Demographic data
Five field trips (to cover seasonal variations) were carried out to gather ethno medicinal data of medicinal plants. The total duration of the field study from June 2019 to March 2020. A total of 200 informants were interviewed. Among the 200 informants, mostly were indigenous people (Table 2). A large number of people were in the age of 70-80 years (35%). Due to the lack of some educational facilities in that area, most of the informants have completed their 10 years education (69.5%). Most of the informants spoke Punjabi and very frequently spoke Urdu. The majority of informants were male (60%) rather than female (40%).
Table no 2: Demographic study of informants in Dera Ghazi Khan
Sr. No.
|
Variation
|
Category
|
No of Person
|
% age
|
1
|
Informant Category
|
Local Inhabitants
Local Hakims
|
194
6
|
97%
3%
|
2
|
Gender
|
Male
Female
|
120
80
|
60%
40%
|
3
|
Age
|
Less than 20
20-30
30-40
40-50
50-60
60-70
70-80
More then 80
|
0
20
05
10
25
40
70
30
|
0%
10%
2.5%
5%
12.5%
20%
35%
15%
|
4
|
Educational Background
|
Illiterate
Completed 5 years education
Completed 8 years education
Completed 10 years education
Completed 12 years education
Some under Grade Degree
Graduate
Master
|
10
05
20
139
10
15
0
01
|
5%
2.5%
10%
69.5%
5%
7.5%
0%
0.5%
|
Medicinal plant diversity
Dera Ghazi Khan due to its topographic diversity is abundant in plants especially medicinal plants used by the local population for herbal tea, applications and decoctions. No study on Ethno medicinal plants was ever carried out in this region hence it was selected for this study and plants were categorized on the basis of information provided by the local population and Hakims practicing ethno-medicine.
Results of ethno medicinal studies were based on 189 plant species belonging to 52 families collected from different areas of DG Khan (Fig no: 2). Among them were 3 families of Monocots while the remaining 49 families represented the Dicots. The families well represented were Asteraceae (20), Acanthaceae (03), Cactaceae (03), Papilionaceae (09), Lamiaceae (05), Poaceae (04) Rosaceae (04), Amaranthaceae (06), Solanaceae (11), Apiaceae (06), Euphorbiaceae (05), Chenopodiaceae(08), Asclepiadaceae (07), Malvaceae (03), Zygophyllaceae (04), Portulaceae (02), Polygonaceae (04), Mimosaceae (11), Nyctaginaceae (02), Geraniaceae (02), Boraginaceae (06), Salvadoraceae (02), Caesalpiniaceae (09), Convolvulaceae (02), Liliaceae (06), Meliaceae (02), Tamaricaceae (02), Moraceae (04), Myrtaceae (02), Apocynaceae (03), Capparidaceae (04), Cactaceae (02), Palmaceae (03), Tamaricaceae (02), Brassicaceae, Rubiaceae, Sapindaceae, Violaceae, Zingiberaceae, Pedaliaceae, Lauraceae, Rhamnaceae, Resedaceae, Fumariaceae, Oxalidaceae, Ficoidaceae, Sapindaceae, Aizoaceae, Bignoniaceae, Cannabinaceae, Oleaceae, Frankeniaceae, Verbenaceae, Berberidaceae and Cucurbitaceae by one species each. For each species botanical name, family, local name, part used, method of preparation, dose administration and ailments treated are mentioned in the description.
Life forms
In this survey, herbs were documented with highest frequency (51%), then herbaceous shrubs (29%) which were followed by trees (13%), and weeds (7%) (Fig no. 3). Dominancy of herbs in making herbal remedies is due to its ubiquitous growth and easy collections of herbs as compared to trees and shrubs. Besides this, herbs can be manipulated with easiness in herbal preparation methods and extraction of bioactive compounds. [16]
Parts of medicinal plants used for curing diseases:
According to the survey, Leaves were mostly used by the people of DG Khan for curing diseases as 69.5 % as shown in the Fig below. Leaves are mostly used because they are easily collected. After leave, Whole plant (67%) is used for the preparation of herbal medicines for curing diseases by the people. Then whole plant is followed by root (40%) because they require less effort and are frequently used for curing diseases. (Fig no 4). Least used parts are Buds, sap, tuber, petals, pod, Rhizome etc. They are used 0.5 to 1 % as ailments.
Form and mode of utilization
In this survey, mostly plants were reported for internal applications. They were used either in the form of decoction (50%) or in the form of Infusion (25%) (Fig no: 5). This form of utilization is common in other parts of Pakistan particularly and in World generally. The decoction was made by boiling the plant parts in water [17,18]. While 20% were recommended for external use in the form of paste. The majorities of herbal medicines were prepared from fresh plant material rather than dried material.
Quantitative analyses of ethno botanical data
Informant Consensus Factor (ICF)
ICF was determined for 18 ailments (Hepatic disorders, Gynecological disorders, Renal disorders, ENT problems, General infection, Vernal diseases, Dermatological diseases, Neurological disorders, Respiratory diseases, GIT problems, Sexual diseases, Hair related problems, Cardiac disorder, Wound healing, Urinary disorders, Muscle disorders, Animal diseases and Antidote). The value of ICF for these 18 ailments was ranging from 0.05 to 0.88 (Table 2). Commonly the value of ICF for disease treatment depends upon the availability of plant species in that area [19]. The highest value of ICF was reported for ENT problems (0.88), urinary disorders (0.57) and respiratory diseases (0.35). It showed that ENT problems were the most common disease in the study area and most of the people had knowledge about its cure. They were using 19 different species (Martynia annua, Bauhinia veriegata, Prosopis spicigera, Helianthus annuus, Artemisia scoparia, Rhazya stricta, Calligonum polygonoides, Lycium barbarum, Eclipta alba, Capsicum annuum, Azadirachta indica, Eucalyptus globulus, Boerhavia procumbens, Prosopis cineraria, Acacia Senegal, Abutilon indicum, Indigofera oblongifolia, Conyza Canadensis and Calotropis procera). These nineteen species were not only used for ENT problems in this region but also reported from other regions of Pakistan. While the lowest value of ICF was for Sexual and hair related problems that may be due to lack of communication among the informants in the study area [19].
Table no. 3 ICF value of plants used for the treatment of various diseases
Category of diseases
|
No. of use reports
|
% Age of use reports
|
No. of taxa used
|
% Age of taxa
|
ICF
|
Hepatic disorders
|
31
|
5.83
|
21
|
4.88
|
0.5
|
Gynecological disorders
|
25
|
4.7
|
18
|
4.16
|
0.17
|
Renal disorders
|
27
|
5.08
|
24
|
5.58
|
0.13
|
ENT problems
|
35
|
6.59
|
19
|
4.41
|
0.88
|
General infection
|
101
|
19.02
|
86
|
20
|
0.17
|
Vernal diseases
|
21
|
3.95
|
20
|
4.65
|
0.05
|
Dermatological diseases
|
115
|
20.9
|
106
|
24.65
|
0.08
|
Neurological disorders
|
4
|
0.75
|
3
|
0.69
|
0.5
|
Respiratory diseases
|
97
|
18.26
|
72
|
16.74
|
0.35
|
GIT problems
|
3
|
0.56
|
2
|
0.46
|
0.5
|
Sexual diseases
|
2
|
0.37
|
1
|
0.23
|
0
|
Hair related problems
|
2
|
0.37
|
1
|
0.23
|
0
|
Cardiac disorder
|
17
|
3.2
|
16
|
3.72
|
0.06
|
Wound healing
|
10
|
1.88
|
8
|
1.86
|
0.28
|
Urinary disorders
|
12
|
2.25
|
8
|
1.86
|
0.57
|
Muscle disorders
|
29
|
5.46
|
25
|
5.81
|
0.16
|
Animal diseases
|
31
|
5.83
|
21
|
4.88
|
0.5
|
Antidote
|
25
|
4.7
|
18
|
4.16
|
0.17
|
Uses Value (UV)
In this study, UV ranged from 0.4 to 0.90 (Table 3). The highest UV was recorded for Fagonia indica (0.90), Daucus carota (0.89), Foeniculum vulgare, Tamarix diocica, Albizzia lebbek and Capsicum annuum (0.89 each). Plants with high UV were also used in many parts of Pakistan. As they are used to develop the herbal drug after pharmacological and phytochemical screening in the future. [20] The lowest UV was reported for Prosopis cineraria and Phoenix sylvestris (0.4 each). Most of the informants were not familiar about these plant species and had little knowledge about their ethno medicinal uses. Lower UV values indicated less knowledge about particular species in the study area.
Table: 4 Ethno botanical uses of plants in Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan (Separate file Attached)
Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC)
The value of RFC ranged from 0.1 to 0.95. (Table no: 3). The highest value of RFC present in Melia azedarach and Carissa opaca (0.95 each).It can be seen that plants with highest RFC are the most common plant in that region and majority people agreed by its medicinal value [21]. While the lowest value of RFC was present in Capparis decidua and Melilotus alba (0.1 each)
Fidelity Level (FL)
In present study the FL ranged from 18 to 82% (Table 4). The higher the FL value the more would be use of plant. The highest value of FL was present in Daucus carota (82%) . These plants were used by informants for disease cure and other purposes. The choice of informants dealing with the specific ailments indicated maximum value of FL [19], while lowest FL value was in Foeniculum capillacerm (18.18%).
The study was aimed to carry out to record the plants growing in the Dera Ghazi Khan and to report ethno medicinal uses about the species of plant growing in district Dera Ghazi Khan. They were used to cure different type of diseases like hepatic disorders, Skin infections, cardiac Diseases, Urinary diseases, Antidote, fever, cough, ENT problems etc. People use these plants either in the form of decoction, powder, infusion or paste. Some of the plants are used along with the combination with milk or some specialized foods and various plant species have been found to cure such illness across different ethnic communities [22]. An immense knowledge of how to use the plants against different diseases may be expected to have accumulated in areas where the use of plants is still of great importance [1].
Present study is compared with the Study conducted in 2014 in Bahawalpur. It was observed that they recorded 123 species out of which 34 species were not similar to the study area while all other species are similar to the study area. When uses are compared to the area then it is concluded that 24.19 % uses are common in both areas while 75.80% plants with dissimilar uses were reported. Aerva javanica was reported to be used as Sore throat, guinea-worm, malaria, eyewash, diarrhea, and help in childbirth and snakebite while in study area in Dera Ghazi Khan it is used for Skin infections, inflammation, abdominal worms. Only one use is similar in both studies i.e Abdominal worm while in study area mostly people said that they use it for curing skin infections in the form of decoction.
Amaranthus spinosus is used in the form of decoction to cure Gonorrhea, menorrhagia and eczema, snake-bite. Mostly people reported its use as Gonorrhea in Dera Ghazi Khan while in the adjacent area it is used as Diuretic, internal bleeding, diarrhea, excessive menstruation, snake bites, vaginal discharges, nosebleeds, wounds, gonorrhea, eczema and fix the broken bones but they are not using it in the form of decoction. Phoenix dactylifera L. is used as Astringent for intestine, sour throat, colds, bronchial catarrh, fever, cystitis, gonorrhea, alcohol intoxication, diarrhea, genito-urinary ailments, diuretic, toothache and sexual disorders in the adjacent areas while in the study area it is used in the form of powder to cure bronchitis, fatigue, as expectorant and demulcent., liver diseases, leprosy, anemic pregnant women. Mostly it is used to cure liver diseases as shown in table no 4.
Calotropis procera Aiton. Is reported to be used as asthma, cough, indigestion, joint pain, Regeneration of hairs in the form of decoction which is a concentrated liquid made by boiling. Besides these uses it was used to cure skin diseases [23]. While in the same study done by the ethnobotanist in 2014 it was seen that Eclipta alba L. is used as Hair growth, teeth, memory, sight and hearing, promote sleep, complexion, skin disorders, headache while a new use is reported from the study area which was its use to prevent abortion in females. In this way there are several plants which are mostly used by the people in the area and the detail of all the plants is mentioned in tabl no 4 with detail of uses. While there are some plants which are unique to the study area and not commonly found in adjacent areas like Eleusine flagellifera L. that belong to Poaceae family and is used as tonic in Dera Ghazi Khan. As due to lack of modernization and health facilities mostly people are forced to use traditional medicines to cure their common diseases like cold, cough and fever etc. [24].
However this study will provide a comprehensive baseline study about the medicinal plants of the area and their ethno medicinal knowledge from the local people and hakim of the area. [25] Such traditional knowledge is very valuable. In this way the local communities of Dera Ghazi Khan district will get the better chances of employment, native flora will be conserved in a proper way for future utilizations, retain its natural glory and will be used by the industry to produce Nano medicines.