Ethnomedicinal uses of the Ferns of Shishikoh Valley, District Chitral, Pakistan

Abstract

The indigenous communities of Shishikoh valley are often using various ferns taxa regularly. The current research work was intended for documenting the ethnomedicinal knowledge of ferns. A total of 18 taxa were recorded that belonged to 9 genera and 6 families being used in the treatment of different ailments. Pteridaceae was the leading family with 6 taxa (33.33%), followed by Aspleniaceae with 4 taxa (22.22%), Athyriaceae and Equisetaceae each with 3 taxa (16.67%) followed by Dryopteridaceae and Marsileaceae each with 1 taxon (5.56%). The reported ferns taxa were used as anthelminthic, anti-rheumatic, astringent and wound healing agents and in the treatment of different ailments such as asthma, bronchitis, diarrhea, dysentery, gonorrhea, hepatitis, infertility, influenza, kidney disorders, measles, oral ulcer, oral thrush, pneumonia, pyelonephritis, pharyngitis, scorpion bite, sinusitis, tonsillitis and tuberculosis. Ethnomedicinal knowledge is a valuable source for the innovation of different allopathic, homeopathic and herbal drugs that are used for the treatment of different ailments. The fern species may be used commercially for medicinal purposes through sustainable way. Their proper cultivation and awareness about medicinal values among local community leads to discover new drugs.

Ethnomedicinal plants uses for the treatment of respiratory disorders in tribal District North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, Pakistan Authors

“…Furthermore, approximately 11% of vital drugs are derived from medicinal plants (Haq, 2004). Thus to analyze the utilization of therapeutic plants for the cure of ailments, the researcher obtained important information several years ago (Heinrich, 2000;Ullah et al 2022). Due to high price and side effect of allopathic drugs factors most of the indigenous communities depend on traditional medicinal plant for basic health care needs (Heinrich, 1997).…”

Biological Characterization of Polystichum lonchitis L. for Phytochemical and Pharmacological Activities in Swiss Albino Mice Model

“…The World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested that 80% of people prefer to use plant extracts to cure various diseases [ 3 ]. Medicinal plants have the potential to provide a way for pharmaceutical uses for human ailments owing to their active compounds and chemical constituents relevant to biological activities [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Pharmacology has grown over the years as a scientific discipline that describes the special effects of vigorous chemicals [ 6 ].…”

“…Pharmacology has grown over the years as a scientific discipline that describes the special effects of vigorous chemicals [ 6 ]. Pharmacological studies have an essential role in determining the effects of chemical agents upon physiological, universal, subcellular, or behavioral processes, focusing on the cure and prevention of different diseases [ 7 , 8 ]. Ferns are ancient flora in the plant kingdom, with current research suggesting that approximately 12,000 species exist globally [ 1 , 8 , 9 ].…”

Ethnoveterinary uses of medicinal plants amongst the tribal populations of District Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

“…It provides the chief source for the treatment of various disorders in livestock all over the world even today (Mir et al 2021(Mir et al , 2022. Man has used plant recipes for the curing of different diseases in their domesticated animals since the advent of human civilization (Khan et al 2021;Singh et al 2011;Rehman et al 2023;Ullah et al 2022;Abdin et al 2022).…”