Fruit Plant Diversity with Special Reference to Their Medicinal Uses in the Historical Kalash Valley, District Chitral, Hindukush Range, Pakistan
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J. Sc. & Tech. Univ. Peshawar, 2016, 40 (1), 11-18 FRUIT PLANT DIVERSITY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR MEDICINAL USES IN THE HISTORICAL KALASH VALLEY, DISTRICT CHITRAL, HINDUKUSH RANGE, PAKISTAN FAZAL HADI1 AND MUHAMMAD IBRAR2 1Center of Plant Biodiversity, University of Peshawar, 25120, Peshawar, Pakistan 2Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan Abstract: The present research work was carried out in the historical Kalash valley of district Chitral, Pakistan which inhabits people having an ancient culture and religion and speaks indigenous language. The valley consists of three localities; Birir, Bumburet and Rumbor in the dried and rugged mountainous series of Hindukush range. The locals have their own way of use of plants and their product therefore, the present study was carried out to evaluate and document the wild and cultivated fruit plants species. The study also highlights the traditional medicinal uses of these plants in the area. Eighteen species belonging to 14 genera and 8 families were enlisted including Berberis lycium Royle., Cotoneaster nummularia Fisch & Mey., Crataegus songarica C. Koch, Cydonia indica L., Diospyrus lotus L., Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Ficus carica L., Juglans regia L., Morus alba L., Morus nigra L., Prunus armeniaca L., Prunus domestica L., Prunus persica (L.) Batsch., Pyrus communis L., Pyrus malus L., Punica granatum L., Rubus fruiticosus L. and Vitis venifera L. The botanical names, local names, locality, family, habit, occurrence, habitat and ethnomedicinal uses are written with each species. The present study is the 1st ever record of fruit plants from Kalash valley and their uses. Keywords: Ethno medicinal profile, cultivated and wild fruit plants, Kalash valley, district Chitral, Pakistan. Introduction great ethnic diversity having over a dozen of different cultures and languages spoken by Pakistan is a country of great diversity inhabitants from at least 4,000 years (Hadi & of culture, civilization and plant and animal Ibrar, 2014). resources. The peoples have different living styles and their own ways for the use of plants The present study area Kalash valley in and their products. District Chitral is habits people with unique and indigenous floristically rich valley occurs to the extreme culture and language and are practicing north-east of Pakistan and lies between 350 polytheistic believes and religion called 15/ 06// to 360 55/32// north latitude and 710 11/ “Kalasha”. There is a common believe that 32// to 730 51/ 34// east longitude (GoP, 1999). they are the descendants of “Shalak-Shaw”, an The district has important strategic location Army General of Alexander the Great. The and bordered with district Ghizer of Gilgit- Kalash people remained the rulers of Chitral Baltistan in east and with districts of Dir and for almost five centuries (332-712 AD), Swat in the south. The valley has international however, they are now restricted to parallel border with Nooristan province and Wakhan located valleys of Birir, Bumburet and corridor of Afghanistan respectively to the Rumbor only. The Kalash people have their west and north-west. Chitral is the land of Fazal Hadi and Muhammad Ibrar own way of life and are mostly dependant on present study describes the cultivated and wild plant resources for daily life needs. The fruit plants utilized by the locals. Fig.1. Map of district Chitral showing the study area in black square box Materials and Methods growing while 13 (72.23%) were cultivated fruit plants. The wild growing fruit plants The study was conducted during April were Berberis lycium, Cotoneaster 2014 to March 2015 and specimens were nummularia, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Ficus collected, pressed, dried and identified after carica and Rubus fruiticosus. The cultivated Nasir and Ali 1970-1989, Ali and Nasir 1989- species were Crataegus songarica, Cydonia 1991 and Ali and Qaiser 1991-2015. The local indica, Diospyrus lotus, Juglans regia, Morus inhabitants were interviewed for collection of alba, Morus nigra, Prunus armeniaca, Prunus ethno medicinal uses of cultivated and wild domestica, Prunus persica, Pyrus communis, fruit plants species at Kalash valley, district Pyrus malus, Punica granatum and Vitis Chitral. venifera. Every species was described with botanical and local names, families, locality, Results and Discussion occurrence, habitat, habit and ethno medicinal uses (Table 1 & 2). 18 fruit plant species of 14 genera and 8 families were collected from Birir, The ethno medicinal studies showed Bumburet and Rumbor areas of famous and that 6 (33.33 %) species each used in historical Kalash valley. Rosaceae family was abdominal disorders and as blood purifier, 4 represented by 9 (50%) species followed by (22.22 %) as tonic, 2 species (11.11 %) were Moraceae having 3 (16.67%) species. used each to reduce blood cholesterol, kidney Berberidaceae, Ebenaceae, Eleagnaceae, problems and as wound healers. One (5.55 %) Juglandaceae, Punicaceae and Vitaceae were species was used each as aphrodisiac, in represented by one (5.55%) species each beverages, in fever, cardio problems, (Figure 2). 5 (27.78%) species were wildly dyspepsia, throat infections, teeth and gum 12 Fruit plant diversity with special reference to their …….. infections, rheumatism, diarrhea and in (2007); Ali & Qaiser (2009); Shah & Hussain whooping cough (Table 2, Figure 3). (2012), Hadi et al. (2013), Hadi & Ibrar Very few workers have worked on different (2014) and Shah & Hussain (2015). aspects of plant resources of Chitral valley i.e. Hussain & Murad (2004); Hussain et al. (2004); Shah et al. (2006); Hussain et al. 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Fig.2. Families with percent distribution of friut plant species 13 Fazal Hadi and Muhammad Ibrar 7 6 5 4 3 Number 2 1 0 Fig.3. Total number of species used for the treatment of a particular disease Table 1 Botanical names, local and English names, locality and occurrence of cultivated and wild fruit plants of Kalash Valley, district Chitral, Pakistan. Plant names with Local Locality Occurrence S # family names Birir Bumburet Rumbor Birir Bumburet Rumbor Berberis lycium 1 Royle. Chovench + + - R C - (Berberidaceae) Cotoneaster 2 nummularia Fisch & Mekin + + - R C - Mey. (Rosaceae) Crataegus songarica 3 C. Koch Gooni - + - - R - (Rosaceae) Cydonia indica L. 4 Boop + + - R C - (Rosaceae) Diospyrus lotus L. 5 Kuki-bana + + - R C - (Ebenaceae) Elaeagnus 6 angustifolia L. Shounjur + + + C C R (Elaeagnaceae) Ficus carica L. 7 Koyet + + + C R R (Moraceae) 8 Juglans regia L. Beermogh + + + C C C 14 Fruit plant diversity with special reference to their …….. (Juglandaceae) Morus alba L. 9 Mirch + + + C C C (Moraceae) Morus nigra L. 10 Shahtoot + + + C C C (Moraceae) Prunus armeniaca L. 11 Zule + + + C C C (Rosaceae) Prunus domestica L. 12 Alocha - + + - R R (Rosaceae) Prunus persica (L.) 13 Ghergalogh + + - R C - Batsch. (Rosaceae) Pyrus communis L. 14 Toung + + + C C C (Rosaceae) Pyrus malus L. 15 Palough + + + C C C (Rosaceae) Punica granatum L. 16 Daloom + + + C C R (Punicaceae) Rubus fruiticosus L. 17 Atchu + + + C C R (Rosaceae) Vitis venifera L. 18 Droch + + + C C C (Vitaceae) Key: C= Common, R= Rare 15 Fazal Hadi and Muhammad Ibrar Table 2 Ethnomedicinal profile of cultivated and wild fruit plants of Kalash valley, district Chitral, Pakistan Plant name with S# Habit Habitat Ethnobotanical uses family Fruits are eaten for abdominal pains. The juice of Berberis lycium fresh fruits is taken twice a day to cure fever and 1 Royle. W Dry foot hills also fermented to obtain the local bear called (Berberidaceae) “Chovench Jogh”. Cotoneaster On foot hills often 2 nummularia Fisch W in association with The fruits are eaten as blood purifier. & Mey. (Rosaceae) Rosa species Crataegus Cultivated at some The fruits are considered as cardio tonic. 3 songarica C. Koch Cul. places in Bumburet (Rosaceae) only Cydonia indica L. Cultivated in fruit Edible fruits are considered as stomachic and blood 4 Cul. (Rosaceae) gardens purifier. Diospyrus lotus L. Cultivated as shade 5 Cul. Fruits are taken as tonic. (Ebenaceae) tree Elaeagnus The fruits extract is used against dyspepsia and used 6 angustifolia L. W Shrub or small trees as blood purifier. Fruits are directly eaten for throat (Elaeagnaceae) infections and cough as well. Shrub or small tree Fresh or dry fruits are eaten to reduce blood Ficus carica L. triglycerides, body fats and to remove kidney and 7 W found in rocky (Moraceae) urinary bladder stones and also release the intestinal slopes pain. Cultivated The nuts are considered very effective in controlling Juglans regia L. abundantly as shade blood cholesterol level. The nuts also have the 8 Cul. (Juglandaceae) trees along the road potential against teeth & Gum diseases and used as sides tonic. Fresh and dry fruits are eaten to control gastric Cultivated Morus alba L. problems and rheumatism (joint pain). The dry 9 Cul. abundantly along (Moraceae) fruits are eaten with Juglans nuts in winter for the road sides keeping the body warm. Morus nigra L. Cultivated tree The fruits are directly taken body pain and as 10 Cul. (Moraceae) along the road sides laxative. Cultivated as shade Fresh fruits are eaten for the strengthening of body Prunus armeniaca 11 Cul. tree along the road and as laxative. Dried fruits called “Chamboor” are L. (Rosaceae) sides also taken as blood purifier and for body strength. Prunus domestica Cultivated as fruit The fruits are eaten for taste and as blood purifier. 12 Cul. L. (Rosaceae) plants in gardens Also considered as laxative. Prunus persica Fruits are used in kidney problems and wound 13 (L.) Batsch. Cul. Shrub or small trees healings. (Rosaceae) The fruit pericarp (called “Dalmak”) is dried, Punica granatum Cultivated or self 14 Cul. L. (Punicaceae) sown shrubs powdered and mixed with sugar to cure diarrhea and dysentery. The powder is applied directly on 16 Fruit plant diversity with special reference to their …….. injuries to control swelling. The powder is mixed with green tea and used for whooping cough.