The Ethno Botanical Uses of Medicinal Plants of Allai Valley, Western Himalaya Pakistan

This paper communicates the ethno botanical uses of medicinal plants of Allai valley. Floristically the area is placed in Western Himalayan Province located on the western edge of Himalayas, dominated by Sino-Japanese type of vegetation. Aims of the study were to document the medicinal plant resources and their use patterns. A total of 172 taxa were reported as locally used for various medicinal purposes. Majority of the recipes are prepared in the form of decoction from freshly collected plant parts. Mostly a single species were used and mainly taken orally. They used medicinal plants for asthma, cough, tonic, abdominal pain, and expectorant, anthelmintic, carminative, on boils, snakebites, jaundice, diarrhea and dysentery etc. Among 172 medicinal plants 24 were used for curing livestock. Field observation showed that vegetation of the area was generally threatened due to urbanization, deforestation, over grazing, habitat fragmentation, unscientific extraction of natural vegetation, introduction of the exotic taxa and habitat loss. Measures for the conservation of plant resources especially medicinal plants of Allai valley are urgently needed.


Introduction
Primitive people were restricted to use plant resources for food, medicine and shelter. With the passage of time their dependency on plants increased both directly and indirectly [1]. Wild plants have always been used for their potential of human being [2]. After refining and addition the authentic knowledge of medicinal plants passed on from one generation to another [3]. With the passage of time wild plants were cleared from their original habitat to replace the desired cultivated crops on large scale. This practice has always been affected by the availability of plants in their natural habitat and the way these resources are used by the local people are imperative. In developing countries medicinal plants provide a real alternative for primary health care system [1]. According to an estimate between 35,000 and 70,000 plant species are used in folk medicine worldwide [4]. Products from hundreds of species are being collected from remote forests and meadows and traded to international markets and consumed [5]. About 70 to 80% of the world population use traditional medicine for curing their illness and ailments [6]. The percentage of people using traditional medicine decreased in developed countries [7] due to the availability of health facilities.
In Himalayan Mountains, certain areas are yet to be doc-

Objectives of the study were:
(i) To explore and document the medicinal plants resources of Allai valley.
(ii) To collect information regarding to the plant uses, rate of consumption and rate of availability of medicinal plants.
(iii) To recommend ways for sustainable utilization of the local resources and to provide basis for further research.

The Study Area
The Allai Valley is located in the Western Himalayan Pakistan between 34° 44` and 34° 58` N and 72° 54` and 73° 15` E with a total area of 56081 ha. The Allai Valley is bounded by Kohistan valley in the north, by vast pasture meadows of Chaur in the east, by the Nandiar valley in the south and by the river Indus in the west [10]. The Allai Valley is generally rough and mountainous having variable slopes from gentle to precipitous including agricultural, wasteland, forest and alpine pasture and ranges in altitude from 545m at Thakot to 4690m at Sukaisar above mean sea level (GPS reading). The width of Allai valley varies from 0.5km to 5km and is accessible from Besham via Kond Saiyidan and Thakot located on Karakoram Highway [11]. Allai Khuwarr the main stream of the area to which all the small streams from different sub valleys joins at different locations, runs from East to West and joins River Indus near Besham at Kond Saiyidan. The nullahs, which feed the main stream, are Jabbar, Gantar, Batila and Pashto Khuwarrs [10].

Materials and Methods
The study was focused on Allai valley. Field trips to various parts of the selected area were undertaken from 1st May, 2009 to 30th Sep, 2011 to collect the information and specimens. Fieldwork was carried out in order to explore medicinal plant diversity. Plant specimens were collected along with extensive field's notes including habit, habitat, life form, abundance, GPS value etc. For each plant, ethno botanical information was collected from people of different ages belonging to different sub localities. During the interviews, semi-structured questionnaire was developed as per modification from Lipp (1989) and Ali and Qaiser (2009) [12,4]. Field numbers were allotted to the specimens and field data. Scientific names, vernacular names, family and other relevant information were recorded properly. The specimens were identified through the flora of Pakistan [13][14][15].

Results
During present survey it was noted that various parts of 172 plant species belongs to 95 families are used for medicinal purpose. Among them fungi was represented by single-family Helvelaceae with one species, Pteridophytes by 3 families and 5 species, Gymnosperms by 3 families and 5 species and Angiosperms by 88 families and 161 species.
Due to over exploitation of certain plant species such as Acer caesium Betula utilis, Cornus macrophylla, Dioscorea deltoidea, Pistacea integerrima, Paeonia emodi, Cedrus deodara, Skimmia laureola, Taxus wallichiana, Aesculus indica, Rhododendron arboreum, Podophyllum emodi, Viola canescens and Morchilla sp. by the local people, a drastic decrease has been observed in the population of these taxa in the wild. Unsustainable means of collection and ignorance of the people are the main causes of depletion of their population in the wild. These taxa deserve special attention on urgent basis, as their populations have alarmingly decreased in the wild. Conservation measures should be adapted immediately to protect these taxa from becoming extinct.
Some of the medicinal plant species are used individually, while other is in mixtures. The recipes may be taken in the form of fresh plant material, powder, or in the form of Paste. The powder form may be taken in small quantity along with milk or water. The recipes are taken two to three times a day for 3 to 15 days depends on the nature and intensity of disease.
The medicinal flora of the study area is given below: 1. Botanical Name: Abies pindrow Royle.
Local name: Achal Family: Pinaceae Traditional uses: Decoction of the dried shoots and fresh leaves is used in cough, asthma and other chest infection. 2. Botanical Name: Acacia modesta Wall.
Local name: Palosa Family: Mimosaceae Traditional uses: Dried gum is crushed, mixed in flour, sugar is added and then it is roasted in ghee and given to pregnant and lactating women as tonic. This is usually. It is also used for backache and weakness. 3. Botanical Name: Achillea mellefolium Linn.
Local name: Qarqara and Dambrai. Family: Asteraceae Traditional uses: Whole plant is used as antipyretic, stimulant and tonic, diaphoretic and diuretic. Decoctions are used to treat inflammations, such as hemorrhoids, and headaches. Decoction of flowering tops is used in cold, influenza and allergic mucus problems. Flowers infusion used for upper respiratory phlegm and used externally as a wash for eczema. Fresh leaves are uses to clot nose bleeding. 4. Botanical Name: Achyranthus aspera Linn.
Local name: Geshay Family: Amaranthaceae Traditional uses: The leaves extract are used for all skin problem in combination with sesame oil. Seed powdered are used for strengthen and whiting of teeth. The smoke of root and seed are used to relive cough and asthma. The powder of whole plant when mixed with sugar are used for relive of phlegm, breathlessness, continued cough, heaving etc. the leaves are also used in fever, piles and dog biting. Root extract are used in anemia, improving digestive system and constipation. 5. Botanical name: Aconitum heterophyllum Wall.
Local name: Sarba Zaila Family: Ranunculaceae Traditional uses: The dried tuberous roots and rhizome are used along with mutton for enhancing growth and weight. 6. Botanical name: Aconitum chasmanthum Stapf ex Holmes Local Name: Zahar mora Family: Ranunculaceae Traditional uses: About 200 gram of fresh rhizome is fried in synthetic ghee and used before going to bed for body tonic. 7. Botanical Name: Acorus calamus Linn.
Local name: Skhawaja Family: Acoraceae Traditional uses: The powder rhizome is used in diarrhea and dysentery. The rhizome is thought to be a powerful aphrodisiac, stimulant and mild tonic. Powder the dried root and put this up the nose to cure a runny nose. Roasted fruits are grinded and are used as expectorants. Juice of leaves and roots are used as anthelmintic. It has wonderfully tonic powers of stimulating and normalizing the appetite. An infusion of the root can bring about an abortion whilst chewing the root alleviates toothache. 8. Botanical Name: Adiantum capillus veneris Linn.
Local name: Babozea Family: Adiantaceae Traditional uses: The infusion of fronds is used as diuretic, expectorant, in coughs, headache and toothache. The entire plant is used for its cooling effects, for diabetes, in lowering blood pressure, and externally it is used for boils, eczema, and wounds. 9. Botanical Name: Adiantum incisum Forssk. Local name: Srikh Family: Mimosaceae Traditional uses: Powdered bark is used in diarrhea and dysentery. The plant is also used as astringent, to treat boils, cough, to treat eye, flu, lung problems, tonic, and is used to treat abdominal tumors. 14. Botanical Name: Allium cepa L.
Local name: Piaz Family: Alliaceae Traditional uses: The juice of fresh plant is mixed with honey and is used for treatment of flue, cholera and diabetes. The bulb is eaten and smelled along with sugar to avoid vomiting. 15. Botanical Name: Allium filidens Regel.
Local name: Oogakay Family: Alliaceae Traditional uses: Fresh leaves are bitter in taste and are eaten raw or cooked along with other pot herbs for gastrointestinal disorders especially stomachache. 16. Botanical Name: Allium sativum L.
Local name: Ooga Family: Alliaceae Traditional uses: The fruit is eaten with water at morning before breakfast, which reduces the high blood pressure. The fruit is ground and its juice is extracted and used for earache, reduction of high blood pressure and body pain. 17 Local name: Kwaray Family: Berberidaceae Traditional uses: The powder bark of root is used as antiseptic, as remedy for swollen and sore eyes, broken bones, wounds, gonorrhea and curative piles. Leaves are given in jaundice. The plant is used for the treatment of internal injuries. An ointment made from root bark powder is mix with oil and applied on broken bones. The paste of powder bark is used in backache and as general body tonic. 23. Botanical Name: Bergenia ciliata Sternb.
Local name: Gut panra Family: Saxifragaceae Traditional uses: Juice or powder of the whole plant is used to treat urinary troubles. The juice of the leaves is used as drops to relieve earaches. The rhizome is used in powder or paste form in diarrhea, stomach and duodenal ulcers, as tonic, helpful in relieving backache and muscular disorders. The root juice is used to treat coughs and colds, hemorrhoids, asthma and urinary problems. 24. Botanical Name: Betula utilis D. Don.
Local name: Broj Family: Betulaceae Traditional uses: Birch bark soaked until moist in water, and then formed into a cast for a broken arm. Bark  Local name: Ranzrah Family: Pinaceae Traditional uses: A decoction of the wood is used in the treatment of fevers, flatulence, pulmonary and urinary disorders, rheumatism, piles, kidney stones and diabetes. It has been used as an antidote to snake bites. Resin is used externally to treat skin diseases and injuries to joints. Leaves are used in the treatment of tuberculosis. The extract of the wood (Ranzrah) is administrated to the livestock as anthelmintic. It is a valuable timber, but a poor fuel, producing a lot of smoke when it burns. 31. Botanical Name: Celtis australis Linn.
Local name: Batkar Family: Ulmaceae Traditional uses: A decoction of both leaves and fruit is used in the treatment of amenorrhea, heavy menstrual and inter-menstrual bleeding, astringent, lenitive and stomachic and colic. The decoction is also used in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery and peptic ulcers. Decoction from bark is administrated as anti-allergic. 32. Botanical Name: Cephalanthera longifolia (L) Fritsch.
Family: Orchidaceae Traditional uses: The rhizome is considered as promoting lactation in livestock, and is given along with Maize flour. 33. Botanical Name: Chenopodium album Linn.
Local name: Bathu Family: Chenopodiaceae Traditional uses: This plant is said to be laxative, and uses in hepatic disorder and enlarge spleen. Whole plant is used in abdominal pains and as diuretic. 34. Botanical Name: Cichorium intybus Linn.
Local name: Kasni Family: Asteraceae Traditional uses: The whole plant is taken internally for loss of appetite, jaundice, gallstones, gout and rheumatism. The leaves are used as compresses to be applied externally to ease skin inflammations and swellings. The roots are washed, boiled and filtrate is kept for whole night in open sky and then used for abdominal pain. 35. Botanical Name: Cissampelos pareira Linn.
Local name: Gorisum Family: Menispermaceae Traditional Uses: It is mainly used for treating women's diseases as a cure for menstrual problems, hormonal imbalance, and to ease childbirth, postpartum pain, prevent miscarriage, and control uterine hemorrhages, hormonal acne and premenstrual syndrome. A decoction of the whole vine is taken by women for 2 months before and throughout pregnancy and again three months after delivery. The plant is also used in dysentery, piles, dropsy and to stop uterine haemorrhages. A decoction of the leaf and stem is used as an oral analgesic. The toasted seeds are brewed into a tea for treatment of internal haemorrhages and external bleeding. Traditional uses: A paste made from the flowers is considered effective in the treatment of intestinal problems. The juice of the root is used in the treatment of ringworm. 85. Botanical Name: Jasminum officinale Linn.
Local name: Chamba Family: Oleaceae Traditional uses: The leaf juice is applied to corns and ear discharges. The leaves are used as an analgesic and febrifuge. The root is used in the treatment of ringworm. The flowers are aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antispasmodic, galactogogue and tonic. Decoction of leaves and flowers are given to infants during fever and as blood purifier. It is also given to livestock during cough and fever and also to increase milk production. 86. Botanical Name: Juglans regia Linn.
Local name: Ghuz Family: Juglandaceae Traditional uses: The leaves of the tree are considered to be anti-inflammatory, anthelmintic, alterative, depurative, astringent and also used in cure of various skin diseases. A broth is prepared from the male inflorescence and used for cure of vertigo and coughs. The roots and bark have astringent, anthelmintic and detergent properties. The fruit is also used to cure rheumatism. Bark is finely powdered and used to prevent bleeding gums and as a mouth rinse. 87. Botanical Name: Juniperus communis Brand.
Local name: Gogar Family: Cupressaceae Traditional uses: The smoke of leaves is used to cures the effect evil eyes. The oil obtained from berries are used as diuretic, antiseptic, aromatic, stomachic, antirheumatic, cystitis, flatulence, blood tonic and colic. 88. Botanical Name: Justicia adhatoda Linn.
Local name: Baiker Family: Acanthaceae Traditional uses: The roots and leaves either in the form of decoction and powder is used in asthma, bronchitis, cough, rheumatism, antispasmodic and expectorant. 89. Botanical Name: Lathyrus aphaca Linn. Local name: Shnai Family: Anacardaceae Traditional uses: Fruits and galls extract are used as tonic and expectorant. The plant is used in the treatment of coughs, phthisis, asthma and dysentery. The decoction of leaves is used for body cooling and hepatitis. 118. Botanical Name: Plantago lanceolata Linn.
Local name: Chamchi patar Family: Plantaginaceae Traditional uses: Powdered leaves are used as antiseptic. The paste of leaves is used for all types of sores on the skin, cuts, bites and various inflammations. Decoction of seeds is used for the treatment of diarrhoea and dysentery and for bleeding in the mouth or other mucous membranes. 119. Botanical Name: Plantago major Aitch.
Local name: Jabai Family: Plantaginaceae Traditional uses: It is used as astringent, tonic, stimulant, antiseptic, also used in stomach disorders, in fever and dysentery. A decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, gastritis, bronchitis, catarrh, sinusitis, coughs, asthma and hay fever. 120. Botanical Name: Platanus orientalis Linn.
Local name: Chinar Family: Plantanaceae Traditional uses: Bark is useful remedy in diarrhea and dysentery. Fresh leaves bruised and applied to the eye in ophthalmic diseases. 121. Botanical Name: Podophyllum emodi Wall. ex Royle.
Local name: Bankakri Family: Podophyllaceae Traditional uses: Rhizome and root are hepatic stimulant, purgative and emetic. Flower is used for fever and body pain. Rhizome is given to cattle for fever and milk production. 122. Botanical Name: Poligonatum verticelatum (Linn.) All.
Local name: Norealam Family: Liliaceae Traditional uses: Rhizome is mixed with sugar and used for treatment of joint pain, also used as aphrodisiac. The decoction of dried rhizome is administrated to livestock for removal of placenta. 123. Botanical Name: Polygonum amplexicaule D. Don.
Local name: Masloon Family: Polygonaceae Traditional uses: Rhizome is crushed and mixed with milk to soften mammary gland of livestock and also given in diarrhea. 124. Botanical Name: Populus alba Linn.
Local name: Bensa, Aspai and Shafeda Family: Salicaceae Traditional uses: The juice of fresh leaves is given to livestock for Mouth and Foot diseases. The branches are supposed to control diseases of rice crop. 125. Botanical Name: Portulaca oleracea Linn.
Local name: Warkhary Family: Portulaceae Traditional uses: It is used as a remedy for constipation and inflammation of the urinary system. Whole plant is mixed with Chenopodium and used in treatments for internal parasites. The fresh herb is applied topically to relieve sores and insect or snake bites on the skin. 126. Botanical Name: Primula denticulata Smith.
Local name: Asal Mamera Family: Primulaceae Traditional uses: Flowers are used as ophthalmic and as hair tonic. 127. Botanical Name: Prunus domestica L.
Local name: Alucha Family: Rosaceae Traditional uses: It is used as laxative and flavoring agent. Fruit pulp is used in chutneys. 128. Botanical Name: Prunus padus Hook.f.
Local name: Barith Family: Rosaceae Traditional uses: Fruits is used as narcotic. The bark is mildly anodyne, diuretic, febrifuge and sedative. An infusion is used in the treatment of colds. 129. Botanical name: Prunus persica (L.) Batsch Local name: Shalthalo Family: Rosaceae Traditional uses: The dried fruits and ginger are crushed into powder. This powder is mixed with honey and eaten for body cooling and diabetes. The resin is boiled in water, cool down and used for earache and deafness. 130. Botanical Name: Pteris cretica Linn.
Local name: Qinchi panra Family: Pteridaceae Traditional uses: The whole plant is given to livestock during cough. 131. Botanical Name: Punica granatum Linn.
Local name: Narsaway Family: Punicaceae Traditional uses: A decoction of seed is used to treat syphilis. Its juice of seeds is used to treat jaundice and diarrhea. Juice of the fruit is used to treat jaundice and diarrhea. The rind of the fruit is ground in water and drunk every morning by diabetics. The fruit together with the juice of Cynodon dactylon leaves is used for runny noses and colds. The juice of the flowers is used to treat nose bleeds. The fruit pulp and the seed are a stomachic. The root and stem bark have astringent and anthelmintic properties. Local name: Shalkhay Family: Polygonaceae Traditional uses: Whole plant is used as diuretic, astringent, purgative and demulcent. The root is purgative. A strong decoction of the root is applied to dislocated bones. A paste of the root is applied to swollen gums. The leaves are used in the treatment of colic. The juice of the leaves is applied externally to relieve headaches. 145. Botanical Name: Salix babilonica Linn.
Local name: Asela ola Family: Salicaceae Traditional uses: A decoction of the leaves is used in the treatment of abscesses, carbuncle, fever, rheumatism and skin diseases. An infusion of the bark has been used to treat diarrhea and fevers. The bark can be used as a poultice. Powdered leaves are also used in diabetics. 146. Botanical Name: Sarcococca saligna (D. Don.) Muell.
Local name: Bansatra Family: Buxaceae Traditional uses: Bark of the root is antiseptic and also used as blood purifier. Leaves and shoots are boiled and applied on swollen joints in the form of poultice. The leaves are heated in mustered oil and applied to muscular pain. 147. Botanical Name: Saussurea sp.
Local name: Kut Family: Asteraceae Traditional uses: Powder root is used as tonic, stimulant, carminative, chronic ulcer, also used in asthma and cough. 148. Botanical Name: Silene conoidea L.
Local name: Mashroa Family: Caryophyllaceae Traditional uses: A paste is prepared by grinding seeds and young leaves which is applied on pimples. This paste is also used for backache. 149. Botanical Name: Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke. Local name: Desi Arind Family: Asteraceae Traditional uses: Fruit is demulcent and cooling, used in small pox. Leaves decoction is recommended in long standing malarial fever. An infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of rheumatism, diseased kidneys and tuberculosis. A decoction of the root has been used in the treatment of high fevers and to help a woman expel the afterbirth. A decoction of the seeds has been used in the treatment of bladder complaints. A poultice of the powdered seed has been applied as a salve on open sores. 170. Botanical Name: Zanthoxylum armatum D. C.
Local name: Dambara Family: Rutaceae Traditional uses: Seed and bark are tonic and aromatic and are used in fever, cholera and dyspepsia. Fruit is used to cure stomachache and toothache. 171. Botanical Name: Zizyphus oxyphylla Edgew.
Local name: Elanai Family: Rhamnaceae Traditional uses: Various parts are traditionally used as remedy of pain, diabetes, allergy, fever, rheumatic, pain. The roots and fruits are used in jaundice and gas trouble, leaves extract are used as antipyretic. 172. Botanical Name: Zizyphus vulgare Lam.
Local name: Markhanai Family: Rhamnaceae Traditional uses: All parts of the plant are used in diabetics.

Discussions
The present day ethno-botanical pharmacology is as old as man himself [4] and the medicinal plants have been in use from the time immemorial [16]. Rig Veda between 4500-1600 BC and Ayurveda between 2500-600 BC are considered among the first compiled records of medicinal plants in Indo-Pak [17].
The prevalent system of traditional medicine traces its origin to Greek medicine system, which was adopted by the Arabs, and spread to the subcontinent and Europe [18]. Whereas, Susruta Samhita (600 BC), a Sanskrit text on surgery, mentioned the progress made during Buddhist period, where medicinal plants were cultivated by qualified specialists [17].
In developed countries people still rely on traditional system of healthcare not only because of its low price, but also due to very less side effects, as compared to the modern allopathic medicines [19]. That is why they are being used extensively world over especially in the third world countries.
The people of the Allai valley have been using plant resources for their various ailments. The local people know the useful plants and preparation of recipes through personal experience and ancestral prescription and long utility. People of the valley collect plants for medicinal uses, fuel, fodder, timber, and many other purposes [8].
During present study a total of 172 medicinal plants were studied including 24 ethno-veterinary important plants. Majority of the recipes are prepared in the form of decoction from freshly collected plant parts. Mostly a single species were used and mainly taken orally. They used medicinal plants for asthma, cough, tonic, abdominal pain, expectorant, anthelmintic, carminative, on boils, snakebites, jaundice, diarrhea and dysentery etc. Local people take the recipes in powder form, in paste form, decoction, infusion or plant juice etc and usually taken 2-3 time a day for 3-15 days depends on the nature of disease and recipes. Some of the medicinal plant species were extensively exploited by the local people for their various ethno-botanical uses.
Field observation showed that vegetation of the area was generally threatened with the unwise of local communities. The trends like urbanization, deforestation, over grazing, habitat fragmentation, unscientific extraction of natural vegetation, introduction of the exotic taxa and habitat loss were the visible threats.
It is recommended that the local community should be educated regarding the importance, pre and post harvest methods. In addition, they should also be trained regarding the cultivation of these highly valuable medicinal plants on commercial basis, and thereafter their trade and marketing. This will ultimately generate extra sources of income and will reduce pressure on the extraction of these valuable medicinal plants.
In Allai valley the use of plant resources is also a source of income, besides fulfilling their various utilitarian needs. Settlements of majority of the population are subject to the seasonal changes in the valley. In winter they come down to the valley bottoms due to the unavailability of fodder for their cattle, and at the onset of summer as the snow melts and new plants start sprouting, they move towards the higher altitudes.
The local people are ignorant about the importance of these plants at global level. Sometimes they collect plants in excess quantity and in most cases the whole plant is uprooted. They do not know about the proper methods and time of plant collection, as a result most of their collection is useless. On the other hand they are ignorant about the drying, storing or preserving techniques, which ultimately lead to wastage of plant resource.