Ethnomedicinal exploration of tracheophytes of Hangrai, District Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Paper Details

Research Paper 01/03/2019
Views (914)
current_issue_feature_image
publication_file

Ethnomedicinal exploration of tracheophytes of Hangrai, District Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Danish Ali, Abbas Hussain Shah, Khalid Rasheed Khan, Muhammad Farooq, Manzor Hussain, Ghulam Mujtaba Shah, Azhar Mehmood
Int. J. Biosci. 14(3), 293-309, March 2019.
Copyright Statement: Copyright 2019; The Author(s).
License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Abstract

The ethnomedicinal exploration was conducted in the area of Hangrai which falls in Tehsil Balakot of District Mansehra. Balakot is located between 34°33′N 73°21′E Latitude and 34°33′N 73°21′E Longitude. It is the gateway to Kaghan valley of the Northern Pakistan. The study area harbors rich ethnobotanical resources being the part of Western Himalaya. Extensive field visits were made in the study area during years 2015 and 2016. Data was collected from aboriginal peoples by questionnaire method comprising of open-ended and close-ended interviews. Three hundred informants (180 male and 120 female) were interviewed for various medicinal uses of plants. A total of 143 plant species belonging to 70 families were recorded which were used as medicinally by the local rural inhabitants. Habit wise categorization of plants showed 73.33% herbs, 16% trees and 10.66% shrubs. This study first time not only revealed unique ethnomedicinal uses of plants but also side effects of traditional herbal remedies. Furthermore this study will help to discover novel drugs from medicinal plants and it will also set guidelines for conservation of local flora.

Abbasi AM, Khan MA, Ahmad M, Zafar M. 2010. Herbal Remedies used by the inhabitants of Abbottabad District, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. Indian J Tradit Know 9, 175-183.

Ahmad K, Ahmad M, Weckerle C. 2015. Ethno veterinary medicinal plant Knowledge and practice among the tribal communities of Thakht- e-Sulaiman hills, West Pakistan Journal of Ethnopharmacol 170, 275–283.

Bako SP, Bakfur MJ, John I, Bala EI. 2005. Ethnomedicinal and phytochemical profile of some savanna plant species in Nigeria. International J.  Botany 1, 147–150.

Baquar SR. 1989. Medicinal and Poisonous plants of Pakistan. Printas Karachi, Pakistan. 506.

Chaudhry II. 1959. Observations on the Medicinal Plants of Kaghan Valley. Pakistan Journal of Forest 9, 16-28.

Farooq S. 1990. A review of medicinal plants of Pakistan Science Khyber 3(1), 13-131.

Gilani SA, Qureshi RA, Farooq U. 2001. Ethnobotanical studies of Ayubia National Park District Abbottabad, Pakistan. Journal of Biological Science 1(4), 284-286.

Hamayun M, Khan MA. 2003. Common medicinal folk recipes of district Buner, Pakistan Journal of Ethnobot. Leaflets.

Haq I, Hussain M.  1993. Medicinal plant of Mansehra district N.W.F.P., Pakistan. Hamdard Medicine 34(30), 63-99.

Haq I, Hussain M. 1993. Medicinal Plants of Mansehra. Hamdard Medicus 36(3), 63-100.

Hazrat A, Nisar M, Shah J, Ahmad S. 2011. Ethno botanical study of some elite plants belonging to Dir, Kohistan Valley, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany 43(2), 787-795.

Ijaz F, Z, Iqbal, Rahman IU, J, Alam Khan, Shah SM, Khan GM, Afzal K. 2016. Investigation of traditional medicinal  floral knowledge of  Sarban Hills, Abbottabad, KP, Pakistan. Journal of Ethnopharmacol 179, 208–233.

Matin A, Khan MA, Ashraf M, Qureshi RA. 2001. Traditional Use of Herbs Shrubs and Trees of Shogran Valley, Mansehra, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Biological Science 4(9), 1101-1107.

Noor MJ, Kalsoom U. 2011. Ethnobotanical studies of selected plant species of Ratwal Village, District Attock, Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Botany 43(2), 781-786.

Qureshi SJ, Khan MA, Ahmad M. 2008. A Survey of Useful Medicinal Plants of Abbottabad in Northern Pakistan. TJS 6(4), 39-51.

Shah GM. 2007. Plants and Plant Resources of Siran Valley Mansehra, NWFP, Pakistan. Ph.D. thesis. Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Shah GM, Jamal Z, Hussain M. 2013. Phytotherapy among the rural women of District Abbotabad. Pakistan .Journal of Botany 45, 253–261.

Sher H, Hussain MA. 2007. Sustainable Utilization and Economic Utilization of Some Plant Resources in Northern Pakistan. Acta Botanica Unanica 29(2), 207-214.

Shinwari MI, Khan MA. 1999. Folk use of medicinal herbs of Margalla Hills National Park. Islamabad Journal of Ethnopharmacology 33(1), 52-60.

Siyal MI. 2003. An introduction to Medicinal Plant resources in NWFP. Paper presented in one-day workshop on promotion of cultivation of medicinal culinary and aromatic herbs at Pakistan Forest Institute Peshawar, March 3, 2003.

WHO. Traditional medicine, growing needs and  potential. WHO Policy Perspectives on Medicines 2002, 2, 1–6.

Zaidi MA, Crow SA. 2005. Biologically active traditional medicinal herbs from Baluchistan, Pakistan. Journal of Ethnopharmacol 96(1-2), 331-4.

Alam N, Shinwari ZK, Ilyas M, Ullah Z. 2011. Indiginous knowledge of medicinal plants of Chagharzai valley, District Buner. Pakistan Journal of Botany 43(2), 773-780.

Related Articles

Protective role of α-tomatine against oxidative stress induced reactive oxygen species: In vitro radical scavenging assays

Nihal Ahamed Abulkalam Azad, Suresh Kathiresan, Theerthu Azhamuthu, Senkuttuvan Ilanchit Chenni, Pugazhendhi Ravichandran, Maharani Jaganathan, Rajeswari Vasu, Pratheeba Veerapandiyan, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 123-135, November 2025.

Short-term effects of tillage, manure and inorganic fertilizer on soil properties, agronomic characteristics and yield of rice: A review

Md. Khayrul Islam Bashar, Md. Ekhlasur Rahman, Md. Mamunur Rashid, Md. Foysal Ibne Siraj, Md. Rasel Mahmud, Md. Mahbubul Alam, Sharmin Sultana, KM. Nazmul, Syed Alim Al Razir, Md. Mamun Hossain, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 83-105, November 2025.

Availability and quality of raw materials used in intensive poultry farming in Burkina Faso: The case of the city of Ouagadougou

Zampou Yasmine Jessica Irène, Gnanda Bila Isidore, Sanou Sita, Zare Yacouba, Traore Boureima, Ky Inoussa, Zongo Moussa, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 73-82, November 2025.

Unravelling the complex interactions between microplastics and PPCPs: The environment and health implications

Roshy Ann Mathews, S. Rajakumar, N. Aishwarya, M. Prashanthi Devi, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 40-72, November 2025.

Nutraceutical value of Gigantochloa atter and Bambusa blumeana

Eddilyn B. Plaza, Gemma A. Gruyal, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 34-39, November 2025.

Absence of climatic factors influence on the prevalence of COVID-19 in Benin: A spatiotemporal analysis

Houndonougbo Antoine, Lagaki Koudousse, Dramane Gado, Chogolou Ruth, Sanoussi Falilath, Kissira Islamiath, Sohou Stephane, Oloukou Freedy, Senou Elie, Yadouleton Anges, Int. J. Biosci. 27(5), 16-23, November 2025.