Abdur Rashid

Diversity and use of ethno-medicinal plants in the region of Swat, North Pakistan

BackgroundDue to its diverse geographical and habitat conditions, northern Pakistan harbors a wealth of medicinal plants. The plants and their traditional use are part of the natural and cultural heritage of the region. This study was carried out to document which medicinal plant species and which plant parts are used in the region of Swat, which syndrome categories are particularly concerned, and which habitat spectrum is frequented by collectors. Finally, we assessed to which extent medicinal plants are vulnerable due to collection and habitat destruction.MethodsAn ethnobotanical survey was undertaken in the Miandam area of Swat, North Pakistan. Data were collected through field assessment as well as from traditional healers and locals by means of personal interviews and semi-structured questionnaires.ResultsA total of 106 ethno-medicinal plant species belonging to 54 plant families were recorded. The most common growth forms were perennial (43%) and short-lived herbs (23%), shrubs (16%), and trees (15%). Most frequently used plant parts were leaves (24%), fruits (18%) and subterranean parts (15%). A considerable proportion of the ethno-medicinal plant species and remedies concerns gastro-intestinal disorders. The remedies were mostly prepared in the form of decoction or powder and were mainly taken orally. Eighty out of 106 ethno-medicinal plants were indigenous. Almost 50% of the plants occurred in synanthropic vegetation while slightly more than 50% were found in semi-natural, though extensively grazed, woodland and grassland vegetation. Three species (Aconitum violaceum, Colchicum luteum, Jasminum humile) must be considered vulnerable due to excessive collection. Woodlands are the main source for non-synanthropic indigenous medicinal plants. The latter include many range-restricted taxa and plants of which rhizomes and other subterranean parts are dug out for further processing as medicine.ConclusionMedicinal plants are still widely used for treatment in the area of Swat. Some species of woodlands seem to be adapted to wood-pasture, but vulnerable to overcollecting, and in particular to deforestation. It is suggested to implement local small-scaled agroforestry systems to cultivate vulnerable and commercially valuable ethno-medicinal woodland plants under local self-government responsibility.

Phytoecological evaluation with detail floristic appraisal of the vegetation arround Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan

OBJECTIVEnTo determine the present status of plant communities and their possible association with the habitat in Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan.nnnMETHODSnA study on the phytoecology was conducted in various ecologically important sites of Malam Jabba, Swat, Pakistan from 2002 to 2004. The altitude of these sites ranged from 1u2005200 m to 3u2005200 m. Quadrat method was used for evaluation of plants communities and the data on these attributes was converted to relative values. The plant communities were named after 3 leading species with highest importance values. Biological spectrum of the flora based on the life form was prepared by following Raunkiars life form classes.nnnRESULTSnThe floristic composition and structure of the study area were found to be 200 species belonging to 75 families. Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Poaceae were important families in the study area. The biological spectrum showed that therophytic and hemicrytophytic life form and micro-nonophyllous leaf sizes were dominant in the area. The air and soil temperatures were decreasing with increasing elevation. Both the air and soil temperatures were relatively higher in south slopes than on the northeast slopes. The vegetation analysis of the area indicated eleven plant communities around the area. The present vegetation is the relics of moist temperate coniferous forest in the area. The communities reflect highly deteriorated conditions. Both the structure and composition of the surrounding vegetation were associated with the types of habitats.nnnCONCLUSIONSnThe conservation of the remaining populations of the reported communities will be best achieved by proper time of sustainable harvesting. It is only possible with the participation of local communities.

Conservation status of threatened medicinal plants of Mankial Valley Hindukush Range, Pakistan

Conservation studies of 45 threatened medicinal plants were carried out for assessment of their conservation status, threats and recommendations growing in Mankial valley Hindukush Range Pakistan. Phytogeographically, the valley is present in the Sino Japanese floristic region and is a hot spot of endemism. A total of 45 taxa belonging to 35 families and 43 genera were collected and evaluated which include 13 (28.88%) vulnerable, 21 (46.66%) endangered and 11 (24.44%) critically endangered species. The number of plants scored with reference to its ecological amplitude and calculated historical distribution were compared with the IUCN criteria for threatened categories Version 3.1. The information regarding ‘conservation status’, threats and recommendations of the species were collected from the entire valley at different localities by filling questionnaire form 300 respondents including 260 male and 40 female. Mankial valley being naturally gifted with tremendous biodiversity, altitudinal and topographic variations is exposed to increasing human pressure, social injustice and low literacy rate that are destabilizing the biodiversity status especially species survival, habitat and ecosystem. According to the present studies, various parameters are contributing to make the important medicinal plants threatened including over exploitation (75.55%), fuel wood usage (35.55%), habitat loss (35.55%), over grazing (28.88%), deforestation (15.55%), use as timber (4.44%), bark usage (4.44%) and use as furniture (4.44%). Moreover, unsustainable utilization of plant natural resources and unscientific agricultural practices are the main threats to the ‘plant biodiversity’ growing in the valley. Therefore, studies regarding conservation status, threats and recommendations of threatened medicinal plants of Mankial Valley were proposed. n n xa0 n n Key words: Conservation, deforestation, ecosystem, Hindukush Range, Mankial valley, over grazing.

Fluoride prevalence in groundwater around a fluorite mining area in the flood plain of the River Swat, Pakistan

This study investigated the fluoride (F-) concentrations and physicochemical parameters of the groundwater in a fluorite mining area of the flood plain region of the River Swat, with particular emphasis on the fate and distribution of F- and the hydrogeochemistry. To better understand the groundwater hydrochemical profile and F- enrichment, groundwater samples (n=53) were collected from shallow (24-40m), mid-depth (48-65m) and deep (85-120m) aquifers, and then analysed using an ion-selective electrode. The lowest F- concentration (0.7mg/L) was recorded in the deep-aquifer groundwater, while the highest (6.4mg/L) was recorded in shallow groundwater. Most groundwater samples (62.2%) exceeded the guideline (1.5mg/L) set by the World Health Organization (WHO); while for individual sources, 73% of shallow-groundwater samples (F- concentration up to 6.4mg/L), 42% of mid-depth-groundwater samples, and 17% of deep-groundwater samples had F- concentrations that exceeded this permissible limit. Assessment of the overall quality of the groundwater revealed influences of the weathering of granite and gneisses rocks, along with silicate minerals and ion exchange processes. Hydrogeochemical analysis of the groundwater showed that Na+ is the dominant cation and HCO3- the major anion. The anionic and cationic concentrations across the entire study area increased in the following order: HCO3>SO4>Cl>NO3>F>PO4 and Na>Ca>Mg>K, respectively. Relatively higher F- toxicity levels were associated with the NaHCO3 water type, and the chemical facies were found to change from the CaHCO3 to (NaHCO3) type in calcium-poor aquifers. Thermodynamic considerations of saturation indices indicated that fluorite minerals play a vital role in the prevalence of fluorosis, while under-saturation revealed that - besides fluorite minerals - other F- minerals that are also present in the region further increase the F- concentrations in the groundwater. Finally, a health risk assessment via Deans classification method identified that the groundwater with relatively higher F- concentrations is unfit for drinking purposes.