Quantitative survey of medicinal plants in Rawalpindi North, Rawalpindi Suoth and Murree Forest Divisions
Quantitative survey of medicinal plants in Rawalpindi North, Rawalpindi Suoth and Murree Forest Divisions
Anwar Ahmad Khan and Altaf Ahmad
ABSTRACT
Importance of medicinal plants and their use as a remedy of certain diseases was known to human beings from times immemorial. Knowledge of medicinal plants lead to its logical conclusion, that is, gradual evolution of science of Taxonomy. In the present age because of synthetic products some of the medicinal plants have lost their old value but still a considerable number of drugs mentioned in the formularies are manufactured from plants. A casual look on the national formulary booklet confirms this statement.
Pakistan is importing crude extract of drug plants from developed countries, although these medicinal plants are available in our country. Plants like Dioscorea deltoidea, Valeriana wallichii and Podophyllum hexandrum can be quoted as an example. Before persuading the industrialists for the establishment of pharmaceutical industries, based on our plants resources, it is a must that the quantities of important medicinal plants available in Pakistan, be estimated.
Already survey of medicinal plants has been completed in Siran, Dir, Chitral, Gallies, Kaghan Forest Divisions and part of Baluchistan. Survey of medicinal plants in Rawalpindi North, Rawalpindi South and Murree Forest Divisions would give a complete picture of the availability of medicinal plants in hilly forests of Pakistan.
According to the revised working plan for Murree Kahuta Forests of Rawalpindi District for the year 1953-54 to 82-83, the said Forest Divisions are situated between 32° -06 and 34° -Of North latitude and 72° -04' and 73° -42' east longitude. The tract is bounded on the north by the provincial boundary of N.W.F.P. which is artificially demarcated. On the east Jhelum forms a natural boundary and separates it from Poonch Illaqa of Jummu and Kashmir, on the south and west the boundaries are also artificial and separate it from Jhelum and Cambellpur Forest Divisions.(l)
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March 1976
Vol. 26, Iss. 1
