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Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 11: 76-96. 2007. Ethnobotanical Evaluation of Some
Plant Resources in Northern Part of Hassan Sher1 and Farrukh
Hussain2 1Department
of Botany, 2Department
of Botany, Issued ABSTRACT Overshadowed by the vast impact that habitat loss has on plant species survival, it is easy to overlook the fact that utilization and harvesting of species can often result in their genetic depletion and in an often rapid downward trend of their population status. In this context an ethnobotanical study on the medicinal and economic plants of Malam Jabba valley, District Swat was conducted with the following aims: 1) to document the inventory of medicinal plants; 2) examine the current status of the medicinal plants trade; and, 3) investigate the linkages in the market chain starting from collectors to consumers. The survey reported 50 species of plants belonging to 33 families as ethnobotanically important. These species were used as cured drugs by the local people and folk-lore for treating diseases in traditional system of medicine. The detailed local uses, recipe preparation along with their local names and diseases treated were recorded for each species. Market survey revealed that the structure of medicinal plant trade is complex and heterogenous, involving many players. The collectors are often not aware of the high market prices and medicinal values, and most of the collected material is sold to local middlemen at a very low price. There was an increase of 3 to 5 folds in prices from collectors to the national market. Recommendations are given in the spheres of training sustainable harvesting and post harvesting of wild medicinal plant resource, trade monitoring, equitable sharing of benefits of wild resources, improved control on harvesting and trade for the conservation of resources, enhancement of cultivation efforts, future research into trade in wild harvested plants, community participation in natural resource management and value addition in the herbal products to maximize the benefits. Keywords:
INTRODUCTION
The
study area “ The
valley is bounded by district Shanglapar in the
North-East, district Buner
in the South-West and by main Population
of the valley is about 40,000 with a density of 200 persons per sq. km, and
growth rate of 3.48 (1998) census. Most of the population of the study site
depends upon agriculture, forest and live stock rearing. Some are Government
servants, small business men, petty workers in middle east and a few work as paid labour. The region
is mountainous with one peak, Shagar Sar, measuring more than 3200 meters in height. It
occupies the floristically rich southern extension of Hindu Kush Raj of the The
diversity of climate and geographic locations for plant growth signify the phytogeographic regions of which there are three i.e. I)
Sino-Japanese regions having II) Irano-Turanian in the North-North West and Traditionally
forests and rangelands are the main sources of medicinal plants in Secondly, lack of knowledge about the part used and time of collection lead to misuse of the species. The appropriate timings to collect the desired plant part of certain age will determine the yield percentage and quality of therapeutically active ingredients. Currently there is little evidence of the conservation of indigenous medicinal plant species in the study area. The crude and sometimes untimely gathering of medicinal plants does little to enhance their survival or effective population growth, and man’s resulting domestic activities are placing some plant species under constant threat. At the present time, a number of barriers exist to the sustainable cultivation, gathering and use of medicinal plants. These include lack of clear resource tenure and custodianships, little understanding of sustainable management parameters and knowledge of market requirements. These are coupled with inadequate institutional structures for the management of the dwindling medicinal plant populations and dearth of techniques, skills and experience to promote their sustainable use. The present study was, therefore, initiated to investigate and describe the existing population structure, status, availability and distribution of selected plants, to find out the effect of exposure altitude and vegetation on their population set up. Moreover, the impact of current harvest on the population size of targeted medicinal plants was also determined. The findings might lead to locate ways and means to identify strategies to improve the management of the medicinal plant populations of the study area. There are total of some 2,50,000 species of flowering plants in the world, much less than the species of animals (5-10 million) however, plants contribute to our lives more than animals mainly due to their extra ordinary array of diverse classes of biochemicals with a variety of biological activities. (Buckingham 1999). The plant kingdom had immensely contributed to the health needs of man when no synthetic medicines were available and when no concept of surgical management existed. Even today almost 25% of all prescribed medicines in the developed world contains ingredients derived from medicinal plants ( Sher et al, 2000). Collection and sale of medicinal plants is an important economic activity in the Malakand division, and about 5000 families are involved in the collection and processing of medicinal plants in the region (Sher and Hussain, 1998a). The most active members of plants gathering and processing are women and children from middle hills. These collectors receive the minimum in the trade chain of medicinal herbs (Sher and Shakespear, 2000). Income from the gathering and sale of medicinal plants is thought to be marginalized by a lack of awareness regarding local and over seas market requirements. Local shopkeepers, agents and Hakims, obtain supplies from individuals who have little experience in medicinal herbs preparation or in understanding of its value. As a result valuable economic and medicinal plants of the investigated site are becoming rare and sparse and some are at the verge of local extinction. The present endeavor was, therefore, carried out to document the inventory of economic and medicinal plants along with their local uses, names, part used and method of recipe preparation. Moreover, to determine snap shot of the, hitherto unmonitored aspects of medicinal plant ecology and their socio economic influences on low income group families. MATERIALS A study on the Ethnobotanical evaluation of economic and medicinal plants was conducted during summer 2003 in various parts of Malam Jabba valley, district Swat. The investigated area was divided into different altitudinal zones with the help of map and top sheet. Accordingly frequent visits were made to the area first in April-May, second in June-July and third in August 2003. Questionnaires were used and devised to identify and document the traditional knowledge of local people and their immediate family about the collection, sale and processing of medicinal plants and their uses within the communities. Information and data on various aspects of the plants such as traditional uses, collection method, time and marketing of each species in the area were gathered from the local experienced persons through interviews and discussions. Data on the market value of the plants was collected from local collectors, shopkeepers (Export Promotion Bureau Office, Malakand division). Information was gathered as to how and from whom the plant materials were obtained and to when they were sold. Likewise, shopkeepers were asked about the sources of the plants received by them. Respondents were also asked about their annual revenues earned from the sale of targeted plants and returned of work invested. The respondents of various age groups were interviewed and their interest as local collectors and traders were noted through the questionnaires. Generally one person was selected and contacted from amongst 10 houses and were asked about the plant. The
plants were gathered from different altitude and sites. They were dried and
preserved properly. The fully dried specimens were mounted on herbarium
sheets with scotch tape, plants were identified with the help of available
literature Nasir and Ali, 1971-91, Stewart, 1972;
Beg and Khan 1974, Beg and Samad, 1974). The
nomenclature was confirmed from National Herbarium, NARC, RESULTS The study reported that the local people utilize 50 species of medicinal plants for the curing of various human diseases. They were distributed among 33 families comprising of 26 dicots families, one monocot family (Liliaceae), 3 Gymnosperm families (Cupressaceae, Ephedraceae and Pinaceae) while Fungi and Pteridophytes were represented by one family Helvelaceae and Pteridaceae respectively . Among Dicots, family Lamiaceae (5 species) followed by Rosaceae (4 species), Asteraceae, Fagaceae, Polygonaceae, and Ranunculaceae each with 3 species were important families. The remaining families had less than 3 species of Ethnomedicinal importance in the study area. The study showed that plants play an important role in the traditional system of medicine of local population. Some plants are used singly, while many others are used in combination with other plants or items such as wheat flour, sugar and ghee etc. Similarly, certain medicinal plants are considered useful in only one specific disease where as several others have multiple such uses. Following is the description of local medicinal uses long with local names, part used, family and botanical name of medicinal plants in the area. Ethnomedicinal
Description of the Plants of Malam Jabba Valley District Swat A. Group : Fungi 1. Family : Helvelaceae 1. Botanical Name : Morchella esculanta L. Prs ex Fr. Part used : Fruiting body Habit : Saprophyte Local name : Guchii Local uses: Locally the morels are fried with cows ghee and used after meal which is considered as a general body tonic. It is also used as a delicious food. B. Group : Pteridophyta 2. Family : Pteridaceae 2. Botanical Name : Dryopteris juxtapostia Christ Part used : Young shoot Habit : Herb Local name : Kwanjay Local Uses: It is used as a local vegetable, which is believed to enhance digestion power. C. Group : Gymnosperm 3. Family : Cupressaceae 3. Botanical Name : Juniperus excelsa Brand Part used : Leaves Habit : Tree Local name : Shahroos Local Uses: Locally the dried leaves of Juniperus is mixed with Skimmea laureola Leaves and burned in combination to control the evil eyes, and gods. 4. Family : Ephedraceae 4. Botanical Name : Ephedra gerardiana Wall. Part used : Stem Habit : Shrub Local name : Someni Local Uses: The powder plant is boiled with water and use twice a day after meal in morning and evening which is considered as remedy for hay fever and cold. 5. Family : Pinaceae 5. Botanical Name : Cedrus deodara (Rox.ex lamb) D.Don Part used : Resin Habit : Tree Local name : Diyar Local Uses: Locally 2 to 3 drops of resin extract are taken with a glass of milk early in the morning before breakfast to treat urticaria and other skin diseases. D. Group : Monocot 6. Family : Liliaceae 6. Botanical Name : Allium humile Kunth Part used : Whole plant Habit : Herb Local name : Palan Local Uses: By chewing their leaves and bulb the local treat vomiting and headache. 7. Botanical Name : Colchicum luteum Baker Part used : Corm Habit : Herb Local name : Chunar phund Local Uses: The local people mix the corm of Colchicum luteum with egg and fry it with cow’s ghee. It is given to aged men and women in the evening before going to bed, which is considered as remedy for joints pain. 8. Botanical Name : Frittelaria roylei Hook.f Part used : Rhizome Habit : Herb Local name : Chor Local Uses: Locally the rhizome of Frittelaria is boiled in milk and taken early in the morning before break fast, which is considered as a general body tonic. E. Group : Dicot 7. Family : Apiaceae 9. Botanical Name : Bunium persicum Part used : Seed Habit : Herb Local name : Zera Local uses: Locally it is mainly collected for commercial purposes, only. 8. Family : Araliaceae 10. Botanical Name : Hedera nepalensis Kock Part used : Whole plant Habit : Climber Local name : Zelai Local Uses: The powdered plant of Hedra is boiled with milk and used early in the morning for the treatment of diabetes. 9. Family : Asteraceae 11. Botanical Name : Artemisia maritima L. Part used : Whole plant Habit : Herb Local name : Loam Local Uses: Locally the dried plant of Artemisia is boiled in water and the extract is cooled and used after meal in the evening before going to bed which is consider as an Anthelmentic agent. 12. Botanical Name : Cichorum intybus L Part used : Root Habit : Herb Local name : Haspa booti Local Uses: Locally the powdered root is taken with a glass of milk for the treatment of general body fever and vomiting. 13 Botanical Name : Saussurea lappa Clarke Part used : Root Habit : Herb Local name : Kuth Local Uses: Locally the dried root of Saussurea lappa is mixed with egg and fried with cow’s ghee and used twice a day as an anti-spasmodic agent. The mixture is also used as a carminative agent. 10. Family : Berberidaceae 14. Botanical Name : Berberis lycium Royle Part used : Root Habit : Shrub Local name : Hees Local Uses: Locally the dried root is mixed with egg and fried in cow’s ghee and used for the treatment of fractured bones and wounds healing. It is also considered as a general body tonic. 11. Family : Caprifoliaceae 15. Botanical Name : Viburnum nervosum D.Don Part used : Fruit Habit : Herb Local name : Asos Local Uses: Locally the fresh fruit of Viburnum nervosum is eaten for the curing of stomach-ache. 12. Family : Cuscutaceae 16. Botanical Name : Cuscuta
reflexa Roxb Part used : Whole plant Habit : Climber (parasite) Local name : Amol Local Uses: The powdered plant is taken with a glass of milk twice a day after meal for the treatment of diabetes. 13. Family : Dioscoraceae 17. Botanical Name : Dioscorea deltoidea Wall. Part used : Rhizome Habit : Climber Local name : Kanis Local Uses: Locally the dried rhizome of Dioscorea deltoidea is fried in cow’s ghee and used early in the morning before break fast for the treatment of kidney problems. 14. Family : Ebenaceae 18. Botanical Name : Diospyrus lotus L Part used : Fruit Habit : Tree Local name : Amlok Local Uses: Locally the decoction of ripened fruit is used for the curing of dysentery. 15. Family : Fagaceae 19. Botanical Name : Quercus semecarpifolia Sm Part used : Fruit Habit : Tree Local name : Meer Local Uses: The powdered of the ripened fruit mixed with wheat flour and then fried with cow’s ghee. The mixture is locally called Halva, Which is locally considered as a general body tonic. 20. Botanical Name : Quercus
dilatata Lindle ex Royle Part used : Fruit Habit : Tree Local name : Tor banj Local Uses: It is similar to Quercus semecarpifolia but inferior in quality. 21. Botanical Name : Quercus
incana (Husskn) H.N Part used : Fruit Habit : Tree Local name : Spin banj Local Uses: Also similar to Quercus semecarpifolia but inferior in quality. 16. Family : Geraniaceae 22. Botanical Name : Geranium wallichianum D.Don ex sweat Part used : Root Habit : Herb Local name : Ratan jok Local Uses: The dried root of Geranium wallichianum is mixed with Hen-egg and then fried in cow’s ghee and used twice a day for the treatment of Rheumatism. 17. Family : Hypericaceae 23. Botanical Name : Hypericum perforatum L. Part used : Leaves Habit : Herb Local name : Shen chai Local Uses: Locally green tea is prepared from their leaves which is considered as a stimulant and carminative agent. 18. Family : Juglandaceae 24. Botanical Name : Juglans regia L. Part used : Fruit and bark Habit : Tree Local name : Ghoz Local Uses: The ripened fruit of Juglans regia is used as a brain tonic while the bark of stem and root is used for teeth cleaning. 19. Family : Lamiceae 25. Botanical Name : Ajuga bracteosa wall ex Bth Part used : whole plant Habit : Herb Local name : Phund Kash Local Uses: Locally the powdered plant is cooked with cow’s ghee and used early in the morning before break fast for the treatment of fever and vomiting. 26. Botanical Name : Mentha longifolia L.Huds Part used : Leaves and Stem Habit : Herb Local name : Dhoop Local Uses: The decoction of the leaves and stem is used for the treatment of cough and vomiting. 27. Botanical Name : Mentha spicata L. Part used : Leaves and stem Habit : Herb Local name : Pudina Local Uses: The powdered plant is mixed with sugar and taken with a glass of water early in the morning before breakfast to control vomiting. The recipe is also considered as a carminative agent. 28. Botanical Name : Salvia morrcroftiana wall ex Bth Part used : Leaves and stem Habit : Herb Local name : Khardag Local Uses: The leaves are warmed with mustard oil and applied on the swollen skin to release puss, while the inner part of the stem is chewed which is considered as an aphrodiasic agent. 29. Botanical Name : Thymus serphyllum L Part used : Whole plant Habit : Herb Local name : Kanesh Local Uses: Locally green tea is prepared from its leaves and stem, which is considered as a remedy for fever, cough and cold. 20. Family : Pappilionaceae 30. Botanical Name : Indigofera heterantha L. Part used : Root Habit : Shrub Local name : Kese Local Uses: Locally the powdered roots are taken with a glass of milk twice a day to combat headache and chest pain. 21. Family : Peaonaceae 31. Botanical Name : Paeonia emodi Wall ex HK.f Part used : Rhizome Habit : Herb Local name : Mameikh Local Uses: The powdered Rhizome of paeonia emodi is mixed with cow’s ghee and taken twice a day after meal, which is considered as a general body tonic. 22. Family : Podophyllaceae 32. Botanical Name : Podophyllum hexandrum Royle Part used : Rhizome Habit : Herb Local name : Kakorra Local Uses: Locally the Rhizome is crushed and used with cow ghee for the treatment of backache and cancer. 23. Family : Polygonaceae 33. Botanical Name : Persicaria amplexicaule D.Don Part used : Root Habit : Herb Local name : Anjabar Local Uses: Locally the root of Persicaria is mixed with egg and fried in cow’s ghee, which is considered as a general body tonic. 34. Botanical Name : Rheum emodi Wall Part used : Root Habit : Herb Local name : Chutial Local Uses: Locally the dried root of Rheum emodi is mixed with egg and fried in ghee and used twice a day for the removal of kidney stone and other kidney problems. 35. Botanical Name : Rumex dentatus L. Part used : Leaves Habit : Herb Local name : Ovawol Local uses: Locally the leaves of Rumex are warmed and applied on the wounds for their healing. 24. Family : Primulaceae 36. Botanical Name : Primula macrophyla D.Don Part used : Flower Habit : Herb Local name : Mammera Local uses: The powdered flowers are applied to the eyes, which is considered to improve eyesight, and control eye diseases. 25. Family : Ranunculaceae 37. Botanical Name : Aconitun chasmanthum Stapf ex Ham lex Part used : Rhizome Habit : Herb Local name : Zaharmora Local uses: The Rhizome of Aconitun chasmanthum is crushed and mixed with cow ghee and used as a general body tonic. 38. Botanical Name : Aconitum heterophyllum Wall Part used : Rhizome Habit : Herb Local name : Zaharmora Local uses: The use is similar to Aconitum chasmanthum. 39. Botanical Name : Calthea alba Jacq. Part used : Leaves Habit : Herb Local name : Maspal Local uses: Locally the leaves of Calthea alba are applied on the wounds for healing. 26. Family : Rosaceae 40. Botanical Name : Prunus armeniaca L. Part used : Fruit Habit : Tree Local name : Khubani Local uses: The decoction of the dried fruits is considered as laxative and purgative. 41. Botanical
Name : Part used : Fruit Habit : Shrub Local name : Phalol Local uses: Locally the fresh ripened fruit
of 42. Botanical Name : Rubus fruticosus L. Part used : Fruit Habit : Herb Local name : Ach Local uses: Locally the ripened fruit of Rubus fruticosus is used to improve digestion power. 43. Botanical Name : Sorboria tomentosa Part used : Infloresceae Habit : Shrub Local name : Beree Local uses: Locally the inflorescence of sorboria are mixed with mustard oil and applied on the new born child skin to remove skin rashes and also applied on the wound as antiseptic agent. 27. Family : Rutaceae 44. Botanical Name : Skimmea laureola (DC) Sieb and Zucc Part used : Leaves Habit : Herb Local name : Namer Local uses: The dried leaves are burnt with the bark of Betula utilis to expel evils and evil eyes. 28. Family : Saxifragaceae 45. Botanical Name : Bergenia ciliata (Haw) Sternb Part used : Root Habit : Herb Local name : Badmia Local uses: Locally the powdered root is boiled with water for an hour after this the remaining gum like substance is applied on the cut wound for healing purposes. It is also considered as blood purifier. 29. Family : Scrophullariaceae 46. Botanical
Name : Verbascum Part used : Leaves Habit : Herb Local name : Khar ghwag Local Uses: The leaves of verbascum is mixed with Brassica oil and used as antiseptic agent. 30. Family : Solanaceae 47. Botanical
Name : Hyoscymus Part used : Seed Habit : Herb Local name : Shamala Local uses: The seeds of Hyoscymus 31. Family : Urticaceae 48. Botanical Name : Urtica dioca L. Part used : Whole plant Habit : Herb Local name : Jon Local uses: Locally the powdered plant is smoked as cigarette for the curing of asthma and also for urticarcia. 32. Family : Valerianaceae 49. Botanical Name : Valeriana jatamansi Jones Part used : Rhizome Habit : Herb Local name : Mashkebala Local uses: Locally the Rhizome of Valeriana is crushed and mixed with cow’s ghee and used for the curing of epilepsy. 33. Family : Violaceae 50. Botanical Name : Viola serpens Wall Part used : Whole plant Habit : Herb Local name : Kotan pel Local uses: Locally it is collected for commercial purpose, only. Market study The
recordings of the present study in Malakand
division, Mingora is the main trade centers for many
medicinal plants, and they supply considerable quantities of plants to
various national trading centers of Pakistan including Peshawar, Islamabad,
Lahore and Karachi and also abroad. Figure-1 shows the direct linkages in the
market channels between the various herbal markets in Malakand
Division and national level. Mingora receives
material from various areas of harvest including the study areas, while In district Swat, the trade and collection of medicinal plants are highly uncoordinated and vary from area to area and species to species. For obtaining plants from the study area, the dealers from national markets send representatives to local dealers in Mingora and put their demand. The local dealers pass the message to their agents, i.e. the local shopkeepers of the valley. These agents inform small shopkeepers and collectors. The collectors gather the species for the local shopkeepers and agents. The collectors are illiterate and do not negotiate for the price of the plant materials and gather sizeable quantities but do not receive reasonable returns. The dealers of Mingora get the material from the agents when that is ready. In this way the medicinal plants pass through three or four hands (Figure-1). Some times daily wages labourers for Rs. 100-150 per day are employed by the local agents for plant collection but this is not usual. It is generally observed that in the surveyed valley, the local agent (middleman) receives handsome returns. The local shopkeepers or other persons acting as agents of the traders of the regional herbal markets are the major buyers from the local collectors. It is also observed that the local wholesalers control prices information to the collectors which has enabled them to maintain high profits. The
export of crude herbal items of the selected species to different countries
is largely through individual and local exporters in Joddia
Bazzar, Extent of
trade from the valleys The present study indicated that Viola serpens (5m.tons), Valeriana jatamansi (1.3 m. tons) and Persicaria amplexicaule (2 m. tons).were collected in reasonably great quantities from the surveyed areas each year during 2002-2004 and sold in the herbal markets of Mingora. The present assessed take out the valleys is not based on the optimum exploitation of these species in the targeted valley. Market demand for most of these species seems more than the existing supply and similarly, the potential of supply can be quite higher than the present take out. The difference is due to uncoordinated demand and supply and unawareness about the availability of certain species and their demand in the market. Among the selected plants species the most valuable is Viola serpens locally priced at Rs. 200/Kg followed by Valeriana jatamansi at Rs. 150/kg, and Persicaria amplexicaule at Rs. 90/Kg. The prices of each species vary from year to year and also depend on demand and supply. Based on the quantities taken out from the study area in year 2003 and 2004 and the prices obtained at the collector level, the total revenue was about Rs.0.7million. The money generated from the trade of the economic and medicinal plants in Malakand division is about Rs. 20 millions. The targeted species has nearly 3.5 percent share in the total revenue of Malakand division. The present study also indicated that the household collection ranged from 12kg to 150kg per house hold. The collection of targeted species was taken as an important activity by about 315 households. Assuming that total 35 days were involved in the harvesting and collection of target plants and that about 1.7persons were involved per household, the total employment generated by the activity comes to about 15,500 person days per year including port rage. Average collection in the 315 households is over 100kg per year. In 2003/2004, this meant net revenue of Rs. 1500 per house hold. Households in the study area reported earnings between Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2000 per year from the sale of selected species. The present endeavor also estimated that the total beneficiaries from the targeted plants trade in the study area may number 405 house holds. The number of house holds of various categories of beneficiaries and the income distribution was presented in Table-1. In terms of per household benefits, the village trader appeared as the largest beneficiary. However, trading was a full time activity for much of the year. Also the agent (middlemen) received a higher proportion of the income after marketing the produce directly. Price
Fluctuations of Species at Collector Level The present study evaluated that the price of the plants gradually increases from collector to local, national and international markets at each step in the chain (Table-2). The price was lowest at the collectors level and increasing many fold from collectors to the national markets and abroad. However, while guessing at the increase of the price from the collector level and beyond, it may be kept in mind that considerable weight of the plant material is lost during drying, cleaning, processing, grading, packing etc. at each level when value is added to the material. This weight loss varies from species to species and the modes of processing for sale. One of the reasons for the low price at collectors level was their unawareness of the price of the plants in the trade markets. Investment of The time spent was based on the relative availability of the species with respect to the distance and the characteristics of the plant parts. Normally 4-8 hours work in 3-4 km distance was required to gather a bundle of roots of 40-50kg of the plants like Persicaria amplexicaule and Valeriana jatamansi. The flowers of Viola serpens required 6-8 hrs time in 3-4 km to collect one kg of flowers. (Table-3). Each species is collected manually through high labour cost as compared to other daily activities of the locals, and the collectors get very less money for their labour. Table-3
indicates that the population of the selected species has been reduced more
than half in the last 20 to 30 years. The local people traveled one to two km
for the collection of some quantity (50kg of rhizomes of Valeriana
jatamansi and Persicaria
amplexicaule and one kg flower / leaves of Viola
sepens) of the species in the past and now they
traveled 2. to 4km for the same quantity. Similarly
they use to spend one to 4hrs, 20-30 years ago and now they spend Resultantly the collectors lose their interest which causes shortage of supply to the end user. Some collectors add various adulterants to increase the quantity. In one example, in Viola serpens in a quarter of the leaves three quarters of the adulterants were added including leaves of other plants, petioles and even pebbles (personal observation). When the supply is not ensured and the pharmaceutical companies do not get the quality products, the national market encourages the import of the plants. Collectors
Involved The information at the local level had shown that in the study area children were the main collectors (50%) followed by women (30%) afghan refugees men (15%) and local men (5%). DISCUSSION Medicinal
plants are an important source of drugs in traditional system of medicine (Sher and Hussian, 1998a). They
are used locally as a crude drug for the treatment of human and live stock
health care since time immemorial. Even today, they are the main source of
traditional health care especially in the remote hilly areas. The present
investigation reported 50 plants species used by the local in indigenous
system of medicine for the curing of various diseases. Most of the species
were used for curing various diseases such as stomachic, dysentery, fever and
rheumatic pain. Similarly results were also reported by Arshad
and Akram (1999), who reported few plants species
of varied health care from Market Study The market information revealed that district Swat is
the collection and trading centre for many medicinal plants. It has a
well-established market which supplies sizeable quantities of targeted plants
to various trading centers of It was also observed that the medicinal plant trade in The present study also revealed that with the increase
in elevation and remoteness of the area within the study valley, of the
involvement of children and women in the collection of, and dependence on
medicinal plants increased. This agrees with the studies of Khan (1998), and The present study, therefore, suggest that some management measures should be taken with the participation of local communities through village organization to conserve medicinal plant resources from becoming extinct. The foremost important thing is to give awareness/training to local communities on multidimensional basis about sustainable exploitation of medicinal plant wealth in hillsides and information on price of marketable species. The natural regeneration of economically important medicinal plants are adversely affected by deforestation, over grazing, unabated urbanization and by their unauthorized collection in the study area. This agree with Beg and Khan (1974), Hussain et al (1996) and Hussain and Sher (1998b), they reported that unsustainable mode of medicinal plants collection and habitat loss has put the conservation status of many medicinal plants at risk in District Swat. The
present study, therefore, recommended that conservation measure with the
participation of local communities should be taken to conserve and restore
the degraded habitat of medicinal plant resources. The fore-most important
thing is to increase awareness among the local inhabitants of Recommendations Medicinal plants are the source of sustained income, provided efforts are made to stream line the regeneration protection and extraction of medicinal plants on proper scientific lines. Collection of medicinal plants carried out by the collectors may be streamlined in such a manner so as to provide ample regeneration time to the plants keeping their optimum time of growth in view. The area once used for collection may be declared as protected area and collection may be debarred for a period of 2 to 4 years. Over exploitation, habitat loss, destructive harvesting techniques and low monetary return of the materials are among the most important problems at collectors level. Collectors are not aware of the proper harvesting time and methods and as a result cause damage to the resource base. Secondly, over exploitation and habitat changes, due to the human population increase across most parts of the study area, have eroded the targeted plant population level. In the last three decades there has been a steady degradation of the rich floral landscape of the region. The study recommend that in order to have an effective natural resource management and sustainable utilization programme, it is extremely important to ensure that the benefits of the resources are fairly shared with the communities, who are the real owners of the resources. The sense of ownership can only be generated when the communities at large sees the benefits coming from the resource, not only for them, but also for their next generations. Non equitable and exploited benefit sharing often lead to un-sustainable practices. With the growing interest in medicinal plants, both in the country and abroad, it is necessary to develop a long term strategy to conserve and sustainably harvest these plant products. There is also a need for both community based efforts and better state control on the harvesting and trade of medicinal plants to enable the conservation of the resource base. An alternative source of income through cultivation should be generated for the community, thereby preserving precious wild plant resources. The study also suggests that one or two years protected area have an increased quantity and diversity of medicinal plants. The study, therefore, recommended rehabilitation/recovery practices of the present work in order to enhance restoring of vegetation in general and medicinal plants wealth in particular. Furthermore, it is also necessary to establish management and conservation areas of adequate size in the natural habitats of medicinal plants with the participation of local communities. In case of species that are threatened, clear guidelines should be developed and annual quotas of plant parts which may be collected should be clearly established, and made known to all concerned parties and stakeholders. A proper mechanism of the implementation of collection quotas should be designed to enforce the conservation and management efforts. REFERENCES 1.
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Lange, D. 1998. Europe Medicinal and Aromatic plants,
their uses, trade and conservation. TRAFFIC International 13. Nasir, E and Ali, S. I. (1971-91) Flora of West Pakistan Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi. 14.
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Sher, H and Hussain, F. (1998a) Income Generation from the trade and
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Sher, H and Hussain, F. (1998b) Ethnobotanical Information from five
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(2000) Women Indigenous Knowledge of Folk Medicine in Malakand
Division Pak., Proc of Inter. workshop on The Technology for product
development from medicinal plants, Jan 20-26 2000, HEJ. Inst, 18. Sher, H; Ahmad, M and Iqbal, C. M. (2000) Market Survey of Medicinal Plants in Major Cities of Pakistan, their use and future prospects, Technical report submitted to Swiss Inter-cooperation, Swiss Pourle Development et al cooperation, Berne Switzerland : 33-47. 19. Stewart, R.R. (1972), An Annotated Catalogue of the Vascular Plants of West Pakistan and Kashmir, Fakhri Press, Karachi-102. 20.
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Cultivation of condiments and spices in Table 1. Income distribution from the trade of targeted plants in Malam Jabba, Swat during 2002-2004.
Table 2. Average price in Rs. per kg of plants at
different market points.
Table 3. Work investment for collection of targeted
plants in
Fig. 1. Market channels from collection sites and other areas to local, national and international markets. *Study area. |
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