APPRAISAL OF ETHNOBOTANICAL USES OF THE WETLAND PLANTS OF PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

• Published in: African journal of traditional, complementary, and alternative medicines Vol. 12; no. 4; p. 9
• Main Authors: Sardar, Andleeb Anwar, Khan, Zaheer-ud-din, Perveen, Anjum, Zereen, Arifa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: African Ethnomedicines Network 31-07-2015
• Subjects: Ethnobotanical uses; herbal medicines; wetland plants
• ISSN: 0189-6016; 0189-6016
• DOI: 10.4314/ajtcam.v12i4.

Background: Aquatic and semiaquatic plants have a multiplicity of
traditional and ethnopharmacological uses ranging from medicinal,
famine food to fodder and others. Therefore, the present study was
carried out during the years 2008-2011 to document the locally used
medicinal, ethnobotanical and traditional data of aquatic and
semiaquatic plants of the Punjab, Pakistan. Material and Method:
Various visits of the study area were made to collect the data of these
plants included local name, habit and habitat with special emphasis on
their therapeutic uses against different human ailments. The local
elderly, knowledgable people and herbal healers were also interviewed
during the visits. Results: A total of thirty-four aquatic and
semiaquatic plants were collected and out of these, eighteen plants
belonging to the three monocotyledonous and fourteen dicotyledonous
families were reported to medicinal and food value as well as found
useful in making ropes, mats, baskets and soil binding. Conclusion: The
wetland of Punjab (Pakistan) possesses a variety of medicinal plants
that are being utilized against various human diseases, e.g.
Respiratorial, dermatological, gastrontological, neurological and
cardio-vascular diseases.