Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Pakistan 2

Transcription

1 J. Phytopharmacotherapy & Natural Products 1(1) : (2007) STUDIES ON ETHNOMEDICINAL KNOWLEDGE, MARKET ASSESSMENT AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF SOME SOCIO- ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANTS OF RORINGAR VALLEY, DISTRICT SWAT, PAKISTAN Sahibzada Mohammad Adnan 1, Muhammad Hamayun 2, Shaheen Begum 3 and In-Jung Lee 2 1 Kohat University of Science and Technology (KUST), Pakistan 2 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Republic of Korea 3 Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan Abstract An ethnomedicinal research project was carried out in the remote Hindu-Kush mountain valley of Roringar, in order to evaluate and document folk medicinal knowledge, traditional medicinal plants collection and processing and conservation assessment of these important plant resources of the area. The project area was rich in medicinal plants and the locals were actively engaged in medicinal plants collection for curing ailments but also selling them in the markets for earning their livelihood. It was observed that 33 of the total medicinal plants collected in the valley were sold in the markets. However, some medicinal plants like Valeriana jatamansi, Podophyllum hexandrum, Paeonia emodi, Acorus calamus, Berberis lyceum, Viola canescens and Aconitum heterophyllum were under immense pressure due to their extensive collection in the area. Our survey revealed that 31% of the local people are involved in medicinal plants collection. The collectors include women (34%), children (47%) and men (19%). It was also observed that huge amounts of medicinal plants were lost each year due to out dated collection techniques, processing and marketing techniques. Community attitude towards conservation and sustainability of these valuable plant resources were favourable but no conservation efforts by the local people were reported. Introduction The beautiful valley of Roringar is located in the Hindu-kush mountain region of Pakistan and has an area of 50 sq. kilometers. The valley lies between 35, 06 to 35, 20 north latitude and 72, 30 to 72, 40 East longitude, with an altitude of 1,800 m to 4,100 m above sea level, thus giving rise to a variety of forest types ranging from low lying Oak forest to the Alpine pastures. The valley is bounded by lofty mountains from all the sides except south. It lies at 2 hrs drive (40 km) north of Saidu Sharif in the southern Hindu-Kush. Roringar Valley comprised of nine villages and hamlets viz. Gwalerai, Roringar, Mandal Dag, Mattoshomay, Walaro, Tetro, Charma, Gamser and Sulatanr. In Pakistan the population of northern mountainous regions has increased dramatically over the last decade. As a result, the natural habitats have been degraded; mainly due to the increased dependency of people on natural resources and this have resulted in deforestation and overexploitation of these valuable resources. The local people understand the importance of plant resources to them and their future generations but cannot help it conserve due to their worse economic conditions. In Roringar, most of medicinal plants are threatened due to increased collection, grazing, deforestation and unsustainable harvesting practices. The main objective of the study was to document folk uses, evaluate marketing of medicinal plants of the area, collectors role in medicinal plants collection, people involve in medicinal plants trade and folk methods of medicinal plants collection, cleaning and storage. All these will help in bringing sustainability to the indigenous medicinal flora of the area. Materials and Methods Present research work was carried out during The local people were interviewed for

2 68 Adnan, Hamayun, Begum and Lee ethnomedicinal uses of plants in the valley. These plants were then collected from the wild, identified and submitted to Herbarium, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad. The medicinal plant collectors were interviewed for the evaluation of traditional plant collection and pre and post harvesting techniques including medicinal plant cleaning,. The research area was surveyed for the conservation status assessment of medicinal plants. Questionnaire method was adopted during the surveys in order to get a more representative data. The data obtained was cross checked with available literature. The herbal markets at Madyan, Mingora, Peshawar, Rawalpindi and Lahore were visited in order to get useful information about the trade of medicinal plants collected from Roringar valley. Results and Discussion Folk uses and conservation status of some important medicinal plants During the present study, 33 medicinal plants were identified as used by the locals extensively and also marketed to fetch money. These medicinal plants are given in Table1, with pertinent information. Medicinal plants are collected extensively in the area and as a result the population of these plants especially those whom rhizomes are of medicinal importance have decreased drastically during the last 10 years. The inhabitants want conservation and sustainability, but they do not know how to achieve it. Survey conducted in this respect reveals that about 50% people have no idea about the conservation status of medicinal plants while only 20% people think about decrease. They never made any kind of efforts to stop unsustainable harvest or to try in-situ conservation. The data obtained during the survey is presented in Table 2. Collection, Processing and Storage of Medicinal plants The collectors carry with them digging tools and dig medicinal plant wherever found. The plants are sold in local markets while some of them are kept in homes for curing different ailments. Major Proportions of plants collected are sold in fresh while some plants are stored in bags and sacks from one week to one year. Before storing, these plants are washed and kept under the sun for drying. During storage considerable amounts of medicinal plants are wasted due to humidity, insect attacks, inappropriate storage facilities and lack of awareness on the part of collectors. One can see a person coming from a hilltop with a bundle of fuel wood of his head and a bag of medicinal plants in his hands. He handover his bag of medicinal plants to local Pansaris and put in his pocket whatever money he gets. According to Choudhary et al. (2000) about 500 families are involved in medicinal plant collection in Swat District and they collect 5000 tons of medicinal plants annually. The drying method of Morchella eusculenta is being like string the plant into a round chain of thread and then put for drying under sun or at room temperature for 4-5 days. Big losses of medicinal plants were observed till from the collection stage to the end of processing. In case of Morchella eusculenta losses may reaches up to 45% (Table 3). Market assessment Medicinal plants collected in the area are mainly sold in the local markets. Bulks of the plants are used with in Swat while some makes their way to national and international markets. A marketing chain is given in Figure 1. Economic dependency of locals on medicinal plants Majority of the collectors were of the view that dependency of the people on medicinal plants collection and sale has been decreased due to day by day decreasing prices and decreased availability of medicinal plants. Some collector s i.e. of Gwalerai told that Pressure on medicinal plants has increased because of the increasing valley s population. Medicinal plant sale contribute an average of 10% to their total income (Table 4). Annual income of local collectors from medicinal plants is ranging from Rs /-. No medicinal plants have yet been cultivated in the project area. All the collectors and vendors were of the view that medicinal plants are important for the community as an income generating source. Collectors and vendors of the entire valley are agreed to cooperate, if developmental departments start some programmes for the sustainable use of medicinal plants. They also assured the cooperation of land, labor and community cooperation regarding the sustainability of medicinal plants. Local collectors of medicinal plants Medicinal plants are primarily collected during the months April to October. Majority of children and females are involved in the collection of medicinal plants. Out of total collectors 47% are children, 34% are women and 19% are men as shown in Table 5.

3 Studies on ethnomedicinal knowledge, market assessment and conservation status of some socio-economically 69 TABLE 1: FOLK USES OF IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE RORINGAR, PAKISTAN No Botanical name Local name Collection Part used Folk Uses 1 Achillea millefolium Jasifa May-Aug Leaves Stimulant, diuretic and astringent. 2 Aconitum violaceum Zahar mora April-Sep Leaves Gout and rheumatism. 3 Acorus calamus Skhawaja Whole year Roots Internal pains, flatulence and colic. 4 Affora acceemchate - Aug-Sep Leaves Nervous disorders 5 Ajuga parviflora Tarkha booti Aug-Oct Leaves and Roots Stomach, jaundice 6 Allium sativum Ooga May-Sep Bulbs, Lvs Carminative, aromatic,condiment 7 Arisaema flavum Marjarai Aug-Oct Leaves Poisonous 8 Artemisia maritima Jaukay Aug-Oct Leaves Removal of Warts 9 Berberis lycium Khawaray May-June Roots Expectorant, diuretic, broken bones and internal wounds. 10 Caltha alba Makhan path June-Aug Leaves Antispasmodic and pot herb. 11 Cannabis sativa Bung Aug-Oct Leaves Narcotic 12 Cichorium intybus Han March-April Whole plant Fever and jaundice 13 Datura stramonium Mangaz Aug-Oct Leaves and fruits Antiseptic, epilepsy 14 Fragaria indica Da Zamakay toot May-June Fruit Flavoring agent, edible, laxative 15 Geranium wallichianum Sra zela June-Oct Roots Back pain, chronic dysentery, diarrhea 16 Hypericum perforatum Sheen chai May-Oct Leaves Narcotic, diuretic 17 Lygonium hydropifer - Aug-Sep Leaves Poisonous 18 Mentha longifolia Villanay Jan-March Leaves Aromatic, stimulant, anti rheumatic 19 Mentha spicata Podina Jan-March Leaves Gastroenteritis problems, dyspepsia 20 Morchella esculenta Ghjai March-May Whole plant Heart diseases 21 Paeonia emodi Mamaikh May-June Rhizome Backache, epilepsy, tonic, emetic 22 Podophyllum hexandrum Kakora March-Aug Fruit and Rhizome Stimulant, purgative, emetic. 23 Primula denticulata Asli Mameera March-April Flowers Sharpens the eye sight, anti bacterial 24 Rheum australe Chotial March-Aug. Rhizome Alexiterix, diuretic, emmenagogue 25 Skimmia laureola Nazar panra April-Aug Leaves Curing small pox 26 Solanum surratense Maraghony Aug-Sep Fruits Expectorant, bitter, antiasthematic 27 Sorghum nepalensis - August-Oct Leaves Livestock problems 28 Taxus baccata Banya Whole year Buds and leaves Bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma 29 Thymus linearis Sparkai March-Aug Leaves Gas trouble and stomach pain 30 Trillidium govanianum - May-Oct Leaves As tranquilizer 31 Valeriana jatamansi Muske Bala March-May Roots Constipation, cholera, dysentry 32 Vibernum cotinifolium Zangali chamyarai June-Sep Leaves Warts 33 Viola canescens Banafsha March-May Flower and leaves Diaphoretic, antipyretic. TABLE 2: CONSERVATION STATUS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS OF RORINGAR VALLEY No. People of Increase (%) Decrease (%) Unchanged (%) No Idea (%) 1 Gwalerai Roringar Mandal Dag Mattoshomay Walaro Tetro Charma Gamser Sulatanr Averages 5% 20% 50% 25%

4 70 Adnan, Hamayun, Begum and Lee TABLE 3: FOLK PROCESSING METHODS OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS OF RORINGAR, PAKISTAN Plant Material Morchella eusculenta (Guchai) Viola canescens (Binafsha) Valeriana jatamansi (Mushke bala) Paeonia emodi (Mamekh) Locality of maximum availability Preser. method Storage (days) Sold Sulatanr Sun dry 4-5 Middle men/ local market Price/kg Losses (PKR) % age Reason Improper collection, Sulatanr Sun dry 3-4 Middle men Improper collection, Sulatanr, Gamser Sun dry 3-4 Middle men Improper collection, Sulatanr Sun dry 3-4 Middle men Improper collection, Taxus baccata (Bariya) Gamser Sun dry - Middle men During cutting the branches, carrying and cleaning TABLE 4: DEPENDENCY OF LOCAL POPULATION ON MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR EFFORTS FOR SUSTAINABLE MEDICINAL PLANTS HARVESTING No Collectors of village Share Cultivate Source Sustainability Yes No Yes No Yes No Inputs 1 Gwalerai 4% Land, labor and community cooperation. 2 Roringar 7% do- 3 Mandal Dag 10% do- 4 Mattoshomay 7% do- 5 Walaro 10% do- 6 Tetro 10% do- 7 Charma 13% do- 8 Gamser 13% do- 9 Sulatanr 17% do- Average 10% - All All - All - All Share, indicates contribution of medicinal plants sale in their total income Cultivate, shows have they tried to cultivate any plant Source, means that medicinal plants sale are important for the community as income generating source Sustainability, Cooperation of the community with the developmental departments regarding initiating program for sustainable use of medicinal plants Inputs, indicates that what cooperation they are assuring regarding sustainable use of medicinal plants TABLE 5: MEDICINAL PLANTS COLLECTORS IN RORINGAR, DISTRICT SWAT, PAKISTAN No. Villages Pop. involved (%) Men Collector(%) Women Collector(%) Children Collector(%) 1 Gwalerai Roringar Mandal Dag Mattoshomay Walaro Tetro Charma Gamser Sulatanr Average 31% 19% 34% 47%

5 Studies on ethnomedicinal knowledge, market assessment and conservation status of some socio-economically 71 TABLE 6: FOREST COVER OF RORINGAR, DISTRICT SWAT, PAKISTAN No. Villages Increase Decrease Unchanged No Idea 1 Gwalerai Roringar Mandal Dag Mattoshomay Walaro Tetro Charma Gamser Sulatanr Averages 2.77(%) 46.88(%) 36.77(%) 13.55(%) Figure 1: Chain of people involved in the medicinal plant trade in Pakistan Status of forest cover in Roringar A survey was conducted in the area in order to get a clear picture of the status of forest cover by comparing present cover with that of twenty years back. Questionnaire was developed for the purpose. Total of 180 locals were interviewed. The results show that 46.88% of locals interviewed were of the view that overall vegetation has decreased while 36.77% were of the view that the forest cover is unchanged as compared to past. Number of respondents who thinks about increase in the cover is just 2.77% that is only because of Sulatanr forest which the community protects by itself. The rest of 13.55% has no idea about the increase or decrease in the cover of plants (Table 6). Recommendations Co-ordinated efforts are needed for conservation, documentation and sustainable use of medicinal plants. The following recommendations may help towards this goal. Conservation education including advance collection techniques, post collection processing techniques may be extended to the local communities especially to the plant collectors Sustainable use of MP and accessibility of the community towards national markets would help to uplift socio-economic conditions of this backward area Nurseries of some important MP should be established. Herbal Industries should be brought in contact with the local communities and it will provide the collectors better economic returns and thus better conservation environment to the flora Community mobilization and involvement may be ensured in conservation. Community based organizations should be encouraged to play their due role Cultivation of the profitable medicinal plants may be introduced in the project area.

6 72 Adnan, Hamayun, Begum and Lee Acknowledgements We are thankful to ethnobotany project WWF- Pakistan for their financial and technical support. References Anonymous. (1998). District Census Report of Swat, Government of Pakistan, Population Census Organization Statistics Division, Islamabad. Chaudhary, M., S. Ahmad, A. Ali, H. Sher and Malik, S. (2000). Technical report. Market study of medicinal herbs in Malakand, Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi. SDC-Intercooperation, Peshawar. P: 7 Hamayun, M., A. Khan., S. Afzal and M. A. Khan (2006). Study on traditional knowledge and utility of medicinal herbs of District Buner, NWFP, Pakistan. Indian J. Trad. Knowledge. 5 (3): Hamayun, M., Khan, A. and Khan, M.A. (2003). Common medicinal folk recipes of District Buner, NWFP, Pakistan. Journal of Ethnobotanical Leaflets. Edition, Hamayun, M., S.A. Khan, H.Y. Kim, C.I. Na and Lee, I.J. (2006). Traditional knowledge and ex-situ conservation of some threatened medicinal plants of Swat Kohistan, Pakistan. International Journal of Botany. 2(2): Hamayun, M., S.A. Khan, I.J. Lee and Khan, M.A. (2006). Conservation assessment of Hindu-kush mountain region of Pakistan. Asian Journal of Plant Sciences. 5(4): Hamayun, M., S. Afzal and Khan, M.A. (2006). Ethnopharmacology, indigenous collection and preservation techniques of some frequently used medicinal plants of Utror and Gabral, District Swat, Pakistan. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. 3(2): Khan, A.A. (1985). Survey of crude drug markets in Pakistan, Biological Science Research Div. Bulletin 7, Pakistan Forest Institute Peshawar.