Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants of Semi-Tribal Area of Makerwal & Gulla Khel ( Lying between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab Provinces ) , Pakistan

This paper is based on the results of an ethnomedicinal research work conducted in the semi-tribal mountainous area lying between District Mianwali (Punjab Province) and District Karak (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province), Pakistan during June 2009-July 2011. During field survey, questionnaires were used to interview the local inhabitants of the area. The ethnomedicinal data consists of 131 plant species (2 Pteridophytes, 7 Monocots, 122 Dicots) belonging to 48 families (2 Pteridophytes, 4 Monocots, 42 Dicots). The most commonly represented families were Amaranthaceae (9 spp.), Mimosaceae (8 spp.), Asteraceae and Papilionaceae (7 spp.) each; Solanaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Scrophulariaceae (6 spp.) each, followed by Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae, Lamiaceae and Polygonaceae (5 spp.) each. Plant specimens were identified, preserved and vouchers were deposited in the Plant Taxonomy Lab. of Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Pakistan for future reference. The data collected through interviews with the local people indicates that these species are mostly used in respiratory tract infections (RTI), urinary tract infections (UTI), digestive disorders, sexual problems, skin diseases, liver ailments, wound healing, blood vomiting, malaria, piles, epilepsy, jaundice, gummosis, round worms, hepatitis etc. in the area. Due to lack of scientific approach regarding harvesting and utilization of this valuable medicinal flora, many plants are quickly going towards extinction; therefore, further work is needed to create awareness in the community conservation of the precious medicinal plants.


Introduction
Medicinal plants have been used since prehistoric period for the cure of various diseases.Since these are in common use by the local people and are of great importance that's why a lot of people are engaged in the trade of important medicinal herbs throughout the world.Especially, people living in villages have been using indigenous plants as medicines [1].
Knowledge of medicinal values of plants is recognized by almost every society on earth.The inhabitants of the remote places have good knowledge about the utilization of plants because of the non-availability of synthetic drugs.In addition, for the survival, they use the plantbased drugs growing nearby their villages.Based on their right or wrong experiences they discovered the therapeu-tic agents of these plants in particular diseases.These experiences are transferred from parents to offspring [2].
In nearly every country of the world, treatment through herbs and some traditional medicine system is progressing.In Indo-Pak.Subcontinent, these traditional systems are called Unani or Ayurvedic system [1].Ethnobotanical information is necessary to document the plant life in areas especially that are remote and un-explored [3].
In spite of the advent of the modern medicines, tribal populations are still relying on the art of herbal medicine [4].Nearly about 80% of the world's populations still depend upon traditional remedies together with folklore system mainly based on phytotherapy [5].The ethnobotanical use of medicinal plants was transmitted from generation to generation [6].Unfortunately, this traditional knowledge and transmission is in danger because transmission between older and younger generation is not always assured [7].
Makerwal & Gulla Khel Collieries are situated partly in Tehsil Isakhel, District Mianwali (Punjab Province) and partly in Tehsil Karak, District Karak (Khyber Pakhtunkhawa Province).The area under study was handed over to Pakistan Mineral and Development Corporation (PMDC) in October, 1978.The Makerwal & Gulla Khel is located at 32˚ -52˚ North and 71˚ -11˚ East Longitude and Latitude respectively with an elevation of 1063 feet and 1052 feet respectively above the sea level.The area is in Surghar Range of Tarna Indus Salt Range.
All the mountains have a huge wealth of coal (in addition to Iron, Uranium, Silica and Salt).The coal seam out crops at an average of height of 300 ft.The coal seam is in spite and dipping uniformly at 7˚ to 15˚ towards North.The coal seam is of ecceneage under overlying strata of 2500 ft.The coal seem is lenticular and range less than 1 (1 2) to 3 ft in thickness.The coal seam is dipping with an average angle of 13˚ due North.The overlying and under line strata of the coal seam is sand stone and with bands and shale.The mountainous areas display a scenic view (Figures 1 and 2).
The traditional systems of the medicines like Unani in Pakistan are quite effective particularly in remote areas like Makerwal & Gulla Khel where Government supervision over health is almost zero.
Ethnobotanically, the research area is one of the least studied regions of Pakistan.Because of the specific geographic position and geographical features of the area and the negligence of Government to provide health facilities in the districts, the peoples are mostly dependent on the indigenous health care system.Local herbs and other plant resources found in the area are the principal source of medicine for the treatment of various human ailments [8].The Present study is the first attempt to document the plant species in the area which was unexplored previously; secondly to hunt and record the ethnobotanical knowledge of the occurring plant species and thirdly to record the new or rare uses of medicinal plants in the area.Ethnobotanical research will made it possible to discover some phrmacologically active constituents from these medicinal plants in future.It is also hoped that these findings would provoke further pharmacological as well as phytochemical research in this remote area.
Ethnobotanically, the research area is one of the least studied regions of Pakistan.Because of the specific geographic position and geographical features of the area and the negligence of Government to provide health facilities in the districts, the peoples are mostly dependent on the indigenous health care system.Local herbs and other plant resources found in the area are the principal source of medicine for the treatment of various human ailments [8].
The Present study is the first attempt to document the plant species in the area which was unexplored previously; secondly to hunt and record the ethnobotanical knowledge of the occurring plant species and thirdly to record the new or rare uses of medicinal plants in the area.Ethnobotanical research will made it possible to discover some phrmacologically active constituents from these medicinal plants in future.It is also hoped that these findings would provoke further pharmacological as well as phytochemical research in this remote area.

Materials and Methods
The research area was season wise extensively surveyed during June 2009-July 2011.Plant specimens were collected from various localities of the area.Data of the folk medicinal uses of indigenous plants was obtained through questionnaires and interviews.Those people particularly the old men and women were interviewed whose empirical knowledge was respected by everyone.The present study provides some additional uses of the species which are otherwise used in other areas.Collected plants were dried, pressed and mounted properly following Carter et al., 2007 [9].The identification of the plants was done with the help of available literature [10][11][12] and by comparing with the authentic specimens available in the herbarium of Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.After identification voucher specimens were deposited in the Plant Taxonomy Lab. of Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha, Sargodha, Pakistan for future reference.
The data collected through interviews with local people indicate that these species are mostly used in Respiratory Tract Infections (asthma, bronchitis, cold, cough, flu pulmonary congestion, sore throat etc.), Urinary Tract Infections (painful urination, bladder and kidney stone etc), digestive disorders (constipation, dysentery, diarrhea, dyspepsia, gastrointestinal infections etc.), sexual problems (gonorrhea, leucorrhoea, male sterility, menstrual cycle.Menstruation pain, spermatorrhoea etc.), skin ailments (skin allergy, skin rashes, leprosic skin, athlete's foot disease, scabies etc), wound healing, blood vomiting, malaria, piles, epilepsy, jaundice, gummosis, round worms, hepatitis etc Data inventory constitutes botanical name, vernacular name, English name, family, parts used, habit and local uses.The plant parts frequently used to treat human's health problems include root, stem and leaves.But due to illiteracy, the people are indulge in uprooting the plants with the result survival and continuity of useful medicinal plants are becoming impossible and hence their sustainable utilization is greatly affected.It was noted that these plant species were used by the peoples ethnobotanically since their forefathers for various purposes like medicine, fodder, fuel, timber, ornamental etc.Most of the plant species are used for multipurposes.
Local Uses: Decoction of the plant is used to cure all sorts of bronchial problems; frond extract is effective in removing spleen stones.
Local Uses: Use it as a tea is helpful to remove stone from bladder and kidney; poultice of mashed plant is good to wound healing.
B. Angiosperms-Monocots 3) Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.(Asphodelaceae) Part Used: Leaves.Local Uses: Leaves pulp is used to treat all kinds of skin infections; pulp as poultice is banded around the fractured bone to heal early; leaf pulp with sugar is used to treat diabetes.

4) Asphodelus tenuifolius Cavan (Asphodelaceae)
Part Used: Whole plant.Local Uses: Seeds are diuretic; powered seeds when taken along with a glass of water early in the morning for three weeks are best remedy of piles.Local Uses: Best apiculture plant; young shoots are used as tooth brush; gum obtained from its bark along with sugar is used as tonic; also used to cure dysentery 11) Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.(Mimosaceae) Part Used: Bark, pods.
Local Uses: Bark is used to treat toothache; decoction of pods is used to cure leucorrhoea and spermatorrhoea.
Local Uses: Resin mixed with egg-white is applied to eyes as antimony to curecataract.
Infusion of leaves is drunk to treat diabetes; smoke of burning pods when inhaled, is used to treat cold; gum is used as aphrodisiac; pods as expectorant; bark decoction is used to cure digestives disorders; young shoots are rubbed on gums to cure gummosis.
Local Uses: The leaves extract along with water is used to cure dysentery; decoction of roots and leaves while infusion of roots is effective remedy of abdominal disorders; root paste is applied to lessen inflammation.Part Used: Whole plant.
Local Uses: Paste of flower with water is used on wound to stop and heel bleeding; root extract is used as eye drop; root ash is used as eye antimony (surma).
Local Uses: A spoon of powdered seeds along with a glass of water, taken early in the morning up to three weeks is good treatment of diabetes; roots decoction is best for migraine treatment; oil extracted from its seeds is used to cure piles and skin ailments; dry flowers are used to treat male sterility.16) Albizia procera (Roxb.)Benth (Mimosaceae) Part Used: Whole plant.
Local Uses: Decoction of bark is used to treat bronchial problems; leaves poultice is used to treat any kind of ulcer; grown in front of courtyard to flee off mosquetoes and other harmful insects.17) Alternathera pungens Kunth (Amaranthaceae) Part Used: Whole plant.
Local Uses: Root decoction is remedy of gonorrhea; decoction of the plant (with little salt) is drink to stop blood vomiting; anti-malarial; remedy of urinary infections.Local Uses: Plant has nerve, cardio-tonic properties as well as astringent, diuretic; plant is used as a treatment of epilepsy; leave juice is used as a remedy of bronchial and diarrheal ailments.
Local Uses: Plant is best blood purifier; fruit is used for liver complaints; decoction of fruit is best remedy for any kind of skin diseases; anti-diabetic plant.
Local Uses: Plant is diuretic, astringent, diaphoretic, aphrodisiac and tonic in nature; extract of the plant is used to treat rheumatism; poultice of leaves on burns has soothing effect; root powder has infertility effect; crushed leaves along with berries in water, given at the time of labour make the birth easy.Local Uses: Decoction of leaves is used as shampoo; crushed leaves along with lemon juice are applied on face to remove pimples; ash wood mixed in vinegar is applied to snake bite; tea of dried fruit is used to treat measles; decoction of the fruit is used to treat bronchial disorders.

Discussion
The significance of plants is all pervasive.Chaudhary (1961) surveyed that in Pakistan, there are about 1500 species of medicinal plants that are used to cure various ailments [13].Up to 1950, 84% of Pakistan population was dependent on traditional medicines for all or most of their medicinal needs [14].According to WHO, 80% of population of developing countries rely on medicinal plants for health care.Modern pharmacopoeia still contains at least 25% drugs derived from plants.Due to growing recognition of natural products, demands for medicinal plants are increasing in the socio-cultural and spiritual arenas, especially of rural Pakistan.The scope of medicinal plants is gigantic and can revolutionize the lives of the people in the rural areas of Pakistan where many wild species still found and flourishing [15].
The study area is considered as the most remote area of Pakistan with lofty mountains and with scattered flora; many of which are still unexplored from taxonomic and medicinal point of view.Information on the folk use of the plants reported in this study is based on the personal observations; first-hand field notes and material gathered from reliable informants who have long been using these herbal remedies since their forefathers in their health care.Most of the remedies consist of a single plant species.However, in many cases recipes are made up of two to three different plant species like Withania coagulans and Rhazya stricta are together used to treat chronic wounds and diabetes and sometimes ingredient of non-plant ori-gin (like salt, honey, oil etc), e.g., Ziziphus mauritiana along with lemon juice and vinegar is used to treat skin ailments and snake bite.Moreover, the same plant species can be used as a treatment of more than one diseases like Rumex vesicarius and Emex spinosus is used to treat not only liver ailments but also digestive disorders and a single disease may be cured by two different species, e.g., Citrullus colocynthis, Rhazya stricta, Albizia lebbeck, all are ethnobotanically used to treat diabetes.Berberis lyceum and Olea europaea subsp.europaea both are used to cure jaundice.Physorrhynchus chamaerapistrum's leave paste is effectively used to treat wounds that are infested with pus.
The ethnobotanical knowledge of uses of medicinal plants is transmitted from one generation to the next [16].This knowledge is liable to be lost under the influence of modernization, rapid urbanization, increase in population and consequently expansion of population and agricultural land and acculturation of indigenous people [17].
Angiosperms constitute the dominant flora here that was documented and family Fabaceae ranked first in curing the human ailments here.Pteridophytes are represented by two species viz., Adiantum capillus-veneris and Equisetum arvense.
As far as medicinal properties of the plants of the area are concerned, many rare valuable species occur here, e.g.Viola cinerea, Monotheca buxifolia, Ehretia obtusifolia, Caralluma tuberculata and Capparis spinosa and are going towards decline in number rapidly because of over and unscientific collection.These valuable medicinal plants species are at the verge of extinction from the area if are not used sustainably.Citrullus colocynthis are in abundance and is used as effective remedy not only against diabetes but also for purification of blood.Other species that are quite common in the area are Peganaum harmala and Asphodelus tenuifolius are efficient treatment against piles.Peganum harmala and Tamarix dioica's fumes are effective treatment against measles.Fagonia arabica is the most commonly prevailing species that occur throughout the are and its decoction is effectively used during fever and also used as best blood purifier and as well as cooling agent; also used as anti-cancer.The seeds of Ricinus communis are used as purgative and also for early abortion of women to control birth rate.Infusion of Adiantun capillus-veneris of the former is widely used to cure all sorts of bronchial disorders while tea of Equisetum arvense the latter species is best remedy of removal of kidney stones.
Similarly, Infusion of Boerhavia diffusa is effectively used to regulate menstrual flow and its roots are used as bracelet around the neck to treat jaundice.Calotropis procera, Nerium oleander, Heliotropium spp., Ricinus communis, Datura metal, Peganum harmala and So-lanum xanthocarpum, are medicinally important on one hand and are quite poisonous for humans on other hand when used improperly.
With changes in the climatic conditions and life style, it has been observed that in most of the ethnobotanical works informants believe that more medicinal plants were in use in the past than today [18] and this work is no exception in this regard.Also the continued environmental degradation of medicinal plants habitats has brought the depletion of indigenous knowledge and this knowledge is vanishing day by day as the old age people that were the saver of this are mostly being passed away and their descendents never cared about the documentation of their forefather's knowledge about medicinal plants.Seeking towards the modern health care facilities in spite of their lackness also brought about the loss of traditional knowledge.Therefore, special attention is required to gather and document this empirical knowledge systematically and to protect and conserve the wild medicinal plants [17].From this account it is evident and concluded that the information documented from the people of the semi-tribal area useful for further research in the field of ethnobotany, taxonomy and pharmacology.This study offers a model for studying relation between the wild plants and the semi-tribal people.

Conclusion
During the research project it was noted that the medicinal plant wealth of semi-tribal area is not fully exploited.Some medicinally important plant species are fast dwindling, mainly due to human interference.So, the area needs proper protection for the conservation and survival of bio-resources.The medicinal plants can be protected by the conservation programme with help of local people.Therefore, creation of proper awareness among the people is very necessary.So that the rise in the standard of life of the people and suitable conservation strategies can be made in this way and those plants especially that are of medicinal value and which are at the verge of extincttion due to misuse of the people can be conserved.

Acknowledgements
Cordially thanks to Mr. Zia Ur Rehman, Mr. Shafi Ullah and Maqbool Bahi as guide and Dost Muhammad who shared their wealth of knowledge and experience to complete our ethnobotanical research in this area.Also grateful to Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (Project No. 20-1599/R&D/09 3007) for financial support to complete our field work.

18 )
Amaranthus albus L. (Amaranthaceae) Part Used: Whole plant.Local Uses: Plant is cooked to get rid of constipation.19) Amaranthus caudatus L. (Amaranthaceae) Part Used: Whole plant.Local Uses: Plant is cooked as vegetable along with Digera muricata and is considered as best blood purifier; its decoction is drink to treat pulmonary congestion.20) Amaranthus spinosus L. (Amaranthaceae) Part Used: Whole plant.Local Uses: Plant possesses emollient properties and cooked as vegetable to promote urinary discharges; plant decoction is remedy of gonorrhoea.21) Amaranthus viridis L. (Amaranthaceae) Part Used: Whole plant.Local Uses: Plant has astringent as well as emollient and vermifuge properties and cooked as a vegetable to treat constipation.Decoction of the plant is effective treatment of dysentery; roots decoction is good treatment of painful urination.22) Anchusa hispida Forssk.(Boraginaceae) Part Used: Whole.Local Uses: Plant has astringent as well as emollient and vermifuge properties and cooked as a vegetable to treat constipation.Decoction of the plant is effective treatment of dysentery; roots decoction is good treatment of painful urination.23) Argyrolobium roseum (Cambess.)Jaub.& Spach.(Papilionaceae) Part Used: Whole plant.Local Uses: Infusion of the herb taken early in the morning is strongly aphrodisiac; anti-diabetic.24) Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell (Scrophuliraceae) Part Used: Whole plant.