Some Medicinal Plant Resources and Traditional Uses in Pakistan

Vol. 7(5), pp. 158-162, May 2015 DOI: 10.5897/JPBCS2014.0488 Article Number: BB4189F52880 Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop ISSN 2006-9758 Copyright ©2015 Science Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.academicjournals.org/JPBCS Review Some medicinal plant resources and traditional uses in Pakistan Mariam Ahmed UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Italy Received 18 November, 2014; Accepted 16 March, 2015 Present communication describes lesser known plant resources which have been used over the centuries by local communities and indigenous populations for their medicinal and nutritional properties. Many of these plants are now being discovered by modern science and medicine and their value recognized. The idea is to call attention of research institutions and policy makers to these “forgotten gems” which have the potential of bringing economic returns to the communities that depend on them and of pulling so many out of poverty as well as capitalizing on traditional knowledge. Key words: Medicinal plant resources, research institutions, policy makers. INTRODUCTION Pakistan has rich natural resources, diverse ecological an important source of livelihood for majority of the rural zones, rich flora of over 6000 plant species. In Pakistan and mountainous communities. The use of plants as medicinal plants are naturally grown in many ecological medicine is an ancient practice. The uses of medicinal zones throughout the country and on small scale some plants vary in different parts of the country due to species are also cultivated. Temperatures fluctuate from indigenous knowledge and method of utilization. Different below zero in the mountainous range to 50°C in the plant species have been used to cure a single disease or southern plains. About 6000 plant species are reported in several diseases at a time. Approximately, 350 to 400 Pakistan and more than 1000 species are identified as medicinal plants species are traded in different drug medicinal and aromatic plants species .The demand of markets in Pakistan and also used by Unani and medicinal plants is increasing both in the developed and Homeopathic Doctors. developing countries. Most of the raw material of medicinal plants is The local communities of different regions of Pakistan harvested from forests and rangelands, only few have centuries old knowledge about traditional uses of medicinal plants are cultivated. Deforestation, over the plants occurring in their areas. This indigenous exploitation, over grazing, conversion of natural habitats knowledge of plants has been transferred from to agricultural fields resulted scarcity of medicinal plants. generation to generation. The herbal system of medicine According to a survey of different Pansar stores (herbal generally considered low cost treatment for various stores) in Pakistan indicate that total turnover of crude common diseases and rich diversity of medicinal plants drug in country is worth about Rs.120 million. E-mail: [email protected] Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Ahmed et al. 159 Few medicinal plants are also exported to different (Plantago ovta) now used all over the world due to its countries in small quantities. The prices of medicinal proven properties like stomach problems, constipation, plants at village level are very low and villagers are and cholesterol lowering. Haldi has been proved as generally not well informed about market prices. The antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti- market value of medicinal plants increases 3 to 5 times thrombotic, anti-cancer and neuroprotective role. Tibbe-e- from village to local shops and the prices at national Nabvi provides the base for the traditional Unani system market may be doubled to triple of the same item. of medicine in Pakistan. According to a Hadith said by Hazrat Muhammad (Peace be upon him) Kalonji is the treatment of all diseases except death. Some recent IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANTS RESOURCE studies also revealed that Kalonji is antioxidant, anti- inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-hyperchloestrolemic. Many medicinal plants are found in the mountainous and Further to this, Kalonji seeds contain over 100 valuable plains areas of Pakistan. Some species with high market nutrients and regulate the immune system, treat allergy, value are over exploited like Glycyrrhiza glabra, improves digestion, lower blood sugar, dispel worms and Commiphora wightii, Ephedra intermdia, Saussurea parasites. In Europe sea buckthorn juice, jellies, liquors, lappa, Ferula foetida, Valeriana wallachii, Colchicum candy, vitamin C tablets and ice creams are readily luteum, Bergenia ciliate, Paeonia emodi, Morchella available. Clinical studies on the anti-tumor functions of species etc and their productivity is also declining. sea buckthorn oils in China showed positive results. Sea Ecological conditions play a major role in the cultivation buckthorn juice or oil has been successfully used to treat of medicinal plants and their active ingredients. Pakistan high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases. The has a good potential of biodiversity of medicinal plants medicinal plants are the important source of primary due to its varied climatic conditions. Medicinal plants are health care in Pakistan. Still there are many unexploited found more abundantly in the mountainous areas than in medicinal plant species of Pakistan which may bring plains due to naturally conducive habitat and suitable positive impact in the control of many emerging diseases climatic conditions. Over exploitation of medicinal plants after the discovery of active compounds and mode of in Pakistan causes serious threat to the survival and action. regeneration of many plant species. Therefore, there is further need of research and development activities of medicinal plants in areas like ethnobotany, biodiversity RECOMMENDATION conservation, productivity, propagation, cultivation, active ingredients, quality control, value addition, value chain Further efforts and research on conservation, and policy both at national and provincial levels. The management, sustainable utilization, marketing, medicinal plants resources of Pakistan covers large ethnobotany, chemistry, pharmacology and genomics are number of species and not possible to include all in this required to unlock the treasure and potential of medicinal paper, only major and important medicinal plants species plants resources of Pakistan. Based on traditional of various ecological zones of Pakistan are highlighted knowledge, current scientific techniques are continually with traditional uses (Table 1). exploring the active constituents in plants and new drug The traditional uses of plants are mainly in the form of formulation are being made. Besides this, many crude plant extracts. However, the traditional uses of medicinal plants have great potential in cosmetic plants have also provided many active ingredients of industry, culinary herbs, herbal teas, and essential oils. many medicines in developed and developing countries. The demand of alternative medicines and natural food Advanced microbial and chemical methods can synthesis products are increasing both in developed and developing many medicinal and aromatic compounds from plants. countries. Therefore, international development community Many active compounds have been isolated from the and research organizations need to devote attention and plants used in traditional medicines like Aloin from Alo invest some resources for further research and development vera, santonin from Artemisia species, glycyrrhizin from of apparently neglected medicinal plants/herbs for Glycyrrhiza, ephedrine from Ephedra, berberine from nutritional and medicinal uses. Such an investment would Berberis species, silymarin from milk thistle. In the go a long way in pulling so many out of poverty in the nutrition point of view, Amla is one of the richest sources developing world especially the rural and indigenous of vitamin C. Garlic a widely used plant in Pakistan is people, as a source of economic livelihood and make a best known for its cholesterol lowering, anti-diabetic, major contribution to health and well-being based on antifungal properties. The compound Ajoene in garlic is natural remedies. one of the most important constituents and extensively investigated for its potent antiplatelet activity. Chicory (Cichorium intybus) plant traditionally used for many Conflict of Interest diseases now proved have properties of demulcent, anti- inflammatory, diuretic and blood purifier. Ispaghula The authors have not declared any conflict of interest. 160 J. Plant Breed. Crop Sci. Table 1. Medicinal plants and traditional uses. Botanical name Common name Parts used Traditional uses Toothache, treat earache, tuberculosis, stomach Achillea millefolium Linn. Yarrow, Biranjasif Leaves and flowers disorder and fever Achillea wilhelmsii Boh-e-Madran Leaves and stem Stomach pain, fever, motion, jaundice Acacia nilotica Lam. Babul, Kikar Stem bark, gum, seeds Gum as a tonic, bark in diarrhea For high blood pressure, cardiac problems and Allium sativum Linn. Garlic, Lassan Cloves blood purifier Burners, skin problems and complexion Aloe barbadensis Linn. Aloe vera Leaves improvement, laxative, tonic, minor wounds. Inflammations of mouth and digestive tract, cold, Althaea officinalis Linn. Marshmallow, Khitmi Roots, flowers and seeds cough Stomach troubles, increase breast milk in

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