Ethnomedicinal relevance of selected monocot taxa from different geographical regions of Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Pakistan has a unique biodiversity of monocotyledon flora and due to its unique climatic condition a huge number of medicinal plants are distributed in the area. Ethnobotany plays a crucial role in understanding the dynamic relationships between biological diversity and social and cultural systems. However, studies about the ethnomedicinal significance of monocot taxa in Pakistan are very limited.Methods: This study documented the indigenous uses of selected medicinal monocot taxa. The ethnomedicinal data was obtained through semi-structured interviews with the local men, women and herbalists of the area. The ethnomedicinal data were analyzed by different quantitative indices i.e. Use value (UV), frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), and information consent factor (ICF).Results: In the present study, selected medicinal monocots belonging to seven families were collected from different geographical regions of Pakistan. Family Amaryllidaceae was reported as higher number of used species. Most often used parts were noted as bulbs followed by leaves and roots. The most frequent mode of preparation method was found as a decoction and raw form. Nine different disease categories were reported including respiratory diseases, antidote, gynecological problems, urogenital problems, digestive disorders, glandular disorders, blood circularity system disorders, dermatological problems, and musculoskeletal disorders. Among them, the respiratory disorders show the high value of ICF. Conclusion:The study document showed that selected monocot taxa were used as folk medicine against various diseases. Medicinal monocots having high used value help to identify a phytochemical compound that is bioactive and indispensable for the synthesis of novel drugs for various diseases.

Ethnobotanical inventory and indigenous therapeutic applications of wild medicinal plants in Parishing valley, District Astore, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

“…The survey highlighted the prevalence of oral administration, followed by topical usage. This aligns with prior studies emphasizing the preferred status of oral administration (Bahadur et al 2023, Tahir et al 2023. Decoction emerges as the predominant method, constituting 63% of traditional medicinal applications.…”

“…Decoction emerges as the predominant method, constituting 63% of traditional medicinal applications. Similar results were found in different regions of Pakistan by (Bahadur et al 2023). This method involves boiling plant materials to efficiently extract medicinal compounds, yielding a potent and easily consumable form of traditional medicine, often incorporated into teas and infusions.…”

“…In the study area, most of the reported medicinal plant species were herbs with 65 species (72%) used to cure different ailments by the people of the Parishing Valley, showcasing their adaptability. Previous studies also indicated that herbs were at the leading position to use in traditional medicine, (Cooper et al 2005, Teklehaymanot 2009, Bahadur et al 2023, Guo et al 2023. The prevalence of herbs is ecologically significant, contributing to biodiversity and potentially holding cultural or medicinal importance within the community.…”

“…The use of herbal treatments for digestive issues is a common practice worldwide. Over the past few decades, there has been increasing attention in research on medicinal plants and their uses in various parts of Pakistan (Bahadur et al 2023). In the last few years, a wealth of information has been compiled, shedding light on how ethnic communities worldwide, Pakistan included, rely on plants for traditional healing practices.…”

“…In the last few years, a wealth of information has been compiled, shedding light on how ethnic communities worldwide, Pakistan included, rely on plants for traditional healing practices. (Jimenez-Arellanes et al 2003, Kayani et al 2014, Bahadur et al 2023.…”