ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF ANTI-CONSTIPATION MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN LASPUR VALLEY EASTERN HINDUKUSH RANGE DISTRICT UPPER CHITRAL PAKISTAN
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Keywords
Ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, herbal remedies constipation, digestive disorders, gastrointestinal, Laspur Valley, Hindukush Range Pakistan
Abstract
Background: Constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder in many low- and middle-income countries, including Pakistan. In the Laspur Valley, local communities heavily depend on traditional medicine as their primary source of healthcare. The objective of the present study was to document the indigenous knowledge and usage of medicinal plant species for the treatment of constipation by the local inhabitants.
Methods: Ethnomedicinal data was collected through semi-structured interviews on the use of medicinal plant species. A total of 88 informants (66 men and 22 women) were randomly selected. The data was quantitatively analyzed using Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Fidelity Level (FL), and Use Value (UV).
Results: A total of 36 medicinal plant species, representing 19 families, were documented in the study. Among them, Lamiaceae was the most prevalent family with 6 species, followed by Fabaceae (4 spp.), and Apiaceae and Polygonaceae (3 spp. each). Herbs constituted the dominant growth form (77.77%), followed by trees (13.88%) and shrubs (8.33%). The most used plant parts in herbal remedies were the whole plant (44.44%), followed by leaves and flowers (16.66% each). Decoction was the leading mode of herbal recipe preparation, and the herbal medicines were administered orally.
The medicinal plant species with the highest Use Value (UV) values were Carthamus tinctorius (0.48), followed by Juglans regia (0.43). The highest Relative Frequency Citation (RFC) value was recorded for Pennisetum typhoideum (0.70), followed by Vicia faba (0.52). The species with a 100% Fidelity Level (FL) value was Capparis spinosa, followed by Nepeta cataria (96.96) and Mentha longifolia (96.77).
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Conclusion: The study reveals that indigenous communities in the area still prefer therapeutic plants over synthetic drugs for treating various gastrointestinal disorders. However, this valuable traditional knowledge is currently limited to older individuals in the study area. There is a need to encourage younger generations to become involved in this knowledge and actively participate in its transmission. This engagement will contribute to the conservation of the use of medicinal plants for treating ailments in the study area, ensuring the continuity of this traditional practice.
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Ghulam Qadir
PhD Scholar, Department of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
Ghulam Mujtaba Shah
Professor Department of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
Manzoor Hussain
Professor Departments of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
Jan Alam
Associate Professor Department of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
Khursheed Ur Rahman
Ph.D Scholar, Department of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan
Kifayat Ullah
Ph.D Scholar, Department of Botany, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21300, Pakistan