Role of Dag Behsud Graveyard in Conservation of Indigenous Medicinal Flora of District Nowshera, Pakistan

Short Communication

Role of Dag Behsud graveyard in conservation of indigenous medicinal flora of district Nowshera, Pakistan

Fazal Hadi1*, Muhammad Ibrar2 and Numan Zaidi1

1Centre of Plant Biodiversity, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan 2Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

Accepted 27 January, 2014

The present study was conducted to elaborate the ethnomedicinal biodiversity of Dag Behsud graveyard, District Nowshera, Pakistan. Usually the graveyards are respected globally by different religions. The same case was observed in the present study where cutting and grazing of the plants is strictly prohibited. Therefore, some of the species with medicinal values are conserved as compared to the surrounding areas, viz: Aerva javanica, Matricaria camomilla, Calendula arvensis, Eruca sativa, Malcolmia cabulica, and Cymbopogon jwarancusa. The study revealed 41 plants belonging to 22 dicot, one monocot and one pteridophyte families. The botanical names, families, parts used and ethnomedicinal uses were recorded. The main aim of the study was to highlight the role of graveyards in conservation of indigenous medicinally important plants and also to document and explore the knowledge of local peoples about medicinal plants belonging to different ethnic and socio economic backgrounds. The study indicated that the graveyard contains and conserved many plants which are absent or near to become extinct from the surrounding areas.

Key words: Checklist of conserved medicinal plants, uses, Dag Behsud graveyard, Nowshera, Pakistan.

INTRODUCTION

District Nowshera is located along the bank of river Kabul floristic checklist of plants growing in the graveyards of in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan between Rajshahi city, Bangladesh. Hadi et al. (2009) carried out 33.410 to 34.100 N latitudes and 71.390 to 72.160 E ecological survey on the flora of Palosi graveyard, District longitudes. The total area of the district is 1,748 km2. Dag Peshawar. Similarly, Hussain et al. (2006) reported 121 Behsud is a small village of district and has pleasant plants species from Shawar valley which are environment with cold winters and hot summers. ethnobotanically used for different purposes. Hadi et al. Many religions including Islam have great respect to (2013) described 29 plants from Rich valley district their graveyards where anthropogenic activities are Chitral, having different ethnomedicinal uses. Razzaq et strictly prohibited. Similar is the case with Dag Behsud al. (2013) elaborated the ethnomedicinal profile and Graveyard where the conserved flora contains such conservation status of Plant biodiversity in Alexander the plants which are almost absent in the surrounding areas. great valley, District Shangla, Pakistan and reported 32 The present study was conducted to document the plant medicinal plants belonging to 26 families. resources and their ethnomedicinal importance. Dafni et al. (2006) described the ritual plants of 40 different Muslim graveyards in the northern Israel and their MATERIALS AND METHODS ethnomedicinal uses. Rahman et al. (2007) described the The present study was conducted in the blooming and flowering seasons in 2013. Plants were collected, preserved and identified with the help of various volumes *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] of Flora of Pakistan and other available literatures while Scholarly J. Agric. Sci. 88

Table 1: Ethnomedicinal profile of plants of Dag Behsud graveyard, district Nowshera, Pakistan

S.# Family Species Habit Part used Uses 1 Amaranthaceae Aerva javanica S Whole plant The plant is grind and pasted for Skin dryness & hemorrhoids 2 Asteraceae Salybum marianum H Leaves, Seeds The seeds are eaten for Vomiting and digestion, the leaves are boiled and extract is used jaundice Conyza canadensis H Leaves Leaves are used as fodder Matricaria camomilla H Whole plant The plant is Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and carminative Calendula arvensis H Leaves, Flowers The flowers are Stimulant and healing agents of wounds. The leaves are eaten as antispasmodic Taraxacum officinale H Young shoots and The decoction of flowers and shoots is tonic and diuretic. It is also utilized Flowers against jaundice and constipation 3 Brassicaceae Eruca sativa H Leaves The leaves are directly applied to Skin diseases and also eaten for cough Capsella bursa-pestoris H Leaves, seeds Leaves and seeds are used as diuretic Malcolmia cabulica H Leaves Fodder for cattle 4 Chenopodiaceae Chenopodium murale H Leaves The leaves are cooked and use as carminative Suaeda fruiticosa H Leaves The leaves are used as Ophthalmic Kochia indica S Whole plant The stem and leaves are grind and powder is applied in skin diseases. The inflorescence is stimulant. 5 Caryophyllaceae Stelaria media H Whole plant The whole plant is paste on swollen joints. The leaves are purgative and laxative 6 Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia helioscopia H Leaves Leaves powder is mixed with sugar and used for constipation Ricinus communis S Seeds oil Leaves are emetic and purgative. Poultice is made from crushed leaves of plant, which is used by women to increase breast milk and also for swelling 7 Fumariaceae Fumaria indica S Flowers, Leaves The crushed leaves and flowers are mixed with the seeds of Punica granatum and used in fever 8 Geraniaceae Geranium lucidum H Whole plant The plant is Astringent and clotting agent 9 Malvaceae Malva sylvestris S Leaves The leaves are boiled as laxative 10 Mimosaceae Acacia nilotica T Bark, Gum Extract of gum is used in toothache. Wood is used as fuel. Acacia modesta T Gum, flowers Gum is used as tonic. Wood is used in agriculture tools. The flowers are visited by honey bees for production of the most expensive honey Leaucenea leucocephala T Leaves, Stem The leaves are common fodder in the area and wood is used as fuel Prosopis juliflora T Stem, bark Stem is Purgative while bark is used in fever 11 Marsileaceae Marsilea quadrifolia H Leaves The leaves are used as diuretic and febrifuge 12 Moraceae Brousonettia papyrifera T Root, Stem The stem and root wood is used as fuel Ficus carica T Fruit Ripened fruits are crushed, mixed with curd and use in constipation 13 Meliaceae Melia azadarach T Leaves The powdered leaves are mixed with Acacia gum and water and used in fever. 14 Oxiladaceae Oxalis corniculata H Leaves, Roots An infusion of Oxalis and Prosopis is prepared in water and used in fever and dysentery. 15 Papilionaceae Dalbergia sisso T Wood Wood is used in manufacturing of furniture Vicia monantha H Leaves The plant is common fodder 16 Poaceae Phragmites karka H Rhizomes The rhizome is Aphrodisiac and Diuretic Desmostachya bipinnata H Flowers, Roots The leaves are boiled and used in fever and Urine problems Cymbopogon jwarancusa H Leaves, flowers and roots The plant is used in fever and catarrhal complaints

Hadi et al. 89

Table 1. Contd.

17 Polygonaceae Rumex dentatus H Leaves The leaves are cooked and eaten and considered as Constipation 18 Primulaceae Anagalis arvensis H Whole plant The plant is used as Diuretic, Diaphoretic and Expectorant 19 Ranunculaceae Ranunculus muricatus H Whole plant The plant is Poisonous for fishes 20 Schophulariaceae Veronica biloba H Leaves The leaves are used as fodder 21 Simaroubaceae Ailanthus altissima T Roots The powdered roots are mixed with milk and used in diarrhea 22 Solanaceae Solanum nigrum H Fruit The paste of fruit is used in Skin diseases and swellings Withania somnifera S Leaves, Roots A paste is produced from roots and leaves and mixed with mustard oil and used as bandage 23 Tamaricaceae Tamarix aphylla T Stem and leaves Stem is used in furniture and fuel. Leaves are used as fodder 24 Zygophyllaceae Fagonia indica S Whole plant The plant is boiled and used as Stomachache, fever and skin problems

ethnobotanical profile of the residents was were trees and 7 were herbs (Table. 1). Department of Botany, University of Karachi. obtained by interviewing 10 women and 30 men of Medicinal plants are extensively used as a Dafni, A., Lev, E., Beckmann, S. and Eichberger, C. (2006). Ritual plants of 40 different Muslim graveyards in northern the area through a simple questionnaire. With the major source of drugs for the treatment of many Israel and their ethnobotany. JEE, 2006, 2(38): 1746-4269. help of this questionnaire the indigenous health disorders all over the world. Most of these Hadi, F., Akhtar, P., Shah, S.M. and Hussain, F. (2009). knowledge regarding the traditional uses of plants plant species are wild. The most commonly used Graveyard of Palosai, district Peshawar, Pakistan as an was collected. plants are Aerva javanica, Salybum marianum, example of conservation of local plants. Pak. J. Pl. Sc. 16:1608-7925. Matricaria camomilla, Calendula arvensis, Hadi, F., Razzaq, A., Rehman, A. and Rashid, A. (2013). Capsella bursa-pestoris, Acacia nilotica, Acacia Ethnobotanical notes on woody plants of Rech Valley, RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS modesta and Withania somnifera. Majority of the Torkhow, District Chitral, Hindu-Kush range, Pakistan. plants were used in skin diseases, as carminative, Scholarly Journal of Agricultural Science. 3(11): 468-472. Hussain, F., Khaliq, A. and Durani, M.J. (1995). Ethnobotanical Islam and majority of religions have great respect antispasmodic, dysenteric, purgative, clotting studies on some plants of Dabargai Hills, District Swat, and for their graveyards where cutting and grazing of agents and analgesic. The graveyards are Pakistan. Proceedings of the International Ethnobotanical the plants is strictly prohibited. The same concept excellent conservatories in all over the world for Workshop. N.A.R.C., Isalamabad, Pakistan. 207-215. was practiced in the present study and it was the indigenous flora and medicinal plants because Islam, M., Ahmad, H., Rashid, A., Razzaq, A. ,Akhter, N. and Ikramullah. (2006). Weeds and medicinal plants of Shawer astonishing that the plants present in the people hesitate in cutting plants, grazing animals Valley, District Swat. Pak. J. Weed Sci. 12:83-88. graveyard were mainly medicinal and conserved or even trespassing in graveyards. So, graveyards Nasir, E. and Ali, S.I. (1970-1989). Flora of Pakistan. PARC, and growing well. When the surrounding areas reflect the plants of a particular place. Therefore, Islamabad. were explored the same plants were cut and in the present study it is recommended that the Rahman, M.M.H.A., Anisuzzaman, M. and Ahmad, F. (2007). Floristic composition of graveyards of Rahjistan City grazed at alarming rate. Some of the plants were graveyards must be declared as natural Bangladesh. RJABS., 3(6):670-675. entirely absent in surroundings. The present study conservatories containing the only representation Razzaq, A., Rashid, A., Islam, M., Iqbal, A. and Khan, H. revealed that there were 41 ethnobotanically of the indigenous plants species of a particular (2013). Ethnomedicinal profile and conservation status of plant important plants belonging to 22 Dicot, one area. They have also a rich representation of biodiversity in Alexander the Great Valley, District Shangla, Pakistan. J. Med. Plants Res. 7(20):1379-1386 Monocot and one Pteridophyte families. micro flora and fauna due to continuous decay Asteraceae was the leading family with 5 species and decomposition of dead bodies. followed by Mimosaceae with 4 species. Brassicaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Moraceae, REFERENCES Papilionaceae, Poaceae and Solanaceae had 3 Ali, S.I. and Nasir, Y. (1989-1991). Flora of Pakistan. species each. The remaining families had less Department of Botany, University of Karachi. than 3 species. Of the plants, 24 were shrubs, 10 Ali, S.I. and Qaiser, M. (1993-2013). Flora of Pakistan.