Exploration of ethnomedicinal plants and their practices in human and livestock healthcare in Haripur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Background The utilization of plants and plant resources for various ethnobotanical purposes is a common practice in local towns and villages of developing countries, especially in regard to human and veterinary healthcare. For this reason, it is important to unveil and document ethnomedicinal plants and their traditional/folk usage for human and livestock healthcare from unexplored areas. Here we advance our findings on ethnomedicinal plants from Haripur District, Pakistan, not only for conservation purposes, but also for further pharmacological screenings and applied research. Methodology Information of ethnomedicinal plants was obtained using a carefully planned questionnaire and interviews from 80 local people and traditional healers (Hakims) in Haripur District, Pakistan, from 2015 to 2017. Informed consent was obtained from each participant before conducting the interview process. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, such as relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV) and Jaccard index (JI), were calculated for each recorded species. Correlation analysis between the RFC and UV was tested by Pearson’s correlation, SPSS (ver. 16). Results A total of 80 plant species (33 herbs, 24 trees, 21 shrubs and 2 climbers) belonging to 50 families were being used in the study area to treat livestock and human diseases. Lamiaceae was the most dominant family with 7 species (8.7%), followed by Fabaceae with 6 species (7.5%), and Moraceae with 5 species (6.2%). Local people used different methods of preparation for different plant parts; among them, decoction/tea (22 species) was the popular method, followed by powder/grained (20 species) and paste/poultice (14 species). It was observed that most of the species (~ 12 to 16 species) were utilized to treat human and livestock digestive system-related problems, respectively. The Jaccard index found that plant usage in two studies (District Abbottabad and Sulaiman Range) was more comparable. Local people mainly relied on folk medicines due to their rich accessibility, low cost and higher efficacy against diseases. Unfortunately, this important traditional knowledge is vanishing fast, and many medicinal plants are under severe threat. The most threats associated to species observed in the study area include Dehri, Garmthun, Baghpur, Najafpur and Pharala. Conclusion The study has indicated that local people have higher confidence in the usage of ethnomedicinal plants and are still using them for the treatment of various ailments. Comparative analysis with other studies may strongly reflected the novel use of these plants, which may be due to the deep-rooted and unique socio-cultural setup of the study area. However, awareness campaigns, conservation efforts and pharmacological and applied research are required for further exploration and may be a step in the right direction to unveil prospective pharmaceuticals.

Quantitative ethnoveterinary study on plant resource utilization by indigenous communities in high-altitude regions

“…This ethnic knowledge is inextricably tied to the local biodiversity and has been woven into the rural communities' fabric for centuries. Consequently, herbal treatments are to the indigenous Himalayan therapeutic practices ( 9 , 10 ). The documentation of this altruistic folk knowledge is essential now that the Nagoya Protocol has been ratified to preserve cultural heritage ( 5 ).…”

Ethnoveterinary uses of forage plants for domesticated ruminants in Malakand agency, Pakistan

“…Khan, Khan, et al (2015) reported 13 similar species; ul Hassan et al (2014) reported 7 similar species, Tariq et al (2015) reported 6 similar species and Raziq et al (2010) reported 5 similar species from different locations of Pakistan with the same ethnoveterinary uses. Several studies have reported similar ethnoveterinary uses of certain plants such as Chenopodium ambrosioides, Zea mays, Acacia modesta, Avena sativa, Malva neglecta, Saccharum officinarum, Convolvulus arvensis and Acacia nilotica (Akerreta et al, 2010; Giday & Teklehaymanot, 2013; Lans et al, 2007; Maphosa & Masika, 2010; Martinez & Lujan, 2011; Shen et al, 2010). According to Vogl et al (2016), farmers in Eastern Tyrol (Austria) have extensive knowledge of fodder species and their applications for livestock health.…”

“…Ethnoveterinary medicines are part of the ecosystem that uses folk beliefs, traditional knowledge and practices to maintain animal health and cure diseases (Mathias-Mund & McCorkle, 1989). More than 80% of the world's population uses herbal products and plants as a source of health care, either directly or indirectly (Siddique et al, 2021). Pakistan is an agricultural country, with agriculture and livestock supporting approximately 80% of the population (Rehman et al, 2022).…”

Ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants in Leuwiliang (Bogor), Indonesia

“…Where: UVis = the use values of the species s mentioned by the informants i; ∑Uis = the number of uses of species s mentioned in each event by the informants i; nis = the number of events in which the informants i cited species s (Siddique et al 2021).…”