Indigenous Knowledge and Medicinal Significance of Seasonal Weeds of District Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

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.

Ethnobotanical investigation of significant seasonal medicinal weeds of Toba Tek Singh District, Punjab, Pakistan

“…Achyranthes aspera, Amaranthus viridis, Anagallis arvensis, Avena sativa, Chenopodium album, Chenopodium murale, Cichorium intybus, Cirsium arvense, Convolvulus arvensis, Cyperus rotundus and Digitaria bicornis that have not been documented earlier in Toba Tek Singh District, Pakistan. Similarly, Rehman et al [2] reported 32 families of weeds and showed the significance of seasonal weeds growing in Gujrat District, Pakistan against many diseases by local inhabitants. Muhammad et al [14] described the weeds of wheat crop that had great significance in the treatment of various diseases in Tehsil Gojra, Pakistan.…”

“…All the plants documented in this area showed many values for different pharmacological attributes which have been also observed in the past. Rehman et al [2] observed that the most common medicinal plant used by local people was Cichorium intybus which had a 100% FL value when used as a liver tonic and blood purifier. Highest 0.76 ICF values were noted against stomach, gastric, intestinal and digestive problems.…”

“…That is why weeds are considered as major source of medicines. Weeds are important among local inhabitants in the management of many diseases [2]. Ethnomedicinal surveys are appropriate to document the useful medicinal information [3].…”

“…It is estimated that about 25% medicines are obtained directly or indirectly from plants [5]. Ethnomedicinal surveys helped the researchers find the significant plants in the specific areas that are used in folk medicines [2].…”

“…Rural communities depend on indigenous plants in the treatment of many diseases [12]. Rehman et al [2] described the flora of Gujrat district. Important weeds of this area have also been documented by Ali et al [13].…”