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Systematic Diversity with Quantitative Study of Medicinal Weeds of Tehsil Sarai Naurang, District Lakki Marwat, KP-Pakistan

PJWSR_30_1_25-36

Research Article

Systematic Diversity with Quantitative Study of Medicinal Weeds of Tehsil Sarai Naurang, District Lakki Marwat, KP-Pakistan

Tariq Zaman1*, Fawad Khan2, Sajjad Ahmad2*, Alia Mehsud2, Atta Ur Rahman3, Muskaan Zaman2 and Sumaira Noor2

1Department of Botany, University of Science and Technology Bannu, Pakistan; 2Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan; 3Department of Botany, Islamia College Peshawar, Pakistan,

Abstract | District Lakki Marwat is a highly rich profile and diverse flora in southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The present study was conducted during 2018-19 in Tehsil Sarai Naurang District Lakki Marwat in order to investigate the taxonomic diversity and medicinal importance of weeds flora. A total of 42 weed species belonging to 20 families were investigated from research area. The dominant families in terms of species richness were Asteraceae and Poaceae with 6 species (14.28%) each, followed by Brassicaceae and Papilionaceae with 4 species (9.52%), Apiaceae and Solanaceae with 3 species (7.14%), Amaranthaceae and Polygonaceae having 2 species (4.76%), while remaining families (Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Asphodelaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fumariaceae, Lamiaceae, Malvaceae, Oxalidaceae, Plantaginaceae and Salvadoraceae) have 1 specie (2.38%) each. Based on plant parts used, leaves were the topmost part used of 21 species (50%), followed by whole plant 18 species (42.85%), seeds of 9 species (21.42%), stem of 8 species (19.08%), root of 5 species (11.90%), latex, shoots of 2 species (4.76%) and flowers of 1 specie. The most significant number of plant species that helped alleviate digestive problems was 12 (58.57%) of the total, followed by intestinal problems with 8 species (19.04%), abdominal pain with 7 species (16.66%). Different quantitative indices like Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency Citation (RFC) and Family Important Value (FIV), were used to find out comparative signficiance of plant species. The species with high Used Value were Mentha longifolia 0.93, Coronopus didymus 0.90, Sonchus asper 0.89. Calotropis procera 0.22, Euphorbia helioscopia 0.21, Cynodon dectylon 0.20 are species with high RFC. The Families with high FIV were Poaceae 74.7, Astercaeae 69.9, Brassicaceae 50.7, Papilionaceae 39.7 and Solanaceae 35.6.


Received | March 01, 2024; Accepted | March 28, 2024; Published | March 31, 2024

*Correspondence | Sajjad Ahmad, Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan; Email: [email protected]; [email protected]

Citation | Zaman, T., F. Khan, S. Ahmad, A. Mehsud, A.U. Rahman, M. Zaman and S. Noor., 2024. Systematic diversity with quantitative study of medicinal weeds of Tehsil Sarai Naurang, District Lakki Marwat, KP- Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Weed Science Research, 30(1): 25-36.

DOI | https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.PJWSR/2024/30.1.25.36

Keywords | Ethnobotany, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, Lakki Marwat, Medicinal weeds, Sarai Naurang, Systematic diversity, Quantitatives study

Copyright: 2024 by the authors. Licensee ResearchersLinks Ltd, England, UK.

This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).



Introduction

Tehsil Sarai Naurang is locataed in District Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province Pakistan, with 32°49’ N latitude and 70°46’ E longitude having 278 meters height from sea level. Sarai Naurang tehsil is located at northern side of district Lakki Marwat. Location of Sarai Naurang is in such a way that in the north side there is district Bannu, in the east district Karak, in the west district North Waziristan and in the south it is separated by tehsil Ghazni Khel. The overall 100% population speaking Pashto language and all are muslims (Hussain et al. 2016).

Different authors in different areas documented and explored the plants natural resources with respect to their medicinal values. The whole plant of weeds is mostly used for medicinal purposes. Weeds can be used for many things, but their presence in food crop cultivation is considered as pests. Ethno-medicine and their traditional knowledge is a good illustration of poor communities living in the remote areas, fighting even incurable diseases through the traditional methods and even for their livestock through these traditional herbal medicines (Raut et al. 2012). Medicinal plants constitute the base of health care systems in many societies. Globally, about 85% of the traditional medicines used for primary health care derived from plants (Farnsworth, 1988). Some weeds are called, “beneficial plants or herbs” as they are edible, use for food or herbal medicine. Other advantage of such beneficial herbs may be the keeping away of some insects’ pests of crops (Ediriweera, 2007). Weeds are also used as medicines; however, there have been no reports of the use of wild plants as medicines in this region (Des et al. 2018). Weeds are still used as traditional medicinal plants and have the potential to be used as medicines (Rizki et al. 2019). Many herbaceous plants can be used as food, medicines and also used in religious festivals (Mesfin et al. 2013). Medicinal weeds not only contain nutritional potential which are vital for human health but it can be used as defense against infectious diseases. This study aims to investigate the weeds used indigenously by the local inhabitants for treatment of different diseases. The medicinal weed Imperata cylindrica L. is used for Tonic, cut and wounds, urodynia, hypertension, and febrifuge in Hafizabad district, Punjab-Pakistan (Umair et al., 2017). The overall plant of Oxalis corniculata L. and leaves of Euphorbia hirta L. are used as traditional medicinal source. The important medicinal weeds Avena fatua L. Solanum nigrum L., Malva neglecta Wall. Mentha longifolia (L.) Huds. Rumex dentatus L. have high potential against throat infection, heart burn, diarrhea, laxative and abdominal pain (Islam et al. 2006).

Materials and Methods

Geographical information was obtained from the Department of Geography, University of Peshawar. Map of the study area, note book, pencil, plant presser, newspaper, polythene bags, knife, compass and digital camera were used during research work. Plants were collected, pressed in newspapers with the help of plant presser. During field visits, interviews were taken from people of different age groups (30-45 years; 46-55 years; 56-70 years) through semi structured questionnaire to record the indigenous knowledge and ethnobotanical information about the plants. The artifact method (ex-situ sampling) and inventory method (in-situ sampling) were used for data authenticity (Thomas and Shengji, 2003). The collected weed species were dried, pressed and identified with help of available literature and various volumes of Flora of Pakistan (Ali and Nasir, 1989-1991; Ali and Qaiser, 1993-2021). The voucher specimens were numbered and deposited in Herbarium of Department of Botany, University of Peshawar.

The current research study included three quantitative indices: Family important value (FIV), Relative frequency citation (RFC) and Use Value (UV).

Family important value (FIV): It indicated the imporatant of plant family by informants.

N: All the informants participating in the in survey FC: the number of informers, indicating the family. (Shah et al., 2020).

Relative frequency citation (RFC): The relative value of plant species identified by informants was assessed using the relative frequency of citations (RFC) (Shaheen et al. 2017).

N is total number of informants participated in the survey FC is the number of informants mentioning the usage of the species.

Used Value (UV): The use value (UV) was determined using the method provided by (Rokaya et al. 2010) in order to assess the significance of each specific plant species.

UV = ∑Ui/N

N is the sum of informants, Ui is the number of uses mentioned by each information for a given species

Results

The present research area has very high medicinal weeds diversity. The research work was conducted during 2018-19 in Tehsil Sarai Naurang explore the medicinal diversity of weeds flora. The total of 42 weed species belonging to 20 families was investigated from research area (Table 1) The dominant famimilies with respect to species richness were Asteraceae and Poaceae with 6 species (14.28%) each, followed by Brassicaceae and Papilionaceae with 4 species (9.52%), Apiaceae and Solanaceae with 3 species (7.14%), Amaranthaceae and Polygonaceae having 2 species (4.76%), while remaining families have 1 specie (2.38%) each (Table 3; Fig. 2).

 

Table 1: Ethno-medicinal description of weedy medicinal plants of Tehsil Sarai Naurang, District Lakki Marwat.

S.#

Family

Species name

Local name

Habit

Part used

Ethno-medicinal uses

1

Apiaceae

Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam.

Lewanai gajara

Herb

Seeds

Used for wound, as diuretic

Anethum graveolens L.

Sowey

Herb

Seeds, leaves

Seeds used for wound as antiseptic, used as a tonic

Torilis leptophylla (L.) reichenb. f.

Jungli dhanrhia

Herb

Leaves, stem

Used for increase in animal milk production

2

Amaranthaceae

Amaranthus viridis (L.) Medik

Ranjaka

Herb

Leaves, shoot

Reduced diabetes rate and cholesterol level, used as pain killer and diuretic

Achyranthes aspera L.

Duzaro Washkai

Herb

Whole

Plant

Laxative, diuretic, cough, asthma and toothache

3

Apocynaceae

Nerium oleander L.

Surgulai

Shrub

Leaves, flowers, roots

Used for high blood pressure, digestive system and itching

4

Asclepiadaceae

Calotropis procera (Willd)R.Br.

Spalmaka

Shrub

Leaves, stem

latex used in asthma, cough, stomach burn and dysentery

5

Astercaeae

Carthamus oxyacantha M. Bieb

Kunjal

Herb

Leaves, seeds

Leaves used for milk production in cattle, seeds used for urinary swelling

Erigeron bonariensis L.

Aspee ghash

Shrub

Leaves, stem, roots

Leaves used for rheumatism and wound healing

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scope

Bizogee

Herb

Whole plant

Chewed for toothache

Sonchus asper (L.) Hill

Thareza

Herb

Leaves, roots, latex

Used to cure warts and inflammation

Sonchus oleraceus (L.) Hill

Catasaree

Herb

Leaves, roots, latex

Used for bronchial infection, digestive disturbance and tonic

Taraxacum officinale Weber

Zerh gulai

Herb

Whole plant

Laxative, diuretic, constipation

6

Asphodelaceae

Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.

Pazakai

Herb

Roots, leaves

Used for hair loss, antidandruff

7

Brassicaceae

Eruca sativa Mill.

Jamao

Herb

Leaves, seeds

Used for skin diseases, blood purification, kidney disorder, hairless and diuretic

Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.

Salaad

Herb

Leaves, seeds

Leaves used for digestion, stomach relief and blood purification, seeds oil used for cooking

Malcolmia Africana (L.) R.Br.

Khatoal

Herb

Leaves, seeds

Seeds oil used for bone pain; leaves used for abdominal relief

Coronopus didymus (L.) sm.

Gand butai

Herb

Leaves, shoots

Reducing blood pressure

8

Chenopodiaceae

Chenopodium murale L.

Tor Bathu

Herb

Leaves, stem

Used as diuretic, tonic for liver, digestive, laxative, peptic ulcer and dyspepsia

9

Convolvulaceae

Convolvulus arvensis L.

Perkhatun

Herb

Whole plant

Treat skin ulcer, wounds, swellings, abdominal pain, also used for muscular weakness

10

Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia helioscopia L.

Parparai

Herb

Whole plant

Root is anthelmintic, cathartic, seeds mixed with paper mint or honey used against cholera

11

Fumariaceae

Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley

Spanda

Herb

Leaves, stem, seeds

Used as a exorcise and for stomach pain

12

Lamiaceae

Mentha longifolia L.

Velanai

Herb

Leaves, stem

Used for digestive, abdominal pain, cough, cold and asthma

13

Malvaceae

Malva neglecta Wall.

Pochkai

Herb

Whole plant

Highly medicinal, nutritive and digestive

14

Oxalidaceae

Oxalis corniculata L.

Malkhoza

Herb

Seeds

Seeds used for backache and joint pain

15

Papilionaceae

Astragalus scorpiurus Bunge

Kasterai

Herb

Leaves

Very highly medicinal (Ethnoveternary)

Melilotus indica (L.) All.

Shinghzai

Herb

Whole plant

Used for stomach and heart burn

Medicago polymorpha L.

Kundey

Herb

Leaves, stem

Aphrodisiac

Vicia sativa L.

Jangli mattar

Herb

Whole plant

Fodder, fruit are used in pickle, leaves used for digestive purpose

16

Polygonaceae

Emex spinosus (L.) Campd

Perkhatun

Herb

Leaves, stem

Used for worms killing in cattle, highly medicinal

Rumex dentatus L.

Turukai

Herb

Whole plant

Stomach and abdominal relief

17

Plantaginaceae

Plantago lanceolata L.

Speghol

Herb

Seeds, leaves

Used for abdominal pain and dhirrea

18

Poaceae

Cynodon dectylon (L.) Pers

Drab

Herb

Whole plant

Used to cure fresh wounds, chronic dhirrea, rheumatism and diuretic

Avena fatua L.

Kiranrha

Herb

Whole plant

Used as diuretic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing

Avena sativa L.

Jaudar

Herb

Leaves, Seeds

Leaves are used for skin diseases, tonic and antispasmodic

Imperata cylindrica L.

Sermaghza

Herb

Whole plant

Used as diuretic, tonic, wound healing, nose bleeding and digestive disorders

Cymbopogon jwarancusa (Jones) Schult.

Sargarai

Herb

Whole

Plant

Used for cough, cold, fever, stomach burn and vomiting

Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev.

Washkai

Herb

Whole

Plant

Used for animal abdominal pain, increase milk production

19

Salvadoraceae

Salvadora oleoides Decne.

Plaman

Shrub

Whole plant

Used for mouth diseases and cleanliness

20

Solanaceae

Physalis divaricata D. Don

Sqand

Herb

Whole plant

Seeds used for high fever, roots used for animal, dhirrea and abdominal pain

Solanum nigrum L.

Mamanrha

Herb

Whole plant

Used for rheumatism, skin diseases, cough and laxative

Solanum surattense L.

Maraghoon

Herb

Whole plant

Seeds and fruit cover used for abdominal pain, fruit used for digestion and roots for dhirrea

 

Table 2: Phytogeography of weedy medicinal plants of Tehsil Sarai Naurang, District Lakki Marwat.

S.#

Family

Spp no.

Species name

Flowering & fruiting phenology

Collection site

Distribution/Location

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Pakistan

1

Apiaceae

1

Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam.

Apr-May

Nawab Kaly (Lakki Marwat)

Swat, Dir, Peshawar, Charsada, Sawabi, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat

Murree, Zhob, Ziarat, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Lahore

2

Anethum graveolens L.

Apr-May

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Peshawar, Mardan, Charsada, Dir (L), Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat

Karachi, Islamabad, D. I Khan, Mianwali, Jhelum

3

Torilis leptophylla (L.) reichenb.f.

Apr-May

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Hazara, Peshawar, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, D. I Khan, Bajaur, Dir,

Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Murre

2

Amaranthaceae

4

Amaranthus viridis (L.) Medik

June-July

Kot Kashmir, Sparli kalai, (Lakki Marwat)

Charsadda, Swabi, Swat, Peshawar, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, D. I Khan, Karak, Chitral, Malakand, Bannu

Chiniot, Sailkot,

5

Achyranthes aspera L.

Feb-Apr

Nawab Kaly, Kot Kashmir, Gandi, (Lakki Marwat)

Charsada, Bajaur, Dir, Swat

Kamber (Sindh), Nara

3

Apocynaceae

6

Nerium oleander L.

Mar-Apr

Kot Kashmir, Bahawal Klai (Lakki Marwat)

Swat, Dir, Bajaur, Malakand

Khuzdar, Kalat, Poonch,

4

Asclepiadaceae

7

Calotropis procera (Willd)R.Br.

Throughout Year

Kot Kashmir, Azad Kalay (Lakki Marwat)

Peshawar, Charsada, Sawabi, Mardan, Bajaur, Dir, Malakand, Kohat, D.I. Khan

Rawalpandi, Chakwal, Attock, Murre, Abbottabad

5

Asteraceae

8

Carthamus oxyacantha M. Bieb

May-June

Chandu Khel, Jangi khan klai, passani, Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat

Malakand, Dir, Swat, Buner, Charasadda, Swabi, Peshawar, Kohat, Karak, Bannu, Lakki Marwat, D. I Khan

Islamabad, Mainwale

9

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scope

Apr-May

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Charsada, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Waziristan

Bhimbar Kashmir, Kasur, Peshawar

10

Erigeron bonariensis L.

Mar-May

Fields along the sides of river tochi (Kot Kashmir) Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Charsada, Chitral Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Kurram

Potohar, Kashmir, Mandi Bahaudin

11

Sonchus asper (L.) Hill

Apr-June

Kot Kashmir, Jangi Khan klai, Bahawal klai (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Charsada, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Waziristan, Kaghan

Kasur, Islamabad,

12

Sonchus oleraceus (L.) Hill

Apr-June

Kot Kashmir, Jangi Khan klai, Bahawal klai (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Charsada, Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu, Waziristan

Chang manga, Rawalpindi, Bahawalnagar

13

Taraxacum officinale Weber

Apr-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Mardan, Mansehra

Poonch valley, Kashmir,

6

Asphodelaceae

14

Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.

Nov-Apr

Fields along the sides of river tochi (Kot Kashmir) Lakki Marwat)

D. I Khan, Bannu, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Karak, Nowshera, Peshawar.

Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Attock

7

Brassicaceae

15

Eruca sativa Mill.

Apr-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Mardan, Sawabi, Lakki marwat, Bannu, karak, Charsada, Lower Dir.

Jhelum, Islamabad, Rawalpindi,

16

Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.

Apr-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Mardan, Sawabi, Lakki marwat, Bannu, karak, Charsada, Lower Dir.

Jhelum, Rawalpindi, South Punjab

17

Malcolmia africana (L.) R.Br.

Mar-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Mardan, Charsada, Dir, Swat, Nowshera, Malakand, D.I. Khan, Bannu

Rawalpindi, Quetta, Mianwali, Hafizabad

18

Coronopus didymus (L.) sm.

Mar-June

Machan Khel, Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Charsada, Bajaur, Sawabi, Peshawar,

Mirpur, Sukkar, Lahore, Kasur, Nanka sahib

8

Chenopodiaceae

19

Chenopodium murale L.

Jan-July

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Peshawar, Tank

Mankial, Quetta, Kasur,

9

Convolvulaceae

20

Convolvulus arvensis L.

Throughout Year

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Chitral, Kaghan, Parachinar, Peshawar, Bajaur,

Quetta, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Mirpur

10

Euphorbiaceae

21

Euphorbia helioscopia L.

Jan-July

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Charsada, Peshawar, Bannu, Kohat,

Muree, Islamabad, Hasan abdal

11

Fumariaceae

22

Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley

Mar-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Swat, Charsada, Peshawar, Bannu, Kohat. North Waziristan

Rawalpindi, Attock Islamabad

12

Lamiaceae

23

Mentha longifolia L.

May-Nov

Kot Kashmir, Gandi, Sparli kalai (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Swat, Charsada, Peshawar, Bannu, Kohat. North Waziristan

Jhelum, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Lahore

13

Malvaceae

24

Malva neglecta Wall.

May-July

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Kohat, Mohmand, Abbottabad,

Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal

14

Oxalidaceae

25

Oxalis corniculata L.

Mar-Dec

Kot Kashmir, Machan Khel (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Kohat, Mohmand, Abbottabad,

Quetta, Rawalpindi, Jhelum, Chakwal

15

Papilionaceae

26

Astragalus scorpiurus Bunge

Mar-Apr

Nawab Kaly, Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Bannu, Peshawar

Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan

27

Melilotus indica (L.) All.

Mar-Aug

Shah Tora, Kot Kashmir, Bahawal kalai (Lakki Marwat)

Charsada

Baluchistan, Kausar, Lahore

28

Medicago polymorpha L.

Mar-May

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Malakand, Swat, Nowshera, Buner

Kausar, Sakkur

29

Vicia sativa L.

Mar-Apr

Kot Kashmir, Passani (Lakki Marwat)

Lakki Marwat, Chitral, Malakand

Kashmir, Baluchistan, Rawalpindi, Jhelum

16

Polygonaceae

30

Emex spinosus (L.) Campd

Mar-May

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Malakand, Nowshera, Swabi, Dir, Charsada, Abbottabad.

Kashmir, Faridabad

31

Rumex dentatus L.

May-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Dir, Abbottabad, D.I. Khan, Galiyat, Sawabi

Kashmir, Kausar

17

Plantaginaceae

32

Plantago lanceolata L.

May-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Peshawar, Mallam Jaba, Nowshera

Rawalkot, Murree, Sudhan Gali, Baluchistan,

18

Poaceae

33

Cynodon dectylon (L.) Pers

Throughout Year

Kot Kashmir, Gandi (Lakki Marwat)

Peshawar, Swat, Dir, Bajaur, Nowshera, Swabi, Bannu, Buner

Kashmir, Murre, Baluchistan, Rawalpandi,

34

Avena fatua L.

Mar-Apr

Wheat fields of Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Peshawar, D.I. Khan, Bannu

Sarghoda, Toba Tek Singh, Bahawalpur

35

Avena sativa L.

Mar-Apr

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Kohat, Bajaur,

Faisalabad, Sarghoda,

Potohar, Mansehra

36

Imperata cylindrica L.

Apr-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bannu, Karak, Nowshera

Bahawalnagar, Bahwalpor, Potohar,

37

Cymbopogon jwarancusa (Jones) Schult.

June-July

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Pubbi, Nowshera

Baluchistan, Cholistan, Thal, Duki, Potohar,

38

Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev.

Apr-July

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bannu, Sawabi, Sari Naurang, Mohmand

Balochistan

19

Salvadoraceae

39

Salvadora oleoides Decne.

Mar-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Karak, North Waziristan, D. I. Khan,

Karachi Sindh, Bahawalpur,

20

Solanaceae

40

Physalis divaricata D. Don

Oct-Nov

Azad Kalay

Sawabi, Dir, Sawabi, Malakand

Sibi, Karachi,

41

Solanum nigrum L.

Apr-June

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Abbottabad

Mianwali, Sibi, Kashmir, Islamabad, Muzafarabad, Hafizabad

42

Solanum surattense L.

Throughout Year

Kot Kashmir (Lakki Marwat)

Bajaur, Peshawar, Swat, Bannu

Potohar, Cholistan, Mianwali, Hafizabad

 

 

Based on plant parts used, leaves were the topmost part used of 21 species (50%), followed by whole plant 18 species (42.85%), seeds of 9 species (21.42%), stem of 8 species (19.08%), root of 5 species (11.90%), latex, shoots of 2 species (4.76%) and flowers of 1 specie (Table 4; Fig. 4).

Indigestion were solved by highest numbers of weeds with 12 species (58.57%), followed by intestinal problems with 8 species (19.04%), abdominal pain with 7 species (16.66%), skin diseases with 5 species (11.90%), while kidney, muscular, respiratory, fever and diabetes were treated by 4, 3, 2 and 1 specie each respectively (Table 5; Fig 5).

 

Table 3: Numbers and percentage major families of weedy medicinal plants.

S.No

Family

No. Species

Percentage

1

Asteraceae

6

14.28

2

Poaceae

6

14.28

3

Brassicaceae

4

9.52

4

Papilionaceae

4

9.52

5

Apiaceae

3

7.14

6

Solanaceae

3

7.14

7

Amaranthaceae

2

4.76

8

Polygonaceae

2

4.76

 

Table 4: Summaries of weedy medicinal plants of Tehsil Sarai Naurang.

S. No

Families/Habits/Part Used

Numbers

Percentage

A.

1

Families

20

2

Herbs

38

90.4

3

Shrubs

4

9.5

B

1

Leaves

21

50

2

Whole plant

18

42.85

3

Seeds

9

21.42

4

Stem

8

19.04

5

Roots

5

11.90

6

Latex

2

4.76

7

Shoots

2

4.76

8

Flowers

1

2.38

 

The demographics of the respondents

146 participants in all were interviewed regarding the local flora in the study area. Among them, male were 138 and female were eight. People from different age groups shared their own knowledge about the plants and the region (Table 7).

 

Table 5: Numbers and percentage of diseases treated.

S.No

Disease treated

Numbers

Percentage

1

Digestive problems

12

58.57

2

Intestinal problems

8

19.04

3

Abdominal pain

7

16.66

4

Skin problems

5

11.90

5

Kidney problems

4

9.52

6

Muscular pain

4

9.52

7

Respiratory problems

3

7.14

8

Fever

2

4.76

9

Diabetes

1

2.38

 

Table 6: Quantitative indices of weedy medicinal plants of Tehsil Sarai Naurang, District Lakki Marwat.

Family/ Species Name

Part used

Ethno-medicinal uses

FC

RFC

UV

FIV

Apiaceae

 

32.9

Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam.

Seeds

Used for wound, as diuretic

10

0.07

0.7

 

Anethum graveolens L.

Seeds, leaves

Seeds used for wound as antiseptic, used as a tonic

14

0.10

0.79

Torilis leptophylla (L.) reichenb. f.

Leaves, stem

Used for increase in animal milk production

24

0.16

0.71

Amaranthaceae

 

29.4

Amaranthus viridis (L.)Medik

Leaves, shoot

Reduced diabetes rate and cholesterol level, used as pain killer and diuretic

29

0.20

0.83

 

Achyranthes aspera L.

Whole plant

Laxative, diuretic, cough, asthma and toothache

14

0.10

0.71

Apocynaceae

  

11.0

Nerium oleander L.

Leaves, flowers, roots

Used for high blood pressure, digestive system and itching

16

0.11

0.69

 

Asclepiadaceae

  

21.9

Calotropis procera (Willd)R.Br.

Leaves, stem

latex used in asthma, cough, stomach burn and dysentery

32

0.22

0.84

 

Astercaeae

  

69.9

Carthamus oxyacantha M. Bieb

Leaves, seeds

Leaves used for milk production in cattle, seeds used for urinary swelling

21

0.14

0.67

 

Erigeron bonariensis L.

Leaves, stem, roots

Leaves used for rheumatism and wound healing

14

0.10

0.64

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scope

Whole plant

Chewed for toothache

11

0.08

0.64

Sonchus asper (L.) Hill

Leaves, roots, latex

Used to cure warts and inflammation

19

0.13

0.89

Sonchus oleraceus (L.) Hill

Leaves, roots, latex

Used for bronchial infection, digestive disturbance and tonic

18

0.12

0.72

Taraxacum officinale Weber

Whole plant

Laxative, diuretic, constipation

19

0.13

0.84

Asphodelaceae

  

5.5

Asphodelus tenuifolius Cav.

Roots, leaves

Used for hair loss, antidandruff

8

0.05

0.75

 

Brassicaceae

  

50.7

Eruca sativa Mill.

Leaves, seeds

Used for skin diseases, blood purification, kidney disorder, hairless and diuretic

16

0.11

0.75

 

Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav.

Leaves, seeds

Leaves used for digestion, stomach relief and blood purification, seeds oil used for cooking

19

0.13

0.74

Malcolmia Africana (L.) R.Br.

Leaves, seeds

Seeds oil used for bone pain; leaves used for abdominal relief

18

0.12

0.67

Coronopus didymus (L.) sm.

Leaves, shoots

Reducing blood pressure

21

0.14

0.90

Chenopodiaceae

  

15.1

Chenopodium murale L.

Leaves, stem

Used as diuretic, tonic for liver, digestive, laxative, peptic ulcer and dyspepsia

25

0.17

0.88

 

Convolvulaceae

 

18.5

Convolvulus arvensis L.

Whole plant

Treat skin ulcer, wounds, swellings, abdominal pain, also used for muscular weakness

27

0.18

0.85

 

Euphorbiaceae

 

21.2

Euphorbia helioscopia L.

Whole plant

Root is anthelmintic, cathartic, seeds mixed with paper mint or honey used against cholera

31

0.21

0.81

 

Fumariaceae

  

14.4

Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley

Leaves, stem, seeds

Used as a exorcise and for stomach pain

21

0.14

0.86

 

Lamiaceae

  

19.2

Mentha longifolia L.

Leaves, stem

Used for digestive, abdominal pain, cough, cold and asthma

28

0.19

0.93

 

Malvaceae

 

18.5

Malva neglecta Wall.

Whole plant

Highly medicinal, nutritive and digestive

27

0.18

0.85

 

Oxalidaceae

16.4

Oxalis corniculata L.

Seeds

Seeds used for backache and joint pain

24

0.16

0.88

 

Papilionaceae

  

39.7

Astragalus scorpiurus Bunge

Leaves

Very highly medicinal (Ethnoveternary)

17

0.12

0.76

 

Melilotus indica (L.) All.

Whole plant

Used for stomach and heart burn

12

0.08

0.75

Medicago polymorpha L.

Leaves, stem

Aphrodisiac

14

0.10

0.5

Vicia sativa L.

Whole plant

Fodder, fruit are used in pickle, leaves used for digestive purpose

15

0.10

0.73

Polygonaceae

  

25.3

Emex spinosus (L.) Campd

Leaves, stem

Used for worms killing in cattle, highly medicinal

11

0.08

0.82

 

Rumex dentatus L.

Whole plant

Stomach and abdominal relief

26

0.18

0.81

Plantaginaceae

  

13.7

Plantago lanceolata L.

Seeds, leaves

Used for abdominal pain and dhirrea

20

0.14

0.85

 

Poaceae

  

74.7

Cynodon dectylon (L.) Pers

Whole plant

Used to cure fresh wounds, chronic dhirrea, rheumatism and diuretic

29

0.20

0.83

 

Avena fatua L.

Whole plant

Used as diuretic, anti-inflammatory and wound healing

17

0.12

0.82

Avena sativa L.

Leaves, Seeds

Leaves are used for skin diseases, tonic and antispasmodic

19

0.13

0.63

Imperata cylindrica L.

Whole plant

Used as diuretic, tonic, wound healing, nose bleeding and digestive disorders

12

0.08

0.75

Cymbopogon jwarancusa (Jones) Schult.

Whole

Used for cough, cold, fever, stomach burn and vomiting

18

0.12

0.61

Rostraria cristata (L.) Tzvelev.

Whole plant

Used for animal abdominal pain, increase milk production

14

0.10

0.57

Salvadoraceae

21.2

Salvadora oleoides Decne.

Whole plant

Used for mouth diseases and cleanliness

15

0.10

0.6

 

Physalis divaricata D. Don

Whole plant

Seeds used for high fever, roots used for animal, dhirrea and abdominal pain

16

0.11

0.69

 

Solanaceae

 

35.6

Solanum nigrum L.

Whole plant

Used for rheumatism, skin diseases, cough and laxative

26

0.18

0.88

 

Solanum surattense L.

Whole plant

Seeds and fruit cover used for abdominal pain, fruit used for digestion and roots for dhirrea

26

0.18

0.85

 

 

 

 

Quantitative indices

Use Value (UV), Relative Frequency Citation (RFC) and Family Importance Value (FIV) were among the parameters used to statistically evaluate indigenous knowledge and ascertain the informants’ quantitative protocol regarding the use of native plants.

 

Table 7: Demographic table of informants.

Factor

Category

No.

Gender

Male

138

Female

8

Age

<35

9

25-35

22

35-45

35

45-65

62

>60

18

Occupation

Employees

27

Farmer

53

Labors

17

Herbal Practition

49

 

Used Value (UV)

In the current study the UV value ranged from 0.5 to 0.93. Medicago polymorpha is the specie with Lowest UV (0.5) value. The species with high Used Value were Mentha longifolia 0.93, Coronopus didymus 0.90, Sonchus asper 0.89, Chenopodium murale 0.88, Solanum nigrum 0.88, Oxalis corniculata 0.88 and Fumaria indica 0.86.

Relative Frequency Citation (RFC)

In the present study the RFC value ranged from 0.5 to 0.22. Asphodelus tenuifolius has the lowest RFC Value (0.5). The species with high RFC were Calotropis procera 0.22, Euphorbia helioscopia 0.21, Cynodon dectylon 0.20, Amaranthus viridis 0.20 and Mentha longifolia 0.19.

Family Important Value (FIV)

In the current study FIV value ranged from 5.5 to 74.7. Asphodelaceae has the family with the lowest FIV value (5.5). The Families with high FIV were Poaceae 74.7, Astercaeae 69.9, Brassicaceae 50.7, Papilionaceae 39.7 and Solanaceae 35.6.

Discussions

The weeds divers’ profile is reported from wide range of Pakistan (Jakhar et al. 2005). The research area has been largely overlooked, and there has been inadequate documentation of the local communities’ knowledge about plants and their uses. A review of the literature reveals that there are no research studies available on research area. The current result about dominat family in line with Ahmad and Dastagir (2023); Elfrida et al. (2021); Hosseini et al. (2021); Mechaala et al. (2022). Our results are also in line with (Abat et al. 2017) in which they treated the rheumatism and kidney disorders by some common medicinal weeds. Similar result obtained by (Rizki et al. 2019) in which they utilize Euphorbia hirta (L.) and Mimosa pudica (L.) for respiratory disorder Asthma. According to their proportional importance, plant species with more references typically have a greater UV than those with less mentions (Katiri et al., 2017). A lower Use Value indicates a lack of knowledge about the particular plant species among the informants (Ashfaq et al., 2019). In a particular area, it sheds light on the importance of locally recognised plant species. Assists in evaluating the relative significance of several plant species in the surrounding flora (Malik et al., 2019). Plants with high RFC values are well-known and well-liked by the locals in the vicinity. The plants with low RFC values are not particularly well-known or preferred, among the locals living in the area (Ahmad et al., 2017). By evaluating the relative frequency of citations, the utility of the plant is ascertained (Cordero et al., 2022). The plant family’s FIV value is determined by how many species are present and how those species are used locally (Chaachouay et al., 2019).

Author’s Contribution

Tariq Zaman designed and carried out the research. Both Tariq Zaman and Fawad Khan were collected the data and did fieldwork. Atta Ur Rahman provided logistical support, while Alia Mehsud performed the data analysis. Sajjad Ahmad wrote the manuscript. Muskaan Zaman and Sumaira Noor conducted the literature review necessary for writing the manuscript.

Novelty Statement

Previously, there is no research work done on weeds medicinal in this research area tehsil Sarai Naurang, district Lakki Marwat, Pakistan. Additionally, a novel approach was employed by applying quantitative indices to analyze the collected data, providing new insights into the medicinal potential of these weeds.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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Pakistan Journal of Weed Science Research

June

Vol.30, Iss. 2, Pages 44-94

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