infections (0.72) and skin infections (0.73). There was a significant correlation (r 2 = 0.950; p < 0.01) between the age and traditional knowledge of respondent. Direct matrix ranking indicated Morus alba and Dalbergia sissoo as highly multipurpose and threatened species in the study area. The results showed high dependency of local inhabitants on medicinal plants in meeting their primary health care needs. Moreover, the traditional knowledge has been restricted to elder people. Protection measures should be taken in order to conserve precious multipurpose species that are facing overexploitation. Medicinal plants treating major ailments in the region may be subjected to phytochemical and pharmacological investigations for the identification of bioactive compounds.
Highlights
Medicinal plants have important contributions in the healthcare system of local communities as the main source of medicine for the majority of the rural population [1]
The present study provides information on 70 medicinal plants used in the study area by local traditional healers
Khan has plenty of medicinal plants and the people of the region are highly dependent on these plants for medicinal and other ethnobotanical purposes
Summary
Medicinal plants have important contributions in the healthcare system of local communities as the main source of medicine for the majority of the rural population [1]. About 60% of the world population and 80% of the population of developing countries rely on traditional medicine. According to Bhat et al [3], more than 4.5 billion people in the developing world rely on medicinal plants as components of their healthcare. The highest popularity of medicinal plant in rural areas is due to high cost of allopathic drugs and side effects [4]. In the early 1950s, up to 84% of Pakistani population was dependent on indigenous medicines for traditional health practices [5], but this is practiced only in the remote rural areas [6]. It is believed that such studies can constitute the starting point for the development of new drugs and useful substances [13]
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