Important medicinal plant species with traditional uses in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Abstract
Determining the pharmacognostic specifications of medicinal plants used in several drugs is very necessary and actually crucial. Ethnobotany has significant role in understanding the active relations between the biological diversity and cultural systems. Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is gifted with variety of medicinal plants. The theme of this chapter is to present information about wild medicinal plants in different areas of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Common woody species are Diospyros lotus, Taxus wallichiana, Viburnum cylindricum, and perennial herbs comprise Geranium nepalense, Oxalis acetosella and Androsace umbellata. Betula utilis, Berberis lycium, Cedrus deodara, Abies pindrow, Pinus wallichiana, Juglans regia and Salix species with large number of herbal diversity at elevations are common. Most of people use wild plants as traditional food and medicine. This ethnic flora not only plays important role in human health care but it is also an important source for present and future drug development. There is need for correct documentation, conservation of plants samples in herbarium of research institutes, and growing plants in gardens.
Keywords
- medicinal plants
- Himalaya Kashmir
- ethno-veterinary resources
- ethno mycological data
- plant parts
- sustainable use
1. Introduction
Azad Jammu and Kashmir valley extends between 34°22′25 North latitude and 73°28′14 East longitude. Muzaffarabad is capital city of Kashmir and total area covered by Kashmir valley is 13,297 square kilometers. Estimated population of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is about 4-million. Mean maximum temperature was documented during summer (16 °C–24 °C) while −4 °C was recorded mean minimum temperature during winter. AJK is rich in diversity of plants because of its expanded habitations, such as streams, springs, nullahs, lakes, rivers, steep mountain slopes and roads, waste lands and cultivated fields, etc.
2. Geographical conditions and topography
The area of valley can be divided into two geographical zones; East and North are mostly hilly and mountainous categorized by undulating terrain, deep ravines, and rugged (Neelum, Muzaffarabad, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Poonch, and Sudhnoti) while South and West are valleys and plains (Kotli, Mirpur, Bhimber) (Figure 1).
3. Flora and plant diversity
In AJK, vegetation can be divided into four groups:
Subtropical vegetation is further divided into Dry scrub forest vegetation and Pine forest vegetation
Temperate forest vegetation further divided into Moist Temperate and Dry Temperate Forest vegetation
Sub alpine vegetation
Alpine vegetation
The Himalaya Kashmir is documented as worldwide epicenter of endemism and plant diversity. Accordance to the report of Pei [1], in Himalayan range, total number of plant species is about 25,000 and total number of angiosperms in Kashmir Himalaya is about 3,054 [2]. About 80% endemic angiosperms is in Pakistan are confined to Northern and Western mountains [3, 4]. 70–80% of population in this region depends on traditional medicines for health care and in Himalayan ranges; at least 70% of the medicinal plants and animals in the region consists of wild species [5]. A total of 104 medicinal plant species including tree, shrubs and herb species used ethnobotanically by the local people of Muzaffarabad were reported from Machyara National Park Muzaffarabad [6, 7]. Most of People living in mountains regions use plants in different ways such as medicines, fire wood, timber wood, food, fodder etc. [8].
4. Historical evidence of wild plants usage
Medicinal plants are considered as safe medication and it is also naturally valuable remedy for many human sufferings in rural and remote hilly regions of Kashmir [9]. Due to the lack of advanced medicinal services, usage of flora as ethno medicine is renowned. Traditional curative usage of herbal plants by indigenous populations of AJK has been stated ([10] a&b; [11]). Saghir et al. [12] found 53 plant species useful mostly as medicinal, fuel, fodder, fruit, timber and vegetables reported from Chikar and allied areas of District Muzaffarabad. Gorsi and Shahzad [13] documented medicinal flora and suggested regeneration work to save the traditional knowledge about plants of Dirkot. Ishtiaq et al. [14] stated that plants are indirectly related to the culture and they stated 36 plant species used for the treatment of various diseases in Samahni valley. Khan et al. [15] indicated that the inhabitants of Poonch Valley utilized 169 plant species for more than 30 domestic needs. Ajaib et al. [16] provided ethnobotanical data on medicinal flora of district Kotli by reporting 38 species of shrubs. Saqib et al. [17] studied the medicinal flora of mountainous areas of AJK. Some of medicinally important plant species include
5. Documentation on remedial flora of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)
The original printed data of plants as medication initiating from the Himalayas date back to ancient scripts of the Rigveda, monitored by Auryveda (600–100 BC)and Atharveveda (2000–1000 BC). Northern mountains of Pakistan located at intersection of three Mountain ranges i.e., Himalaya, Karakorum and Hindu Kush are well recognized for their biodiversity [21]. Azad Jammu and Kashmir is endowed with productive variety of medicinal plants. It has been stated on many curative practices of plants by the indigenous populations [10, 14, 22, 23]. For above 10,000 classes of curative and scented plants, 600 million folks exist in in Himalayan section. In Himalayan ranges, 70% of therapeutic flora comprise of wild species [19]. Northern regions including Kashmir are in pressure from indigenous people and tourists. Primary reasons include unselective displacing and storing systems of remedial plants. Therefore, therapeutic tradition needs to be recognized and protected. Hundreds of species are currently endangered for the reason of excessive harvesting. Northern mountainous areas have several climatic and vegetation regions. These diverse natural regions have distinctive ethnobotanical vital plants that are significant for the economy of a nation. For traditional medications People of AJK are generating massive stress on flora by damaging those [20]. In north-western zones of Pakistan, several ethnobotanical trainings have been convoyed and which have assembled evidence on the usage of therapeutic flora [4]. The valuable ethnobotanical data is declining owing to the deficiency of awareness and information.
6. Folklore of wild plants in medicine
Azad Jammu and Kashmir is gifted with dynamic variety of medicinal plants. Below, we discuss some wild fruits and vegetables commonly used by indigenous people of AJK. Main wild fruits of the valley are
Botanical name | Family | Common name | Traditional uses | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Wall.ex. Benth. | Lamiaceae | Heri-booti | A decoction is used for curing intestinal ulcer, jaundice, throat infection and high blood pressure |
2. | Papaveraceae | Dudhli kandyari | Seeds are analgesic and laxative. | |
3. | Apocynaceae | — | The bark is used to treat malaria, fever, asthma and tumors. | |
4. | Amaranthaceae | Ganar | Leaves are used on scorpion sting and snake bite. Root juice is used to treat constipation and inflammation during urination | |
5. | Amaranthaceae | Itsit | Roots and leaves are blood purifier and diuretic. | |
6. | Lamiaceae | — | Decoction of leaves is anti-rheumatic and used in stomachic and toothache. | |
7. | Amaranthaceae | Puth kanda | Leaves are used in pneumonia and asthma. | |
8. | Mimosaceae | Sreeia | Seeds are used for curing kidney infection | |
9. | Caesalpiniaceae | Katchnar | Fruit is edible and useful for leprosy and skin diseases. | |
10. | (Lam.) Taubert | Papilionaceae | Chechra | Gum is tonic given for backache after birth. |
11. | Buddlejaceae | Batta | Used for skin disease, and as a cure for loss of weight | |
12. | Acanthaceae | — | Seeds are antidote for snake bites and for serious catarrhal infections | |
13. | Amaranthaceae | Sanati | Improve eyesight, diuretic and useful in controlling blood sugar levels | |
14. | Boraginaceae | Kalu | Leaves infusion is sedative | |
15. | Baill | Euphorbiaceae | — | Leaves control blood pressure |
16. | Menispermaceae | Batrarr | A rhizome decoction and pounded leaves are externally applied as a febrifuge and stomachic, cough and snake bite | |
17. | Apocynaceae | Grunda | Fruit is edible and blood purifier | |
18. | Caesalpiniaceae | Amaltas | The root helps in reliving the symptoms of fever, asthma, leprosy and heart related diseases | |
19. | Chenopodiaceae | Bathwa | This plant is laxative | |
20. | Vitaceae | Dakh | Fruit is good for abdominal diseases | |
21. | Asclepiadaceae | Desi akk | Plant extract is applied on dog bite. Latex is used for skin diseases and ring worm. | |
22. | (Ait.) | Cannabinaceae | Bhang | Root is used for liver disorders. Leaves and flowers are analgesic, sedative, narcotic, laxative and aphrodisiac. |
23. | Cuscutaceae | Neel Dhari | Its infusion is anti-lice. It is also used in skin diseases and weaknesses of children. | |
24. | Chenopodiaceae | Bathwa | Leaves are anthelmintic and laxative | |
25. | Convolvulaceae | Rawari | Root is diuretic and purgative | |
26. | (L.) C. Jeffery | Cucurbitaceae | Plant is used for skin diseases and cough | |
27. | Jacq. | Sapindaceae | Sanatha | Decoction of wood is used as febrifuge and skin diseases |
28. | Papilionaceae | Tali | Branches kill worms in sthe teeth | |
29. | Myrtaceae | Jaman | It is used for the treatment of cancer | |
30. | (Hausskn.)Pugsley | Fumariaceae | Papra | Its infusion is used as diaphoretic, blood purifier and antipyretic |
31. | Moraceae | Phugwara | Fruit is laxative, soothes bee sting | |
32. | Celastraceae | It is used for treatment of cough, asthma, tonic and abdominal pain | ||
33. | Rubiaceae | Lahndara | Plant extract is diuretic | |
34. | K.Koch. | Araliaceae | Leaves are used for treatment of diabetes | |
35. | Acanthaceae | Bhakar | It is used to treat colds, coughs, asthma, fevers, skin infections and inflammations | |
36. | Juglandaceae | Khor | Root and leaves are antiseptic. Fruit is aphrodisiac, remove stones in gall bladder | |
37. | Malvaceae | Sonchul | Leaves extract is anthelmintic | |
38. | Euphorbiaceae | Kamella | Fruit is purgative and anthelmintic | |
39. | Papilionaceae | Sriri | Leaves are helpful in digestive disorders | |
40. | Meliaceae | Draik | Leaves and fruit are blood purifier, antipyretic and antidiabetic | |
41. | Malvaceae | Leaves paste relieve pain. Flowers are diaphoretic | ||
42. | Moraceae | Kala Toot | Fruit is tonic and used for throat irritation and cough | |
43. | Lamiaceae | Jangli podina | Leaves are carminative and stimulant. Leaves are antispasmodic | |
44. | Brassicaceae | Chooch | The leaves and stem are used for internal tumors, scurvy and anemia | |
45. | Apocynaceae | Gandeera | Leaves decoction is applied on skin diseases | |
46. | Oxalidaceae | Khati Buti | Leaves decoction is used in dysentery and fever | |
47. | Plantaginaceae | Leaf extract is applied to wounds, sores and bruises; seeds are purgative | ||
48. | Sargent | Pinaceae | Cheer | Resin is used for bleeding wounds and tumors and cough. Leaves and bark powder is useful for dysentery |
49. | Papaveraceae | Jangli post | Its infusion is blood purifier, antipyretic, and diaphoretic | |
50. | Decne | Asclepidiaceae | Bata | It is used for treatment of swellings and tumors |
51. | Polygonaceae | Herfli | Leaves are astringent and diuretic | |
52. | (Wall.) Brandis | Rhamnaceae | Clader | Fruit and leaves are used in hemorrhagic septicemia |
53. | Ranunculaceae | Kor- Kandoli | Fruits and leaves are useful on bursts and tumor |
Scientific name | Family | Common name | Ethno veterinary practices | Ailments | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Amaranthaceae | Safed kannar | Decoctions | Malaria | |
2. | (Forssk.) Schoot | Araceae | Toosh | Infusion | Mouth and foot disease of cattle |
3. | Araceae | Tooshganda | As whole plant | Inflammation, cholera, dysentery, flu, dyspepsia and snake bite | |
4. | Asteraceae | Bghoo | Decoction | Antiscorbutic, anthelmintic, and diaphoretic | |
5. | Asteraceae | Korijari | The whole plant | Pinworms | |
6. | Sapindaceae | Bankhorr | Decoction/dried plant powder is mixed with gurr and flour | Indigestion and constipation | |
7. | Meliaceae | Drek | Powder | Anthelmintic | |
8. | Moraceae | Pagaaar | Whole | Anorexia | |
9. | Saxifragaceae | Butpeewa | Powder | Stomachic and intestinal troubles | |
10. | Polygonaceae | Khattra | As fodder | Antimicrobial, bactericidal and diuretic | |
11. | Primulaceae | Chiatpatra | Decoction | Dysuria, hepatic fever and hemoglobinuria | |
12. | Rosaceae | Karleee | As fodder | Stimulant |
7. Wild mushrooms
Morel collection is an important activity during spring season and villagers take keen interest in collection of morels as it provides them a source of income. Mushroom flora and species diversity as important component of the natural environment in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Wild mushrooms are sources of edible proteins, dietary fiber, essential amino acids, carbohydrates, and are an important source of food, livelihood, and traditional ethnobotanical health care. Kashmir region is rich with unknown macro fungal wealth. Among total morel population of Pakistan, 90% was reported from the Himalayan mountain ranges of Northern Pakistan. Wild edible fungi dominate the global morel trade, with an estimated value of more than US$2 billion. Ullah et al. [26] reported 56 wild edible mushrooms in Pakistan, of which 44 are from the Kashmir region. Important species include
Although Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have ample of medicinal plants to treat broad spectrum of ailments, there are many factors which are contributing for loss of ethnic flora e.g. over grazing, over exploitation, fire, deforestation etc. Lack of concern in the present generation has wiped out many rich wild flora of the area. It is necessary to create awareness about the usefulness of the flora. Cultivation of threatened medicinal plants should be encouraged by the local community in order to relieve pressure on wild plants. People should spread useful information on conservation and sustainable use of the natural resources of the area. There must be correct documentation, conservation of plants samples in herbarium of research institutes, and growing plants in gardens.
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