Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research (2012), 11 (4): 1153-1167 Copyright © 2012 by School of Pharmacy Received: August 2011 Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services Accepted: October 2011

Original Article

Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal of Hezar Mountain Allocated in South East of

Peyman Rajaeia* and Neda Mohamadib

aDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran. bYoung Researchers and Elites Club, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran.

Abstract

This manuscript is the result of ethnobotany and ethnopharmacology survey on the Hezar Mountain in SE of Iran. Traditional botanical medicine is the primary mode of healthcare for most of the population of this region. The plants were collected in and around Hezar mountain from 2008-2010. The authors have conducted an interview of total 75 informants; The traditional uses of 92 species belonging to 35 vascular families and 78 genera have been recorded. The largest number of medicinal species came from Lamiaceae (15.2%). The most common preparations were decoction and infusion. These species are utilized to treat several ailments which the most common of them are digestive disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, (25.4%), renal and genital disorders (13%), respiratory tract system disorders (11.8%), and heart-blood circulatory system disorders (10.2%) respectively.

Keywords: Ethnomedicine; Ethnobotany; Hezar Mt.; South East Iran.

Introduction reported a total of 30 medicinal plants from the west Azerbaijan villages (6). Naghibi et There are about 35,000 to 70,000 plant species al., represented 46 genera and 410 species and that have been used for medicinal purposes subspecies from Labiatae family in Iran that worldwide (1) from which, the application of many members of this family were used in 6,500 species is related to the Asia (2). Iran traditional and folk medicine (7, 8). has a long medicinal tradition and traditional The nearest main mountains to Hezar are learning of plant remedies. One of the earliest Lalezar with the highest peak of 4351 m in the ethnobotanical works that we could name here West and Jupar with the highest peak of 4135 m is a work by Hopper and Field (1973) on useful in the North. No ethnobotanical study has been plants and drugs of Iran and Iraq (3). Shokir reported from these mountains. Hezar is a high and Safaian (1993) also presented a list of 210 mountain and there are many villages around it, medicinal plants used in Mazandaran province far from the cities, so that their people have a little (4). An ethnobotanical work in Turkmen Sahra access to medical facilities. This fact encourages area in north of Iran has been done by Ghorbani local people to use herbal plants for the treatment (2005) (5). In their study, 136 species from of some daily diseases. Due to the fallowing 51 families were documented. Miraldi et al. reasons, this mountain has been chosen as an ethnomedicinal case study in the present survey: * Corresponding author: (a) Hezar mountain has a rich plant diversity, (b) E-mail: [email protected] Owing to the height of this mountain (4465 m), Rajaei P et al. / IJPR (2012), 11 (4): 1153-1167

Figure 1. Study area map in SE of Iran.

Hezar has not been adequately explored, (c) The The main period of precipitation is during the rich traditional knowledge of the native habitants late of autumn, winter and early spring. The data regarding different plant species, handed down of Rayen station at the NW of Hezar, shows that from their predecessors. the winter, spring, autumn and summer rainfall The aim of this paper is to focus on the comprises 56%, 22%, 32% and 1% of the annual kinds of medical diversity found in the study precipitation, respectively. The average number area, depending on the frequency of the plants of frost days is 73 with a maximum during the medical applications, and to show the most January. Ecological climate diagram shows that common preparations mode of botanical drugs the period of aridity of this area starts from late used in Hezar ethnomedicine. April to the end of November. The period of The area under the study, Hezar (29°30/ N, humidity is pronounced to November during up 57°20/ E) with an area of 900 Km2 and height of to early April (Figure 2). 4465 m, is the 4th highest mountain allocated in The results of this study show the existence the south east of Iran (Figure 1). of five different habitats in the studied area as follows: Climate and vegetation overview I. Plain regions: They include all The climatic information was obtained mountain slopes and the flat plains between the from the nearest meteorological station-Rayen, mountains reaching areas mildly steeped. Being the station located at 15 Km NE of study area a region fit for agricultural activity, various at 2235 m altitude. The climate of this area is species belonging to and Apiaceae arid and cold. The lowest and highest absolute distributed in this region: Conium maculatum, temperatures are -1°C and 40°C. In most parts of Levisticum officinale, Dorema aucheri, Dorema Hezar, the precipitation is increased by altitude. ammoniacum, Artemisia aucheri, Cirsium

1154 Medicinal Plants of Hezar Mountain

Rayen (2235m) 2000-2010

32.6°C

14.9°C 293 mm 30.0 60

28.3

20.0 40

10.0 20

0.0 0

-5.1

-18.2

Figure 2. Ecological climate diagram of Rayen meteorological station, indicating monthly average of temperature and precipitation and relative humidity (hatched) and relative arid (stippled) seasons. arvense, Cousinia onopordioides, Echinops V. Degraded areas: These habitats lalesarensis, Hertia intermedia, Scorzonera include manipulated rural areas used for farming mucida, Scorzonera pussila, Tanacetum and gardening as well as diggings alongside the parthenium, Berberis integerrima and Lonicera roads and pathways. They are local to various nummulariifolia. grasses and weedy species such as: Malcolmia II. Rocky areas: These habitats are usually africana, Malva neglecta, Cynodon dactylon, situated on the slopes strew with rocks and Geranium tuberosum, and Cardaria draba. boulders. These areas are covered by species such as Experimental Corydalis rupestris, Graellsia saxifragifolia, Psychrogeton spp., Arnebia euchroma, Rosularia Data collection modesta, persica and Parietaria judaica. The different slopes of Hezar were III. Screes are the major habitats of the alpine investigated and the specimens were collected zone in Hezar Mountain. Cicer tragacanthoides, by authors during 2008-2010 between March Asperula glomerata, Astragalus tenuiscapus, and October in each year. Then, ethnobotanical Silene daenensis and Nepeta natanzensis are the information have been gathered from the main important species of Hezar scree habitats. The villages in and around of Hezar Mountain. species richness of these habitats is very low. These villages have been selected based on their IV. Humid mountainous regions: In this population including Babini (2600 m), Ziarat- habitat, various grass species and some other gah (3000 m), Babzangi (3300 m), Ordikan families such as the followings are found: (3200 m), Rask (3000 m), Deh-morteza Artemisia tournefortiana, Primula capitellata, (2950 m) and Sahib-Abad (2500 m) (Figure Carex songorica, Glaux maritima, Orchis 1). The specimens were prepared according coriophora, Juncus inflexus, Taraxacum spp. to the established herbarium techniques. The and Veronica anagallis-aquatica. plant samples were recognized according to

1155 Rajaei P et al. / IJPR (2012), 11 (4): 1153-1167

Flora Iranica (9), Flora of Iran (10), Flora of disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, (25.4%), Iraq (11), and Flora of Turkey (12) and kept renal and genital disorders (13%), respiratory in the Avicenna Herbarium of Islamic Azad tract system disorders (11.8%), heart-blood University, Science and Research branch, circulatory system disorders (10.2%), fever Tehran, Iran (IAUH). (6.2%), skin disorders (6.2%), sedative (5.6%), bone fractures and arthritis (5%), nerve Interviews with local people disorders (5%), antiseptic (4.5%), liver-spleen The data were collected through direct disorders (3.4%) and others (nose bleeding, interviews. A questionnaire was administered body reinforcement, appetizing, etc.) (3.4%) to the local people (Appendix 1). After (Figure 3). collecting the specimens, we showed these Our results showed that several parts of fresh specimens to the local people in their individual plant species are used as medicine. houses and farms. We employed random The most widely used medicinal plant part was sampling techniques to identify potential the leaves (33 species) followed by flowers (18 participants and interviewed a total of 75 species), root (14 species), Seed (14 species), people (30 men and 45 women) whose age aerial parts (10 species), (8 species), ranged from 40 to 75 years. The women whole plant (7 species), latex and seed (6 were said to have better knowledge about species), (4 species), stem (4 species), the medicinal application of plants than men. bulb (3 species), tuber (2 species) and bark (2 Most of the interviewees mainly belonged to species) (Figure 4). The most common mode of families which still have a strong connection preparation was decoction (44%) and followed with traditional agricultural and pastoral by infusion (21%), poultice (15%), oral (13%) activities. There were herbalists, healers and and Hydrodistillation (7%) (Figure 5). plant traders among the interviewees as well. The study of the growth form of the The same plant specimens were shown to medicinal plants revealed that herbs made up different people to confirm the accuracy of the the highest proportion of medicinal plants (80 results. The interviews consisted of obtaining species), followed by shrubs (7 species) and the information related to the identification of trees (5 species). plants, their vernacular names, their medical Chorology: Irano-Turanian elements uses and the preparation of remedies. compose 48% of the medicinal plants growing on the study area (Zohary, 1973). They are the Results dominant chorology in the region (Figure 6). Plants used in veterinary Medicinal plants Some species are used in veterinary. The A total of 92 species belonging to 35 species include root of Bryonia aspera Stev. Ex families and 78 genera were Ledeb is used for digestive problems in sheep and reported. From these species, 79 species horses. The oil obtained from the seeds of Eruca reported to be used for medicinal applications, sativa L. was used for the remedy of mange and 70 species of which were used to treat more dermal problems in domestic animals. Fruit of than one disease and the remaining 9 species Rheum ribes L. was used as antiparasitic worm were used to treat only one disease. in domestic animals. Ash of leaves and stem of The largest number of medicinal species Launea acanthodes (Boiss.) O. Auntze which came from Lamiaceae (15.2%), followed are used for snake bites and insect sting. by (12%), Fabaceae (8.7%), Apiaceae (8.7%), Rosaceae (5.4%) and Plants with non-medicinal uses Brassicaceae (5.4%). Recorded plant species Seventy species have been recorded for non- with their vernacular names, uses and mode of medicinal uses including, edible, natural dyes, preparation are listed in Table 1. making gum, rope, basket, ink and detergent. As a result, we observed that these plants Root of Acanthophyllum laxiusculum Schiman- are used especially for intestinal digestive Czeika is used for a kind of food (Halva) and

1156 Medicinal Plants of Hezar Mountain

Table 1. List of medicinal plant species and medical health data.

No. of Herbarium Scientific name Local name Part used Chorology Uses Preparation citation No.(IAUH)

Apiaceae

Fever, dermal Buplereum falcatum L. L, Se IT 5 wound, Joint pain Decoction, Poultice 496 and inflammations

Conium maculatum L. kama IT-M 25 poisonous

Ducrosia anethifolia (DC.) Gicho L IT-SS 18 Gasteralgia Decoction 499 Boiss

Asthma, Dorema ammoniacum D. Expectorant, Anghuzeh La IT 55 Oral Don. Bronchitis, Stomachache

Asthma, Expectorant, Dorema aucheri Boiss. Kal La IT 30 Oral 497 Bronchitis, Making Gum

Ferula hezar- lalehzarica Stomachache, Kahoo vahshi St, Rh IT 25 Hydrodistilation 500 y. Ajani Carminative

Ferulago carduchorum Garchik La IT 20 Dermal wounds Poultice 501 Boiss. and Hausskn.

Infusion, Flavoring Levisticum officinaleW. D. Blood sugar, 93801 Karafse kuhi L, R, Se, IT 60 with yogurt, use as Koch. Asthma, diuretic, (TARY) vegetable

Asteraceae

Carminative, Achillea wilhelmsii C.Koch. Bumadarun L IT 8 Infusion 504 Stomachache

Dermal wounds, Arctium lappa L. Baba adam R, L IT-M 6 Decoction, Oral Blood sugar

Foot contusion, Artemisia aucheri Boiss. Dormane L IT 4 Decoction, Poultice 507 Gastric disorder

Fever, Gastric Artemisia persica Boiss. Dormane turky Fl, L IT 25 Hydrodistilation 508 disorder

Jaundice, Blood Hydrodistilation, Cichorium intybus L. Kasni Wh.p PL 30 512 sugar Decoction

Dermal inflation, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. R PL 3 Poultice 513 appetizing

Hertia intermedia (Boiss.) O. Dermal inflation, L IT-SS 2 Poultice 523 Kuntze. insects sting

Launea acanthodes (Boiss.) snake bites, insect Poultice in form Goja L, St IT 7 526 O. Auntze. sting, Antiseptic of ash

Scariola orientalis (Boiss.) Use by bees as IT 4 531 Sojak. food

Tanacetum fisherea Aitch. Nerve system Chaye ahshi L IT 6 Decoction 537 and Hemsl. relaxant

Fever, Sedative, Gastric disorders, Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Babune gavi L PL 12 Decoction 538 Nerve system relaxant

1157 Rajaei P et al. / IJPR (2012), 11 (4): 1153-1167

Table 1. (Continued)

No. of Herbarium Scientific name Local name Part used Chorology Uses Preparation citation No.(IAUH)

Berberidaceae

Blood Sugar and Berberis integerrima Bge. zarch Fr, R IT 36 Decoction, Edible 543 Depurative

Boraginaceae

Arnebia euchroma (Royle.) l. havachue R, Se IT 48 Wound, Cutting Poultice 544 M. Johnst.

Nerve system relaxant, Asperugo procumbens L. Fl IT-M 2 Decoction 545 antispasmodic, Menstruate

Brassicaceae

Coagulation, antiepileptic. Capsella bursa- pastoris (L.) Kise keshish A.p Cosm 18 Infusion 558 Hypertension, Diarrhea

Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. Mocoo Wh.p, Se IT-M-ES 39 Diuretic Decoction, Edible 559

Asthma, Stomachache, Descurainia Sophia (L.) Khakshir Se IT-M-ES 48 Heatstroke, syrup 564 chur. ,Laxativeِ Appetizing

Hair loss, mange, Eruca sativa Lam. Mandab Se PL 25 Oral, Poultice 567 Making oil

Respiratory Erysimum crassicaule Fl IT 4 disorder, Digestive Infusion 568 (Boiss.) Boiss. spasm

Caryophyllaceae

Acanthophyllum use as a kind laxiusculum Schiman- Choobe R IT 3 of food(Halva), Edible 581 Czeika. detergent

Chenopodiaceae

Chenopodium foliosum Khorma L PL 12 Diuretic Decoction 600 (Moench) Aschers .

Convulvolaceae

Laxative, Convolvulus arvensis L. Pichak Wh.p PL 3 Decoction 607 Carminative

Convolvulus spinosus Burm. Pichak R IT-SS 2 Fever, Purgative Decoction 608

Cucurbitaceae

Digestive problems Bryonia aspera Stev. Ex for domestic Angoor vahshi Wh.p IT 15 Oral 611 Ledeb. animals, Liver problems

Cupressaceae

1158 Medicinal Plants of Hezar Mountain

Table 1. (Continued)

No. of Herbarium Scientific name Local name Part used Chorology Uses Preparation citation No.(IAUH)

Diuretic, Rheumatism, Juniperus excelsa M. B. Ors Fr IT-ES 18 Infusion antiseptic,Dermal inflations, Boils

Ephedraceae

Diuretic, Gastric and intestine Ephedra major Host. Khimook L, Sh IT-ES 35 Decoction 616 inflation, Diaphoretic

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia spp. Afkoo La IT - Poisonous

Fabaceae

Astragalus Kalilolmolk Se IT 31 Cold Decoction 624 camptoceras Bunge.

Body reinforce, Astragalus dschuparensis Making tragacanth Bath, use by bees Gini La IT 9 628 Freyn. and Bornm. use as detergent, as food Produce rope

Cercis siliquastrum L. Arghavan Ba, L IT-ES 3 Constipation Decoction, Edible

gastric ulcer, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. Matki R. Rh IT-M-ES 39 Laxative, Decoction Bronchitis

Diarrhea, Infusion, as a kind Lathyrus sativus L. Karoo Wh.p, Fr PL 28 643 Carminative of soup

Medicago sativa L. Yonjeh A.p IT 40 Blood fat Infusion 644

Headache, diuretic, Melilotus Yonjeh zard Fl, A.p IT-M-ES 13 Nerve system Infusion 646 officinalis (L.) Desr. relaxant

Purgative, Diuretic, Robinia pseudoacacia L. Aghaghia Fl, L ES 3 Decoction 649 Laxative

Fumariaceae

Carminative, Fumaria asepala Boiss. Shatareh L PL 25 Stomachache, Decoction 652 Depurative, Fever,

Juglandaceae

Blood sugar, Bone Juglans regia L. Ghoz L, B. Fr IT-ES 36 Infusion, Edible ache, hair color

Gentianaceae

Centurium pulchellum La IT-M-ES 2 Fever, Gall stone Oral (Swartz.) Druce.

Geraniaceae

Carminative, Backache, Bieberstainia multifidaDC. * Bahman R, Tu IT-M-ES 35 Decoction 653 Sedative, Sexual instinct

1159 Rajaei P et al. / IJPR (2012), 11 (4): 1153-1167

Table 1. (Continued)

No. of Herbarium Scientific name Local name Part used Chorology Uses Preparation citation No.(IAUH)

coagulation, Erodium cicutarium(L.) ’Her Wh.p IT-M-ES 14 Decoction 654 Constipation

Juncaceae

Making rope and Juncus inflexus L. A.p PL 4 658 basket

Lamiaceae

Carminative, Dracocephalum Decoction, Zaroo L, Fl IT 65 Rheumatism, flavor 659 polychaetum Bornm. Hydrodistilation in whey

Fever, Marrubium Hypertension, A.p IT-ES 15 Infusion, Oral 662 anisodon C. Koch. cardiac pains, Menstruate

Diuretic, Marrubium vulgar L. A.p IT-M 16 Infusion, Oral 663 Appetizing

Mentha Poodeneh A.p IT-M 48 Fever, Sedative Infusion longifolia (L.) Hudson.

Cold, Cough, Expectorant, Nepeta bracteata Benth. Zufa Fl IT 42 Decoction 665 Constipation, infertility

Dermal inflation, Nepeta glomerolosa Boiss. Fl IT 25 Decoction 669 pneumonia

Respiratory disorder, Gastric Nepeta ispahanica Boiss. Fl IT 28 Decoction 670 and intestine disorder

Nepeta saccharata Bunge. Badranj L, Fr IT 31 Cold, Backache Decoction 675

Use by bees as Salvia nemerosa L. Fl IT-ES 8 Use by bees as food 677 food

Kidney stone, Salvia sclarea L. L,Fl,Se IT-SS 12 its extract use as Infusion perfume

Stomachache, Hydrodistilation, Teucrium polium L. Kalpoore A.p PL 42 Carminative Oral

Cold, Sedative, Thymus carmanicus Jalas. Apishan L, Fl IT-M 65 Decoction 680 Asthma, Diarrhea

Ziziphora clinopodioides Nerve system Aghlale L, Fr IT 70 Infusion, Decoction 681 Lam. relaxant

Nerve system Ziziphora tenuir L. Kakuti L IT 54 Infusion 682 relaxant

Liliaceae

Colchichum schimperi Gole hasrat B IT 5 Backache Poultice 683 Janka.

1160 Medicinal Plants of Hezar Mountain

Table 1. (Continued)

No. of Herbarium Scientific name Local name Part used Chorology Uses Preparation citation No.(IAUH)

Eremurus persicus (Jaub. Use as a kind of Hasan aloo L IT 23 Edible 684 and Spach) Boiss. food, Diuretic

Use as a kind of Tulipa bifloraPall. Lale B IT 23 Edible 689 food

Onagraceae

Epilobium minutiflorum Pudene sagi Rh, Fl IT 6 Constipation Decoction, Oral 693 Hausskn.

Orchidaceae

Cold, Cough, Orchis coriophora L. Tu IT-ES 2 Decoction 695 Diarrhea

Malvaceae

Diuretic, Laxative, Althaea officinalis L. Khatmi L, Fl ES 19 Decoction, Infusion 691 Cold, Sore throat

Malva neglecta Willr. Panirak A.p IT-M-ES 25 Inflation, Sedative Decoction 692

Papaveraceae

Papaver dubium L. Shaghayegh IT-SS 27 Poisonous 700

Plantaginaceae

Plantago lanceolata L. Kochak L, R, Se IT-M-ES 12 Jaundice, Sedative Decoction, Poultice 703

Polygonaceae

Use as a kind of food, Laxative, L, Fr, Fl, Making jam, Rheum ribes L. Rivas IT 34 Edible, infusion 729 Se Hair dyeing, Anti parasitic worn in domestic animals

Fever, Diarrhea, Rumex crispus L. torshak R, Rh IT 14 Decoction 730 Laxative

Vegetable for a Rumex dentatus L. torshak L IT 12 Edible 731 kind of food

Ranunculaceae

Kidney stone, Laxative, Nerve Adonis aestivalis L. Teryakoo Fl IT-M-ES 25 Decoction 734 system relaxant, Diuretic

Consolida orientalis Kidney stone, Hair Fl, L IT-M 5 Poultice, Decoction 737 )Gay)Schrod. loss

Rosaceae

Amygdalus eburnea Spach. Ghoos Se IT 18 Making oil Edible 742

Amygdalus elaeagnifolia Archan Se IT 16 Making oil, Dye Edible 743 Spach.

Cotoneaster nummularia Fever, Laxative, Shir khesht Wh. p IT 6 Decoction 744 Fisch. and C. A. Mey. Jaundice

Rosa beggeriana Schrenk Korik Fl IT 25 Cardiac disorders Hydrodistilation 747

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Table 1. (Continued)

No. of Herbarium Scientific name Local name Part used Chorology Uses Preparation citation No.(IAUH)

Sanguisorba minor Scop Gheitaran L, St IT-M-ES 36 Toothache Decoction 748

Rubiaceae

Kidney stone, Galium aparine L. A. p PL 3 Infusion 751 Diuretic

Salicaceae

Salix alba L. Bid Ba IT-M-ES 32 Fever, Jaundice Decoction, Oral 753

Scrophulariaceae

Scrophularia leucoclada Bronchitis, Mokhalaseh L, Se IT 41 Oral 757 Bunge apoplexy

Verbascum carmanicum Sedative, Diuretic, Gole mahoor L, Fl IT 6 Infusion 759 (Bornm.) Hub.- Mor. respiratory disorder

Solanaceae

Hyoscyamus spp IT - Poisonous

Thymelaeceae

Purgative, Daphne oleoides Schrev Terbid Fr, R IT 13 Laxative, Making Oral 772 jam

Urticaceae

Coagulation, Blood Urtica dioica L. ssp. dioica Gazane R, A.p PL 35 Decoction, Poultice 774 sugar, foot pain

Zygophyllaceae

Noise blooding, Peganum harmala L. Espand L, Se IT-M-ES 28 Antiseptic, Poultice, smoke 776 insomnia

Kidney stone, Tribulus trrestris L. Kharkhasak Fr PL 34 Infusion 777 Diuretic

R: Root; St: Stem; L: Leaf; Fl: Flower; Fr: Fruit; Se: Seed; A. p: Aerial parts; Wh. p: Whole plant; Tu: Tuber; B: Bulb; Ba: Bark; Rh: Rhizome; La: latex

detergent. Dracocephalum polychaetum Bornm Astragalus dschuparensis Freyn and Bornm., and Levisticum officinale W. D. Koch are used which is a kind of detergent. as flavor in yoghurt. Juncus inflexus L. is used for making rope and basket. Juglans regia L. and Discussion Berberis integerrima Bge are used in dyeing. Daphne oleoides Schrev is used for making ink. As a result of the rich flora of this region, Ephedra major Host is used for making Mashk medicinal plants are the most important means of (a bag made from animal leather and used for health care. Due to the lack of modern medicine, maintaining water and yoghurt). The bulbs of difficult geography of the district as well as Tulipa biflora Pall leaves of Rheum ribes L. and traditional culture cured by plants, serves as a Rumex dentatus L. are used for local foods. The usual way in this region particularly in elders. latex of Dorema aucheri Boiss, which is called Some species are used so frequently that Eshterk, is used for Making Gum. The latex of are mentioned by every interviewee. Our

1162 Medicinal Plants of Hezar Mountain

Figure 3. Remedies reported by informants. results indicated that medicinal species such as region, distributed in the Persia, Pamir, Tien- Levisticum officinale, Artemisia persica, Thymus Shan, Himalaya and the western Tibet, with carmanicus and Ziziphora clinopodioides are an altitudinal range between 3700 and 4200 mentioned by many informants. m above the sea level. Local people of Hezar Mt., use the roots of A. euchroma as poultice Arnebia euchroma (Royle) Jonst for wound healing. Shikonin and its derivatives (Boraginaceae) is a perennial plant of the alpine extracted from the roots of A. euchroma have

Figure 4. Plant parts use and their percentages.

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Rajaei P et al. / IJPR (2012), 11 (4): 1153-1167

Figure 5. Mode of preparations and their percentages.

been known since ancient times and used as dyes critically endangered the status and its listing in for silk and food products. Shikonin possesses the species prioritized for conservation in this antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory region. properties. Furthermore, A. euchroma exhibits potent anti-HIV activity (13). Arnebin-1 and Levisticum officinale W. D. Koch arnebin-3 derived from it possess anticancerous (Umbellifera) is a perennial plant of the alpine properties (13). Due to its medicinal uses, the region distributed only in the SE of Iran (Hezar species is being harvested indiscriminately from Mt.) and E of . The essential oil of L. the wild both for domestic and Pharmaceutical officinale was characterized by large amount of purposes. This has resulted in A. euchroma monoterpenes, approximately 93.8%.

Figure 6. Chorology of plants and their percentages (IT: Irano-Turanian; Cosm: Cosmopolitan; ES: Euro-Siberian; PL: Pluriregional; M: Mediterranean; SI: Sahara-Indian).

1164 Medicinal Plants of Hezar Mountain

Table 2. The comparison with NE Iran (Turkmen Sahra). In SE Iran (Our study) In NE Iran (5) Family 35 41 Number of taxa Genera 87 72 Species 92 136 Lamiaceae (15.2%) Asteraceae (10.9%) Asteraceae (12%) Lamiaceae (9.8%) Predominant families Apiaceae (8.7%) Apiaceae (8.7%) Fabaceae (8.7%) Common mode of preparation Decoction-Infusion Decoction-Demulcent Leaf (32%) Leaf (22%) Root (13%) Fruit (12%) Part Predominant families used Seed (13%) Seed (12%) Aerial parts (11%) Aerial parts (12%) Gastrointestinal Gastrointestinal Renal and genital Skin Most reported medicinal uses Respiratory Cardio-Vascular Cardio-Vascular Renal and genital Dominant chorology Irano-Turanian (48%) Irano-Turanian (35%)

L. officinale exhibits various pharmacological [Barachgschin (oil of the mountain)] Mongolia and biological activities, including estrogenic [Brogschaun (mountain juice)] and Iran. It is (14), apoptotic (15) and antimycobacterial (16) found at high altitudes as deposits in walls and activities. caves where they are embedded into rocks. The main components in the oil were Mumenaei has been used as a medicine by the β-phellandrene and α-terpineol (17). It is a local people for a long time for bone fracture warming and tonic herb for the digestive and relief, muscular pain, and arthritis. It is used as respiratory systems. It is used primarily in the a poultice in fracture limb or is eaten orally for treatment of indigestion, poor appetite, wind, the relief of pain. The main organic components, colic and bronchitis. The roots, leaves and the wax esters and the glycerol ethers, are are antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, known to display neuroprotective potential. diaphoretic, digestive, diuretic, mildly Future studies will prove whether the monoalkyl expectorant and stimulant. Raw or cooked leaves ethers also display anti-stomach ache capacity. and stems are used as savory flavoring in salads, Finally, the triglycerides have to be studied soups, stews, etc. In addition, some species have for their putative antimicrobial activity. The other uses which food is the most important inorganic component(s), the minerals existing in one such as Dracocephalum polychaetum as Mumenaei, may have their ameliorating function a flavor in whey. The flavones like Levoteolin in bone diseases (18). and Apigenin are the most components in New research on some plants of this area such Dracocephalum polychaetum. as Nepeta assurgens and Thymus carmanicus Another well-known identified medicinal (Labiateae) showed that methanolic extracts substance in this mountainous region is of these plants had antibacterial activity and Mumenaei. This traditional drug is widely can be used in different cases of bacterial distributed in Russia (termed there Mumie infections especially nosocomial infections or Mumiyo, India (Saljit), Birma [Kao-tun (18). Leaves and flowers extracts of Salvia (blood of the mountain)], Altai Mountains rhytidae showed antibacterial activity against

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Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and References Pseudomonas aeruginosa. S. aureus was more (1) Farnsworth NR and Soejarto DD. Global Importance sensitive to other bacteria. It can be exploited of Medicinal Plants. The Conservation of Medicinal and applied to food system protection, and Plants Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1991) treatment of bacterial infections (19). In spite of 25-51. these findings, no ethnobotanical applications (2) Karki M and Williams JT. Priority Species of Medicinal were mentioned for Salvia rhytidea and Plants in South Asia. IDRC/SARO, New Delhi (1999). (3) Nepeta assurgens by informants. Considering Hooper D and Field H. Useful plants and drugs of Iran and Iraq. Field Museum of Natural History. Botanical the lack of information about the uses and Series (1937) 9: 71-241. effects of medications of some species like (4) Shokri M and Safaian N. The study of medicinal plants Dorema ammoniacum, Levisticum officinale, in Mazandaran (northern Iran). Acta Hort. (1993) Artemisia persica, Tanacetum fisherea, 33:165-74. Arnebia euchroma, Tribulus terrestris and (5) Ghorbani A. Studies on pharmaceutical ethnobotany in the region of Turkmen Sahra, north of Iran (Part Dracocephalum polychaetum will be proposed 1): General results. J. Ethnopharmacol. (2005) 102: for further examination. 58-68. These plants are used in the treatment of some (6) Miraldi E, Ferri S and Mostaghimi V. Botanical very common ailments like diarrhea, stomach drugs and preparations in the traditional medicine of problems, blood sugar, bronchitis and asthma. west Azarbaijan (Iran). J. Ethnopharmacol. (2001) All diseases might be related to poor hygienic 75: 77-87. (7) Naghibi F, Mosaddegh M and Mohammadi Motamed conditions with regard to food and water. S. Labiatae family in folk medicine in Iran: from The data of Table 2 shows ethnobotanical ethnobotany to pharmacology. Iranian J. Pharm. Res. comparison between Turkmen Sahra (NE Iran) (2005) 2: 63-79. (5) and Hezar Mt., (SE Iran). (8) Ghorbani AB, Mosaddegh M and Naghibi F. Medicinal plants threats Ethnobotanical and ethnopharmaceutical study of Tturkmens of Golestan and Khorasan provinces, north In recent years, aridity and low precipitation of Iran. Iranian J. Pharm. Res. (2004) Supple 2: 20-20. have damaged the vegetation of plants in Hezar. (9) Rechinger KH. (ed.) Flora Iranica. Akad. Druck-u. In addition, overgrazing impact is increasingly Verlagsanstalt, Graz (1963-2005) 1-176. threatening the fragile medicinal plants in this (10) Assadi A. Flora of Iran. Research Institute of Forests mountain. and Rangelands, Tehran (1988-2009) 1-42. (11) Some rare species such as Levisticum Townsend CC, Guest E and Al-rawi A. (eds.) Flora of Iraq. Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, officinale, Thymus carmanicus, Arnebia Baghdad (1966-1985). euchroma, Dracocephalum polychaetum and (12) Davis PH. (ed.) Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Dorema ammoniacum have been threatened as Islands. . Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh herbalists and traders hire the local people for (1965-1988) 1-10. gathering these species due to the economic (13) Kashiwada Y, Nishizawa M, Yamagishi T, Tanaka T, Nonaka GI, Cosentino LM, Srider JV and Lee KH. purposes. Many of these plants are potentially Anti-AIDS agent. 18. Sodium and potassium salts of endangered and vulnerable taxa. Since the alpine caffeic acid tetramers from Arnebia euchroma as anti- plants grow very slowly, they cannot quickly re- HIV agents. J. Nat. Prod. (1995) 58: 392-400. grow leaves or flowers that are lost. Harvesting (14) San Martin R. The estrogenic activity of various of roots, bulbs, seeds and flowers, which are plan species; the activity of Levisticum officinale. essential to the survival of the plants, often lead Farmacognosia (1958) 18: 179-186. (15) Bogucka-Kocka A, Smolarz HD and Kocki J. to vanish this species. In addition, local people Apoptotic activities of ethanol extracts from some sometimes sell these medicinal plants in the local Apiaceae on human leukaemia cell lines. Fitoterapia market for their livelihood. So, the domestication (2008) 79: 487-497. of these plants is a need for conservation. (16) Schinkovitz A, Schinkovitz A, Stavri M, Gibbons Lately, a Manganese purification factory S and Bucar F. Antimycobacterial polyacetylenes from Levisticum officinale. Phytother. Res. (2008) has been established in 30 Km of NW of Hezar 22: 681-684. Mountain, so that the air pollution and soil (17) Verdian RM and Hadjiakhoondi A. The essential oil toxicity are inevitable in this region. It is a direct composition of Levisticum officinalis from Iran. Asian threat to flora and fauna in the study area. J. Biochem. (2007) 2: 161-163.

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(18) Aiello A, Fattorusso E, Menna M, Vitalone R, Schroder carmanicus on 3 bacterial species. Proceedings of the HC and Muller W. Mumijo traditional medicine: fossil Forth Iranian Congress of Clinical Microbiology. deposits from Antarctica (chemical composition and Isfahan, Iran (2010). beneficial bioactivity).eCAM (2008) 7: 1-8. This article is available online at http://www.ijpr.ir (19) Kariminik A, Rajaei P and Parsia P. Investigation of antibacterial activity of Nepeta assurgense and Thymus

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