Medicinal plant diversity used for livelihood of public health in deserts and arid regions of Sindh-Pakistan

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological surveys require novel approaches to obtain successful hits in drug discovery. The objectives of the present study were to document the traditional uses of medicinal plants from the Deserts of Sindh and to authenticate the documented traditional uses. The traditional uses were documented from informants using semi-structured questionnaires and open-ended interviews. The data were analyzed using relative frequency of citation (RFC), Use value (UV), Informant consensus factor (ICF), Fidelity level (FL) and Relative Importance (RI), and their uses were validated through Metanalyses (MAs) and Systemic reviews (SRs). Overall, 74 plant species were reported from 207 informants and their traditional uses were validated from 299 published ethnobotanical studies. Aloe vera and Ricinus communis were more frequently cited in published literature. Blepharis ciliaris and Echinops echinatus either due to lack of pharmacological or phytochemical studies. The leaves were the most frequently used (36 reports), and decoctions (27 reports)) followed by powder (26) were predominantly reported. The UV varied from 0.49 (Cynodon dactylon) to 0.2 (Tribulus terrestris); the RFC from 0.38 (Calotropis procera) to (Aerva javanica); and the RI from 50.74 (Acacia nilotica) to 5.61 (Salvia santolinifolia). The maximum FL was found for 14 species, and the ICF varied from 0.61 (Digestive disorders) to 0.16 (Nervous disorders). The deserts (Sindh-Pakistan) provides many important plant species with most authenticated traditional uses. The plant species having most authenticated uses, highest correlated ethnobotanical index values, and lacking pharmacological or phytochemical studies, may yield desired results in limited time with most cost-effective resources.

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