Some Observations on Saudi Medicinal Plants of Veterinary Importance

Full Length Research Paper

Some observations on Saudi medicinal plants of veterinary importance

Mohammed N. Alyemeni, Hassan Sher*, and Leonard Wijaya

Department of Botany and Microbiology, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2455 Riyadh 11451 Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 19 October, 2010

Current study was undertaken during summer 2010 in Saudi Arabia, with the aim to investigate the significance of medicinal plants and their use in the treatment of different ailments in livestock. The plants were collected, properly identified, and their folklore traditional uses were recorded. Ethno-veterinary information was collected through the show-and-tell/semi-structured method and personal interviews during field trips. The methodology was largely based on the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, which is based on the premise that livelihood is not about resource productivity but it was about people and their lives. The study revealed 24 plants species to be of ethno-veterinary importance in traditional Saudi Medicine. The major traditional uses were to treat livestock for ailments such as: gastrointestinal disorders, fever, cough, respiratory tract infection, and urinary tract diseases, promote lactation, wound healing, placenta removal, devorming, carminative, and to cure paralysis and flatulence. It was noticed that a few plants were used singly while the others were used in combination with other plants or edible items. It was interesting to notice that some plants species were selectively used to treat a specific disease while several other plants had multiple uses. The data was collected on the local uses; local recipe preparation, application and disease treated for each medicinally important plant species. The data collected and observations made are useful for future record. The study concluded that knowledge of traditional healers about various medicinal plants used for animals health was strongly influenced by information recorded in Traditional Saudi Medicine. The current study accomplished the gaps existing between Traditional Saudi Medicine and the proper use of medicinal plants in animal care. It also became obvious that there was a strong influence on the standardization of plant knowledge among rural populations in Saudi Arabia. However, distinct local use of plants also existed; indicating that plant knowledge specific to the local Badous is alive and practiced. The study recommends scientific validity and toxicity tests of the medicinal plants used in traditional Arab system of medicine. Interestingly, it was observed that a type of interaction existed among the local Bedouins using medicinal plants to treat their animals and the traditional healers and experts practicing Traditional Saudi Medicine in rural population of Saudi Arabia. However, the current study recommended scientific validity and toxicity tests to be conducted on the medicinal plants used in traditional Arab system of medicine.

Key words: Medicinal plants, livestock, diseases, traditional system of medicine, local recipes.

INTRODUCTION

Saudi Arabian medicinal plants were found to provide Capparidaceae, Polygonaceae, Solanaceae and cure for several human and animal diseases in different Euphobiaceae were reported to be of great importance. regions of the country. The plants belonging to family: However, scientific work on other plants is a part of Leguminosae, Labiatae, Amaranthaceae, Compositae, continuous process (Abulafatih, 1987; Sher et al., 2010; 2010a; Katerere and Luseba, 2010). The current study was conducted in different parts of Saudi Arabia having high ecological and economic significance. The Kingdom *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected], is about 1,969,000 sq km and covers two thirds of the [email protected]. Arabian subcontinent. The country is known to have Alyemeni et al. 2299

different natural sites with great biological diversity and amounts of biological resources useful for industry, productivity and such sites are fundamental in the commercial products and world community (Hussain and synergistic framework of associated ecosystems (Ahmad Sher, 2005; Ozcan, 2005). Ethnobotany also can provide and Ghazanfar 1991; Ghazanfar 2007). Medicinal plants useful information in drug development thus saving time are known to show some variations in their distributional and money (Joshi, 1982; Sher et al., 2010). The study of behaviour in different countries, which may be attributed medicinal plants from traditional use by local people can to changes in water resources, climatic factors, edaphic lead to valuable information, allowing research to be variables and anthropogenic pressures along the done based on the empirical knowledge that should be elevation gradient (Wheater et al., 1997; Al-Quran, 2008; tested scientifically (Abbas et al., 2002). For that, there Al-Yemeni and Sher, 2010b; Djoghlaf, 2010). should be an analysis of medicinal plants in several The vegetation composition of Saudi Arabia reflects the aspects: anthro-pological, social, chemical, pharma- geographical position of the Arabian Peninsula between cological, botanical, ecological, agronomic and others Asia, Africa and Europe. As a result, the flora has many (Katerere and Luseba, 2010; Sushila et al., 2010). elements of two of the eight global terrestrial realms; Collection and processing of medicinal plants is well namely the Palaearctic (Europe and Asia) and the Afro- recognized practice in Saudi Arabia with particular tropical (Africa south of the Sahara) as well as a smaller reference to the present study areas. However, the complement of elements from the Indo-Malayan unregulated collection of medicinal plants for routine terrestrial realm. It is thus, an area of ecological and domestic use or its market sale have long been an impor- academic significance (Ghazanfar, 2007; Saganuwan, tant economic activity in the Arabian Peninsula, which is 2010). The general scope of ethno-botany, an area of known to cause habitat loss of plant species survival, human ecology, was well defined earlier as the interface their genetic depletion and in an often-rapid downward between people and their plant resources and offers trend of their populations. Therefore, the present clues needed for rural development based on sustainable endeavour was initiated with the aim to prepare an yields of forest products (Ali et al., 2002; Soetan and ethnoveternary inventory of medicinal plants along with Aiyelaagbe, 2009; Bachaya et al., 2009). its current traditional uses in traditional system of Arab The climate of Saudi Arabia can be characterized as medicine for the treatment of different livestock ailments. arid (Azaizeh et al., 2003; Al-Yemeni et al., 2006; Al- The present study area is ethnobotanically unexplored Quran, 2008). Ecologically, such zones are fragile and and rich in plants resources. The finding may be of help difficult to develop and use. Except in limited areas, the for further research and for those working in relevant vegetation of arid areas is sparse and usually highly disciplines of biodiversity conser-vation. Moreover, the specialized both morphologically as well as documentation of plant knowledge will be useful also as a physiologically (Zahran et al., 1985; Blench, 2004). baseline for future questions related to poverty Hence, this region has been regarded as a natural alleviation, such as whether the cultivation of medicinal reservoir for the collection of a variety of wild medicinal plants could provide an additional income source for and aromatic plants (Sher et al., 2010). Unfor-tunately, farmers in the area. many such plant species are collected by local communities without any reference to conservation needs MATERIALS AND METHODS in Saudi Arabia; rather they collect and sell plants both in local as well as international market, just to earn some A combination of quantitative and qualitative research methods was money to support their lives in mountainous and arid undertaken in various parts of the study. Qualitative data were parti- environment. cularly useful in understanding people's perspectives, meanings, Such practices in turn might lead to cause irreversible attitudes, beliefs, goals and processes for interpreting quantitative damages in the fragile ecosystems in different zones of data (Abbas et al., 2002). The concepts of validity and reliability were applied for the integration of qualitative and quantitative the country (Sher et al., 2004). In addition, conversion of techniques. The fieldwork was conducted during summer 2010 in natural habitats into agricultural land has greatly various parts of Saudi Arabia. decreased the population size of many economi-cally A semi-structured questionnaire was devised to document the important medicinal plants and other forest resources in traditional knowledge of local people regarding medicinal plants. Saudi Arabia. As a result, many econo-mically and Generally, elder persons whose practical knowledge was respected by others and those who practice popular folk medicines for the pharmaceutically important plant species become rare curing of different livestock diseases were contacted and and sparse in several parts of Saudi Arabia (Earth, 2003; interviewed about the plants. Sher and Hussain, 2009; Djoghlaf, 2010). Information about the local names, local uses, parts used, time of Both for human as well as animals, medicinal plants collection, processing and recipe preparation were known and occupy important position in traditional as well as modern recorded from those local peoples. Plants specimens were system of medicines due to their low toxicity (Sher and collected dried preserved and mounted on standard herbarium sheets and were identified with the help of available literature Hussain, 2009; Saganuwan, 2010). Ethnobotany allows (James, 1990; Chaudhary and Al-Jowaid, 1999) and The interaction between researchers with the local people that International Plant Names Index (IPNI 2008). The information on have the knowledge about the use of plants (Abbas et al., medicinal plants of the present study was compared with standard 2002). These people manage and conserve significant literature on medicinal plants in the Arabian Peninsula (Sher et al., 2300 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Table 1. Medicinal plants used in ethnoveterinary practices in Saudi Arabia.

S. No Family name Botanical name Local name Diseases, treated Animals 1 Aliaceae Allium sativum Tums Gastrointestinal disorders Camels, cows 2 Araceae Arisaema flavum Dakhaf Cough and respiratory tract infection Cows and Camels

3 Asteraceae Artimisia scoparia Slika, Gastrointestinal disorders All types of livestock Senecio asirensis Hashma Fever Sheeps, goats, cow and Camels

4 Barbeyaceae Barbeya oleoides Kathah Gastrointestinal disorders Camels, cows, goats and sheep 5 Brassicaseae Lipidium sativum Rashaad Gastrointestinal disorders Cows and Camels 6 Caryophyllaceae Stellaria media Qazzaza Gastrointestinal disorders All livestock 7 Flacourtiaceae Oncoba spinosa Unqab Urinary tract diseases Cows and Camels 8 Fumariaceae Fumaria abyssinica Shahtaraj Fever All types of livestock 9 Frankeniaceae Frankenia aucheri Hamrah Promote lactation Cows and Camels 10 Hypericaceae Hypericum revolutum Idhrar Wound healing Cows, Camels, goats and sheep 11 Loranthaceae Oncocalyx schimperi Ghashiyah Flatulence Cow, Camels and goats 12 Malvaceae Alcea rosea Khatami Carminative and deworning agent Cows, Camels goats and sheeps 13 Pittosporaceae Pittosporum viridiflorum AlHowarradasb Increase lactation and tonic Cows, Camels and goats 14 Primulaceae Primula verticillata Khaa Fever and body tonic Camels 15 Polygonaceae Polygonum argyrocoleum Qorda'b Paralysis Cows, Camels and goat 16 Rumex nervosus Aathrab Constipation Cows, Camels and goat 17 Rananculaceae Ranunculus muricatus Shaqaiq As deworming agent All types of livestock 18 Sterculiaceae Glossostemon bruguieri Moghat Gastrointestinal disorders Cows, Camels, sheeps and Goats 19 Salvadoraceae Salvadora persica L Miswak plant Gastrointestinal disorders, increase milk production Goats, Cows and Camels 20 Tiliaceae Grewia gilleti i Nasham For killing ticks, lices etc Cows and Camels 21 Urticaceae Urtica dioica Haraqa Increase milk production Cows and Camels

2010). The nomenclature was later on confirmed from cows, goats, sheep and camels. These 24 more than 12 different diseases, therapeutic Herbarium, King Saud, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The Plants species were distributed among 20 families, out of indications and pharmacological actions were are arranged and documented according to their 18 are dicotyledons and 2 are monocots families. recorded while documenting plant remedies. The evolutionary division. Medicinal plants of ethno-veterinary importance most often mentioned ailments were urinary tract are used either in isolation or in combination with infection, digestive system, fever, cold or flu RESULTS other medicinal plants. inflammations, flatulence, removal of external Similarly, few plants species are considered for parasites, deworming. The main uses coincide The study revealed that there were total 24 plants the treatment of only one specific disease while with the Arab Traditional System of Medicine species used in ethnoveterinary practices by the several other have multiple such uses (Table 1). descriptions but, additional administrations and local people rearing different livestock especially The results shown in Table 1 also showed that preparations were also found in the study areas. Alyemeni et al. 2301

Ethnoveterinary uses of some medicinal plants Part used: Fruit Local Name: Unqab A. Dicotyledons families Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 04-26 Local uses: Powdered fruit is mixed with wheat or 1. Family: Asteraceae corn flour and is given to cattle for the treatment of urinary tract diseases. 1. Artimisia scoparia Waldst. and Kit. Habit: Herb 6. Family: Fumariaceae Part used: Leaves and floral parts 7. Fumaria abyssinica Husskin Local name: Slika, Salmas Habit: Herb Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 04-21 Part used: Whole plant Local uses: Powdered leaves and floral parts are mixed Local Name: Shahtaraj with wheat flour and is given in bolus form to camels and Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-27 cows for improving their digestive power. Local uses: Decoction of plants is given to all type of livestock for curing of fever and also condidered as 2. Senecio asirensis Boulos and JRI Wood refrigerant agent. Habit: Herb Part used: Root 7. Family: Frankeniaceae Local name: Hashma 8. Frankenia aucheri Jaub and sapch Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-22 Habit: Shrub Local uses: Fresh or dried ground roots are mixed Part used: Roots with wheat or corn flour, locally and is given to goats and Local Name: Hamrah sheep for the treatment of fever. Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-28 Local uses: The powdered rhizome is mixed with milk 2. Family Barbeyaceae and is given to cows and camels especially in winter to 3. Barbeya oleoides Schweinf. promote lactation. Habit: Tall Shrub Part used: Root 8. Family: Hypericaceae Local Name: Kathah 9. Hypericum revolutum Vahl. Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 06-23 Habit: Herb Local uses: Dried ground bark of the root is mixed Part used: Root with wheat flour and is given to cows, goats and sheeps Local Name: Idhrar for improving digestion. It is also considered to maintain Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 06-29 health. Local uses: Dry powdered root is mixed with wheat flour and is given to cattle for the treatment of wounds. 3. Family: Brassicaceae 4. Lipidium sativum L. 9. Family: Loranthaceae Habit: Herb 10. Oncocalyx schimperi (Hochst.ex A. Rich)M.G. Part used: Fruit (Seed) Habit: Shrubby Herb Local Name: Rashaad Part used: Leaves Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 04-24 Local name: Ghashiyah Local uses: A decoction of mature seeds is given Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-30 orally to cows for curing colic problem. It is also Local uses: Dried ground leaves are used locally in considered as purgative. bolus form to relive flatulence in cattle.

4. Family: Caryophyllaceae 11. Plicosepalus curviflorus (Benth) 5. Stellaria media (L.) Cyr. Habit: Woody Parasite Habit: Herb Part used: Stem Part used: Whole plant Local name: A'namah Local Name: Qazzaza Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-31 Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 04-25 Local uses: Dried ground Stems are used to increase Local uses: The plant is mixed with other fodder lactation in cattle. crops and is considered as appetizer agent. 12. Tapinanthus globiferus A.Rich. 5. Family: Flacourtiaceae Habit: Woody Parasite 6. Oncoba spinosa Forssk. Part used: Stem Habit: Tree Local name: Hadhal 2302 J. Med. Plant. Res.

Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-32 Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-38 Local uses: Fresh Stems are given orally to all types Local uses: The powdered rhizome is mixed with wheat of livestock for the treatment of fever and removal of flour and Dalda Ghee and is used as dewarming agent placenta after parturition. in cattle.

10. Family: Malvaceae 15. Family: Sterculiaceae 13. Alcea rosea L. 19. Glossostemon bruguieri Desf Habit: Herb Habit: Herb Part used: Leaves and fruits Part used: Root Local Name: Khatami Local Name: Moghat Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-33 Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 04-39 Local uses: The powdered leaves, young branches Local uses: Locally, the dried leaves are crushed and and fruits are locally mixed with wheat flour and used as mixed with wheat flour and are used to cure diarrhea in a carminative and de-warming agent, in cattle. cattle.

11. Family: Pittosporaceae 16. Family: Salvadoraceae 14. Pittosporum viridiflorum Sim. 20. Salvadora persica L. Habit: Tall Shrub Habit: Tree Part used: Roots Part used: Leaves Local Name: Al-Howarradasb Local Name: Miswak Tree Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-34 Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-40 Local uses: Powdered roots are given to cattle in Local uses: Dried ground leaves are given orally to bolus form, to increase lactation, and also as general the cattle for the removal of liver fluke and intestinal body tonic. worms. Also used in stomach disorders.

12. Family: Primulaceae 17. Family: Tiliaceae 15. Primula verticillata Forssk 21. Grewia gilletii Sebsebe and Mathew. Habit: Herb Habit: Shrub Part used: Rhizome Part used: Shoot and leaves Local Name: Khaa.Hainan Local Name: Nasham Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-35 Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-41 Local uses: The ground rhizome is given to the Local uses: Locally, the decoction is applied Camels in water to treat fever and as a general body superficially on skin for killing the ticks, lives and other tonic. insects in the skin of cattle.

13. Family: Polygonaceae 18. Family: Urticaceae 16. Polygonum argyrocoleum Ssteudel ex Kunze 22. Urtica dioica L. Habit: Herb Habit: Herb Part used: Root Part used: Leaves Local Name: Qorda'b Local Name: Haraqa Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 06-36 Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 06-42 Local uses: Fresh ground root is given to cattle in Local uses: The whole plant is mixed with other bolus for curing of paralysis in cattle. fodder crops in considerable amount for increase in milk production in cattle. 17. Rumex nervosus Vahl. Habit: Herb B. Monocot families Part used: Leaves Local Name: Aathrab 19. Family: Aliaceae Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 04-37 23. Allium sativum L. Local uses: Fresh crushed leaves are mixed with Habit: Herb wheat flour for the treatment of constipation in cattle. Part used: Bulb Local name: Tums 14. Family: Ranunculaceae Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 05-43 18. Ranunculus muricatus L. Local uses: Locally, the ground bulb of Allium Habit: Herb sativum is mixed with wheat flour and is given to Camels Part used: Rhizome and cows to combat digestive tract diseases and to Local name: Shaqaiq enhance digestion. It is also used for heating the cows Alyemeni et al. 2303

and camels. was also noticed that the reported plants were severely grazed by the local livestock. Overgrazing caused the 20. Family: Araceae destruction, as green parts were removed and/or 24. Arisaema flavum (Forrsk.) Schott damaged due to trampling. Therefore, it became impera- Habit: Herb tive to manage the grazing system and encourage the Part used: Rhizome regeneration of medicinal plants (Goshi, 1997; Sher et Local name: Dakhaf al., 2010). Voucher specimen number: H-KAU / 04-44 The present study, suggested to introducing some Local uses: Its dry rhizome is boiled for a little while management measures to be taken jointly with the parti- and then is crushed and given to cows and Camels in cipation of local communities, via village administrative small amount with wheat flour for curing of respiratory council, in order to conserve medicinal plant resources tract infections with cough. from becoming extinct. The foremost important thing is to give awareness and training to local communities on multidimensional basis about sustainable exploitation of DISCUSSION medicinal plant wealth in hillsides management for plant resources. Finally, the present study, also recommend The result of the present investigation can generally be scientific validity and toxicity tests of the reported applied to agriculture forestry. In addition, the findings medicinal plants used for the treatment of different might be of great interest to the pharmaceutical industries livestock ailments in Traditional Arab Medicine. dealing with medicinal plant products. The inhabitants of the area might be benefited from their forest which comes mainly in the form of vast array of forest products, most of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS which are non-timber forest products, especially medicinal plants. In this context, ethno-veterinary knowledge The authors greatly thank the College of Science deals with the traditional uses of plants in the indigenous Research Center Deanship for Scientific Research of system for the curing of different livestock ailments. The King Saud University for their financial support. They also present study area is rich in plant diversity, which is most thankful to the local communities for their willingness to significantly associated with the life and practices of the sharing their valuable empirical knowledge and hill side dwellers of the area. The present investigation experiences on wild medicinal plants use for curing revealed that 24 plant species are used for the treatment different livestock ailments. of different livestock diseases. These plants are used to treat about 13 different types of livestock diseases. 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