Illegal wildlife trade is a great threat to the conservation efforts made worldwide to save wildlife species and their parts. Use of molecular methods, including DNA barcoding, is gaining acceptance to detect cross-border movement of endangered species. Here we report the utility of DNA barcoding in the detection of smuggling of an endangered turtle species from Pakistan. The consignment labeled as “fish meat” was intercepted at a Pakistani port and was tested for its source using DNA Barcoding with fish-specific primers. Sequences from the samples from this consignment matched (99%) with those from Lissemys punctata (Indian flap-shelled turtle), a species listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This report highlights the problem of smuggling protected species under false pretenses and the importance of DNA barcoding in stopping such illegal trade.
Background: Most of the medicinal plants are available as wild or weeds in the world including Pakistan. It was reported by many researchers that Pakistan is rich with medicinal flora based upon the surveys conducted in the Northern areas but still there are some areas other than Northern parts in Pakistan that has not been studied so far. There is a need to explore the medicinal flora from neglected area where most of the people still rely on local medicinal plants to cure their diseases by means of indigenous knowledge. District Gujrat is among those area that has not been explored to study the medicinal flora.Methods: Surveys were conducted to collect the indigenous knowledge and medicinal significance of seasonal weeds in Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan in winter 2018 and summer 2019. Information collected through questionnaire and interviews.Results: Weeds have much importance among local inhabitants to cure many diseases as respiratory disorders, kidney and liver disorders, muscle and skeletal disorders, ear, nose and throat problems, dermatological disorders, fever, diabetes, cancer etc. The plant parts and its percentage used by local inhabitants were leaves (58%), fruits (36%), seeds (25%), whole plant (34%), roots (32%), milky latex (1%), flowers (8%) and stem (3%). The most important families were Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Polygonaceae and Solanaceae. Cichorium intybus L. (Asteraceae) had 100% Fidelity Level (FL) value as liver tonic and blood purifier. Highest 0.76 Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) values were noted against stomach, gastric, intestinal and digestive problems. Achyranthes aspera L. (Amaranthaceae) showed the highest Fidelity Level (FL) values that was 93% used gastrointestinal disorders and menstrual pain.Conclusions: It was concluded that the area of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan is a rich source of important medicinal weeds that needs to be utilized for useful medicinal purpose. There is need to create awareness among the farmers and local people about the efficacy of weeds.
SummaryIntroduction: Medicinal plants are the natural source of medicines used in treatment of many diseases among local communities of various countries. It is also the raw material for the pharmaceutical industry. Pakistan is a country with a variety of medicinal plants, comprehensively studied in some areas, while others still need more studies of their flora.Objectives: The study was performed to catalogue the flora of district Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan and to assess its ethnomedicinal importance.Methods: A field survey was conducted in the Gujrat district (including Sarai Alamgir, Gujrat and Kharian) in 2019–2020 to collect the flora. Nearly 200 people of various age groups were interviewed and the questionnaire was filled, the gender and professions of the participants were also noted.Results: The plant species collected belonged to 32 different Angiosperm families i.e. Poaceae, Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Moraceae, Amaranthaceae, Apiaceae, Myrtaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Lamiaceae. The obtained material consisted of 30 herbs, 20 shrubs and 22 trees. The floral parts used most often were leaves (63%) followed by: flower (41%), fruit (28%), stem (16%), seed (16%), bark (14%), root (13%), whole plant (12%), underground part (3%) and latex (3%). According to the study, the highest RFC (Relative Frequency of Citation) values were 0.1 in Cassia fistula L. (0.25) and the smallest RFC values were observed in Stellaria media (L.) Vill. – 0.025. The highest UV (Use Values) were noted for Achyranthes aspera L. at 0.9. In disease category, the highest value (0.67) of ICF (Informant Consensus Factor) was observed for stomach and skin infections, while the lowest ICF value was noted for diabetes and gonorrhoea (0.27).Conclusions: It was concluded that the Gujrat district is rich in useful plants that can be used in the preparation of various medicines as well as be sold on the herbal market.
Background: Fenugreek is an important winter leafy vegetable in Pakistan with high nutritional values. Its seeds are used as spices and whole plant is used in many home remedies and medicine throughout the world. Its foliage and seed productivity is much low in the region. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) and vitamins (riboflavin) can be useful for the enhancement of plant productivity. Methods: Treatments of indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA3) and riboflavin (50 mmol L-1 each) were applied as foliar spray after 14 days of sowing on fenugreek variety Kasuri Methi. Experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) with six replicates. Result: Result showed that GA3 and IAA has significantly enhanced the root and shoot development, foliage growth and ions concentrations, peroxidase (POD) and catalases (CAT) activities. PGRs also increased the pod and seed yield of fenugreek. Riboflavin did not show any significant effect on fenugreek except increased the antioxidant activities at seedling stage. GA3 was more effective as compared to IAA for the enhancement biomass production, yield and biochemical attributes of fenugreek. It was determined that IAA and GA3 can be used to enhance the foliage biomass production and yield but GA3 is superior over IAA in fenugreek. These outcomes can be useful for economic benefits with high production of this leafy vegetable.
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