ETHNOMEDICINAL AND PHYTOECONOMIC ELABORATION OF LILOWNAI VALLEY, DISTRICT SHANGLA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

The flora of Pakistan and especially that of Northren Part has tremendous scope to evaluate their ethnomedicinal importance for more realistic way to justify their traditional usage and applications. Based on this, an ethnomedicinal survey was carried out in the Lilownai valley, District Shangla, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan in summer 2008 and reinvestigated during 2010-2011.The study showed that the local population not only use indigenous medicinal plants for curing various diseases but also earn their livelihood by selling some of them in the local market. One hundred and twenty five medicinal plants are being used by local people in the study valley in which a diversified application of these species have been observed. These include (24 species) astringent and for other skin problems, (16 species) laxative, (14 species) stomachic, (14 species) diuretic, (11 species) carminative, (10 species) anthelmintic, (10 species) used in reproductive disorders, (9 species) are used in various hepatic disorders, (9 species) used in various CNS disorders, (8 species) antispasmodic, (8 species) expectorant, (7 species) antirheumatic, (5 species) antiseptic, (4 species) antidiabetic, (4 species) purgative, (4 species) aphrodisiac, (3 species)anticancer, (2 species) antihypertensive and (2 species) for ophthalmic use. Similarly the remaining species have one or more medicinal use(s). Seventeen species of them are also collected for trade purposes that include Ajuga bracteosa, Paeonia emodi, Berberis lycium, Mentha longifolia, Diospyrus lotus, Skimmia lauriola, Zanthoxylum alatum, Morchella esculenta, , Bistorta amplexicaulis, Podophyllum emodi, Dryopteris jaxtapostia, Allium sativum, Cichorum intybus, Plectranthus rugosus, Dioscorea deltoidea, Juglans regia and Polygonatum multiflorum. Market survey revealed that the collectors are often not aware of the high market value and medicinal application so most of the collected material is sold to local middle man at very low price. Furthermore they are also do not take care during plant collection.