Ethnobotanical Notes on Woody Plants of Rech Valley, Torkhow, District Chitral, Hindu-Kush Range, Pakistan

Full Length Research Paper

Ethnobotanical notes on woody plants of Rech Valley, Torkhow, District Chitral, Hindu-Kush range, Pakistan

Fazal Hadi*, Abdul Razzaq, Aziz-ur-Rahman and Abdur Rashid

Centre of Plant Biodiversity, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.

Accepted 23 October, 2013

District Chitral is located on the extreme north of Pakistan, a hilly state of the Hindu-Kush range with unique phytogeographic position having both Sino-Japanese and Irano-Turanian floristic regions. The present study was aimed to look into the diversity of woody plant resources that are used by local people for curing various ailments of strategically important Rech valley of Torkhow sub-division, district Chitral. It was found that 29 medicinal plants belonging to 21 genera and 16 families were used locally for different ailments and other purposes. Rosaceae was a leading family having 8 medicinal plants, followed by Salicaceae with three species. Eleagnaceae, Fabaceae and Moraceae have two species each. The remaining families are represented by one species each. For documenting the ethnomedicinal and socio-economic profile of the study area, a simple questionnaire was developed and filled through interview from representative of various ethnic groups. The leaves and fruits were found to be used mostly for curing the various health problems.

Key words: Ethnomedicinal, woody plants, Rech valley, Torkhow, district Chitral, Hindu-Kush range, Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION

The use of plants by man for different purposes is dated district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province with 14850 back to the origin of human life on earth. In the beginning, km2 area covering 20% of the provincial landscape. It lies the plants were used as food, medicine and shelter but between 35° 15´ 06” to 36° 55´32” North longitude and with the passage of time man explored many uses of 71° 11´ 32” to 73° 51´ 34” East latitude with a population these plants. Wild plants have always been the matter of of about 3, 20,000 (Anon, 1998). It is bordered on the high concern and have always been used for their east by district Ghizer of Gilgit-Baltistan on the south by potential of human well beings (Ali et al., 2003; Ali, 2003). districts of Dir and Swat. Nooristan of Afghanistan lies In Pakistan, the traditional herbal medicines are still across the border to the West and on the north-west, the popularly practiced along with modern medicines among Wakhan strip is present (Figure 1). the large segment of population. The Unani or herbal Three distinct mountain ranges surround the Chitral medicine system was brought to the Indo–Pak region, to the north-west bordering Afghanistan is the subcontinent by Muslims scholars and practiced for Hindu Kush range, to the east-south is the Hindu Raj centuries (Goodman and Ghafoor, 1995). Pakistan is range and in between there is Shandoor-Karakoram gifted with unique biodiversity, comprising of different range (Ali and Qaiser, 2009). A limited number of climatic zones and a wide range of plant species. The researchers have attempted to document the indigenous country has about 6000 species of wild plants of which uses of medicinal plants of Chitral such as Khan (1996) about 600 are considered to be medicinally important and Ahmad and Sher (2003). (Hamayun et al., 2003). Hussain (2003) collected ethnobotanical information of Chitral is located in the extreme north-east of Pakistan, fruit plants of Chitral and listed about 19 cultivated fruit parallel to Wakhan strip of Afghanistan which separates plant species. Similarly, Hussain et al. (2007) Chitral from Central Asian states. Chitral is the largest documented the uses of 111 plants of Mastuj Valley of Chitral. Ali and Qaiser (2009) provided a comprehensive note on ethnomedicinal plants and reported 83 medicinal plants from the entire Chitral district. *Corresponding author E-mail: [email protected]. The objective of the present study is to document the Hadi et al. 469

Figure 1. Map of District Chitral.

indigenous knowledge about ethnobotanically important RESULTS woody plants of Rech valley, Torkhow, district Chitral and to provide scientific basis for further research. The Rech The man is using medicinal plants as crude drugs for the valley has gotten importance for its strategic location in treatment of diseases of himself and his livestock since the region. It is surrounded by Wakhan strip of long ago. Medicinal plants are the main source of health Afghanistan in the north-west, Yarkhoon in the East and care especially in the remote areas of the country. Ujnu in the south. The altitude of the area varies from The present study revealed that there are 29 species of 7500 to 8700 m. The famous localities of the area are woody plants belonging to 16 families which are locally Amunate, Niser, Murech, Noghor, Surech, Ruwa and used for the curing of various health diseases. Most of Sha-junali. Sha-junali is a well known village at 6139 m the species were used for curing different diseases such height and is in focus for the famous and possible gas as fever, diuretic, diaphoretic, diabetic, abdominal pain, pipe line track between Tajikistan and Pakistan through laxative, purgative, vermifuge, aphrodisiac, ulcers, Anoshah pass crossing Wakhan strip. jaundice, cough, toothaches, blood pressure, gastric troubles, rheumatism, mouth diseases, skin diseases, urinary disease, asthma, constipation and diarrhea and MATERIALS AND METHODS one species is used for more than one ailment at a time. The valley is rich in medicinal plants resources and This study was conducted in the blooming and flowering most of the people are utilizing these plants as a primary season of spring 2013. Working plan of the area and source of health care. Important medicinal plants of the population data were obtained from district census report area are Berberis lyceum, Betula utilis, Capparis spinosa, (Anonymous, 1998), from the Department of Geography, Juniperus exelsa, Eleagnus angustifolia, Hyppophae University of Peshawar. The plants were identified with rhamnoides, Ephedra gerardiana and Juglans regia etc. the help of different volumes of Flora of Pakistan. For knowing the ethnobotanical and socio-economic profile of the residents, a simple questionnaire was developed and DISCUSSION filled by interviewing the women and men of the area. With the help of questionnaire the indigenous knowledge The present day ethnobotanical knowledge is as old as regarding the traditional uses of plants was collected man himself. Different medicinal plants have been in use (Table 1). from the time immemorial (Lama et al., 2001; Pärtel et al., Scholarly J. Agric. Sci. 470

Table 1. Ethno-medicinal profile of woody medicinal plants of Rech Valley, District Chitral, Hindu-Kush Range, Pakistan.

S/No. Plant name Family Local name Part used Uses 1 Carthamus tinctorus L. Asteraceae Pom Plant extract in The water extract is Aromatic and used in cough, boiled water dyeing of food, diuretic, diaphoretic, emetic, itching and sting. 2 Berberis lyceum Royle. Berberidaceae Chowenj Roots, fruits and Bark of the root is utilized for ulcer. Fruits, root and bark bark are tonic. Root is antiseptic, arthritis, carminative, refrigerant and aphrodisiac. 3 Betula utilis D. Don Betulaceae Bulli Stem and bark In past bark of this tree was used as paper. These days bark is heated and then wrapped around boils. Stem as fuel wood and leaves as fodder. 4 Capparis spinosa L. Capparidaceae Kaveer Flowers Flowers are used as vegetable after cooking and are efficient for abdominal pain, face pack, jaundice, joint diseases, stomach ache, typhoid and malaria. 5 Juniperus exelsa M.B. Cupressaceae Saruz/ Ghondolik Leaves and cone Leaves are burnt with tobacco leaves to make snuff. Leaves and cone are anthelmintic. 6 Eleagnus angustifolia L. Eleagnaceae Shinjoor Fruit and latex The fruit is edible and used in asthma, blood purification, constipation, cough, dyspepsia, sore throat and temperature. Latex is used as hair tonic. 7 Hyppophae rhamnoides L. Eleagnaceae Mirghinz Stem and fruit Fruit cures abdominal pain, eye infections, fever, hemorrhage and promoting nerve repair. Stem as fire wood. 8 Ephedra gerardiana Wall Ephedraceae Sumani Leaves and stem The extract is applied for dried skin, lip cracking, ex. Stapf. extracts mouth diseases, stomach ache, sun burn and wounds. 9 Astragalus amherstianus Fabaceae Garmenzu Roots Roots are used as tooth brush stick for cleaning Bth. ex. Royle. teeth. 10 Sophora mollis Royle. Fabaceae Beshu Powder of flower Applied externally on Pimples, sun burn, swellings and stem and wounds. 11 Hypericum perforatum L. Hypericaceae Zerbali Petals Petal as blood purifier. 12 Juglans regia L. Juglandaceae Beermogh Stem, bark, leaves Dried fruits mixed with coconut and honey used as and fruit tonic; bark (locally called Dandasa) for cleaning and sparkling of teeth; decoction of leaves are used against eczema and intestinal worms. 13 Morus alba L. Moraceae Marach Stem, leaves and Fruit used as laxative and treating constipation, fruit cough and jaundice. Dried fruit is also used in making jams. Leaves as common fodder and stem as timber and fire wood. 14 Morus nigra L. Moraceae Shah marach Stem, leaves and Fruit is used in jaundice, dyspepsia and as a blood fruit purifier.

Hadi et al. 471

Table 1. Contd.

15 Platanus orientalis L. Platanaceae Chinar Stem, bark and Powdered bark taken orally to control diarrhea. leaves Leaves are common fodder. Stem is used for making gun carriages, small painted boxes and for cabinet work and paneling etc. 16 Prunus avium L. Rosaceae Gilas / cherry Fruit, stem and Fruits are eat as tonic, stem for fuel and leaves for leaves fodder. 17 Prunus persica (L.) Stocks Rosaceae Girgalokh Stem, leaves and Leaves are used to kill intestinal worms and to fruits remove maggots from wounds in cattle and dogs. Leaves are also used as fodder for cattle, goats, and sheep. Fruit is edible. Unripe fruit is used in chutneys. The stem is used as firewood when dry. 18 Prunus domestica L. Rosaceae Alucha Fruit, leaves and Fruit is laxative. Leaves are common fodder and stem stem as fire wood when dry. 19 Prunus amygdalus L. Rosaceae Badam Seeds and leaves Seeds as tonic and stimulant. Leaves as fodder. 20 Pyrus communis L. Rosaceae Tong Stem, leaves and Fruit used as laxative and carminative. Stem as fire fruits wood when dry and leaves as fodder. 21 Pyrus malus L. Rosaceae Palogh Fruit Fruit is used as a good source of energy. 22 Crataegus songarica C. Rosaceae Gooni Fruits For asthma, cardio tonic, cough, epilepsy, Koch. hemorrhage and hypertensiveness. 23 Cotoneaster nummularia Rosaceae Mekeen Fruits are edible It is blood purifier and used in stomach ulcer. Fish. & Mey. 24 Rosa alba Rosaceae Gulab Petals Petal as blood purifier and skin fresher. 25 Populus alba L. Salicaceae Romenu/ Sofida Stem and leaves Extract from stem used as cosmetic. Wood is used as timber and fuel. Leaves are used as fodder. 26 Populus nigra L. Salicaceae Terik Leaves and stem Stem used as timber and fuel wood. Leaves are used as fodder. 27 Salix alba L. Salicaceae Teli Fruit, stem and Fruit used as cosmetic. Stem is used as timber and leaves fuel and leaves as fodder. 28 Ailanthus altissima L. Simaroubaceae Desi Stem and leaves Stem as fire wood. Leaves as stomachic for cattle. bakayene 29 Tamarax aphylla L. Tamaricaceae Hinju Stem and leaves are Intestinal parasites of livestock. boiled and taken

2005). The traditional medicines are being used the modern allopathic medicines (Khan, 2003). more dependants on plant resources as extensively especially in the third world Countries Chitral is the extreme north border valley of compared to other adjacent areas. even today and the people in the developed Pakistan which remains cutoff from rest of the The local people know the beneficial plants and countries as well rely on traditional system of country for almost 6 months of the year due to preparation of raw drugs through personal healthcare not only because of its low price, but heavy snowfall on the only connection route the experiences and ancestral prescription and long also due to very less side effects, as compared to Lawari Pass. Therefore, people of the valley are utility. Sometimes, they collect plants in excess Scholarly J. Agric. Sci. 472

quantity and in most cases the whole plant is uprooted. Goodman, S. M., and Ghafoor, A. (1995). The Ethnobotany of Southern They are unaware about the proper methods and time of Balochistan, Pakistan, with particular reference to medicinal plants. Fieldiana Bot. 10(31): 1-5, 1-84. plant collection which result loss of their collection. Hamayun, M. (2003). Ethnobotanical studies of some useful shrubs and Similarly, they do not know the proper drying and trees of District Buner, NWFP, Pakistan. J. Ethnobotanical Leaflets. storing methods that result in wastage of the plant http://www/Telmedpak.com/agricultures.asp?a=medplant.pak&b= med- resources (Ali and Qaiser, 2009). It was found that all the plant. Hussain, F. (2003). The Ethnobotany of fruit plants and its role in the resource persons contacted were in the age group conservation and community development in Drosh valley, Chitral. between 50 to 60 years and were familiar with the HCC-OUP. medicinal plants. Hussain, F. (2007). Traditional resource evaluation of some plants of The information on the medicinal uses of plants seems Mastuj, District Chitral, Pakistan. Pak. J. Bot. 39(2): 339-354. Khan, A.A. (1996). Ethnobotany with particular reference to medicinal to be confined to elderly people while the younger plants of (upper) Chitral region. Proc. Ethnobotany workshop NARC, generation is ignorant about the vast medicinal resources Islamabad. available in their surroundings. This is alarming as Lama, Y. C., Ghimire, S. K. and Aumeeruddy-Thomas, Y. (2001). modernization disturbed the indigenous culture Medicinal plants of Dolpo: Amchi’s knowledge and conservation. WWF Nepal Program, Kathmandu, Nepal. everywhere and it is feared that in near future nobody will Pärtel, M., Kalamees, R., Reier, Ü., Tuvi, E., Roosaluste, E., Vellak, A. be available who knows the precious ethnobotanical and Zobel, M. (2005). Grouping and prioritization of vascular plant knowledge and this important knowledge will be buried species for conservation: combining natural rarity and management along the elders of the area with the passage of time. need. Biol. Cons. 123:271-278.

Similarly, the ethnobotanical knowledge has been orally transferred from generation to generation and there are chances of loss of this knowledge at each generation.

REFERENCES

Ahmad, M. and Sher, H. (2003). Medicinally Important Wild Plants in view of Ethnobotanical studies of District Chitral. Ali, H. 2003. Trade of medicinal plants in Mingora City. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Botany, Government Postgraduate College, Bannu. Ali, H. and Qaiser, M. (2009). The Ethnobotany of Chitral valley, Pakistan with particular reference to medicinal plants. Pak. J. Bot. 41(4): 2009-2041. Ali, H., H. Ahmad and M. Yousaf. 2003. Trade of local medicinal herbs in Mingora City. In: Proceedings of Workshop on Conservation and sustainable uses of Medicinal and Aromatic plants of Pakistan. Anonymous, (1998). District Census Report of Chitral. Govt. of Pakistan.