Pakistan boasts an abundant biodiversity of medicinal plants. The country also has an established tradition of herbal medicine and it is essential to safeguard these essential resources against potential exploitation.
An authoritative document was developed that contained a comprehensive listing of plant species used to treat skin disorders across Pakistan, complete with their common vernacular names, family names, parts used, and methods of preparation as well as life form information as well as skin disorders for which these plants were being utilized.
Ethno-Medicinal Use of Skin Diseases in Pakistan
Skin diseases can be difficult to treat, yet herbal medicine remains one of the most popular means. This study focused on documenting ethnopharmacological uses of plants against various skin conditions like eczema, rashes, and boils through interviews with traditional medicine practitioners, herbalists, and farmers from the Jaraka area of Jajpur district. Primary data collection consisted of structured questionnaires administered or interviews conducted with them; medicinal plant species used against skin ailments and their properties such as antimicrobial, anthelmintic analgesic, or carminative were recorded against these illnesses.
Pakistan is home to an abundance of medicinal and nephrotoxic plants, comprising four phytogeographical regions spanning Irano-Turanian (46%), Sino-Himalayan (20%), Saharo-Indian (10%) and Himalayan (5%) (Hamayun, 2005). The area studied here boasts unique biodiversity due to rocky mountains, snow-capped peaks, and deserts in its vicinity - characteristics that allowed this study.
Eighty-one herbal plant species were investigated for use against various skin disorders in humans and livestock, most frequently Boerhavia diffusa, Centella asiatica, Morus nigra, and Rumex hastatus. Jaccard index analysis demonstrated that 49% of medicinal plant species shared similar or dissimilar uses with other studies - an indicator of novel medicinal applications. Methanolic extracts of these plants were then tested against several pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to evaluate antimicrobial properties.
Medicinal Plants of Pakistan
Pakistan boasts abundant medicinal plant diversity that has long been utilized to treat various illnesses some species have even been identified as potentially effective against cancer and other serious disorders. However, many of these plants are endemic to certain regions and therefore under threat. Unfortunately, local people lack sufficient awareness regarding the conservation of such habitats; consequently, their numbers continue to decrease rapidly. Indigenous populations in Punjab use Ephedra procera leaves and fruits to treat bronchial asthma and hay fever, stimulate heart function, and possess anticancerous properties. Withania coagulants are another effective remedy against various conditions, including hepatitis C. Its fresh fruit acts as an emetic while its dried leaves provide sedation and diuretic properties. Other key species in this region include Acacia nilotica, Cuscuta reflexa, and Azadirachta indica.
ethnobotanical methods were utilized to gather relevant data, including simple interviews and structured questionnaires. Participants in these methods came from four villages and mostly consisted of elderly individuals with extensive knowledge about pakistan herbal medicine. Supplementary information regarding medicinal plant usage was gathered via informal conversations with respondents - most commonly used herbs were for treating neurological conditions like shivering and migraine while also used in massage oils and food products like milk and ghee as ingredients.
Ethno-Pharmacological Evaluation of Skin Diseases in Pakistan
Pakistan boasts an abundance of medicinal plants that can be used to treat various skin diseases, with several having anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, and immunomodulatory properties as well as wound healing capabilities and antifungal activity. Therefore, it is vital to research their ethnopharmacological properties for further research and drug development purposes.
The pharmacological properties of herbs can be determined through phytochemical and methanolic extract screening of their antimicrobial potential against various skin infections. Methanolic extracts of selected plant parts were examined for antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; results demonstrated that several extracts proved successful against all three organisms tested.
Ethnoveterinary medicine is an ancient form of treatment still in widespread use today. Medicinal plants are used as animal feed and in treating diseased animals in rural areas. Furthermore, more and more veterinarian medicines are being incorporated into human medicine; moreover, ethnoveterinary practices tend to be commonplace due to socioeconomic considerations in developing nations.
Rural areas of Pakistan rely heavily on herbal medicines made from various plant species to treat various ails. Herbs tend to be utilized more than trees or shrubs for ethnomedicinal uses due to their greater availability in their immediate environments and easier harvesting/collection procedures than tree species.
Conclusion
This study documented ethnomedical uses of herbal products by Indigenous inhabitants of Haripur District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for both human and animal health, with 80 plant species (33 herbs, 21 shrubs and 24 trees) being utilized by them for treating 42 human illnesses using 52 natural recipes; they then utilized 40 other plant species to treat 34 livestock illnesses with 40 recipes; Boerhavia diffusa, Cinnamomum camphora, and Rumex hastatus being the three most often employed medicinal species across both dimensions - Boerhavia diffusa being most widely employed medicinally for treating both human veterinary healthcare applications.
The study area boasts unique geography, culture, history, and photo diversity. It is home to Himalayan moist temperate forests commonly referred to as blue pine forests; and sub-tropical pine forests commonly called Chir; while its lower region features sub-tropical dry broad-leaved forests known locally as Kao and Phulai.
Residents commonly employ medicinal plants for treating skin issues. Unfortunately, however, younger residents are unaware of traditional remedies due to modernization, lack of confidence in alternative medicine amongst younger individuals, and advancements in modern healthcare services.
Results of this study are consistent with results reported by Tariq et al (2014), Islam et al (2012), and Khan et al (2012); similarly calculated Jaccard index values also confirm these authors' reports of similarity and dissimilarity values.
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