An ethnopharmacological survey and comparative analysis of plants from the Sudhnoti District, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan.

BACKGROUND: This is the first comprehensive report on the traditional and novel uses of medicinal plants practiced by the indigenous communities of the Sudhnoti district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. The area is rich in folklore and indigenous medicinal knowledge due to a unique tribal composition and socioeconomic conditions. This study aimed to document traditional knowledge of native plant use by the local communities, particularly those used for therapeutic purposes. METHODS: Field surveys were conducted from September 2015 to March 2017. Interviews with 125 local inhabitants of different tribes, age groups, genders, and occupations were conducted using structured and semi-structured questions along with group discussions. Data gathered on plant uses, local names, and modes of application of each plant species were organized in tables. Ethnobotanical indices such as use value (UV) and cultural significance index (CSI) were used to produce quantitative information on the plant use category, frequency, and cultural preference of species. Reports on therapeutic uses of medicinal plants were compared with previous studies. RESULTS: In all, 88 plant species from 45 families were reported, out of which 67 (77%) were used in ethnomedical applications. Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae were the dominant families. Berberis lycium was the most valued plant species, followed by Zanthoxylum armatum and Taraxacum officinale. Mentha arvensis had the highest cultural significance, followed by Mentha longifolia, Punica granatum, and Zanthoxylum armatum. Leaves were the most preferred plant parts in the preparation of medicine exclusively or mixed with other parts. The most frequently used process of crude preparation of medicinal plants was cooking. Oral intake was the predominant route of administration. CONCLUSIONS: Our comparative analysis confirmed that most of the plants documented have uses that match those previously reported for the region and other parts of the world, with the exception of novel medicinal uses for 11 plant species, including Verbascum thapsus for earache, Elaeagnus umbellata for hepatitis, Achillea millefolium for oral care, Dicliptera roxburghiana to prevent sunstroke in cattle, Rumex hastatus for allergy antidote, Pyrus pashia for hepatitis, and Nerium oleander for diabetes.

Hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic activity of leave of few medicinal plants against steptozotocin induced hyperglycemia.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is universal of the hormonal problem and Type II diabetes is foremost obstacle. Accessible management in medicine has numerous contrary paraphernalia. Medical flora shows an essential part in managing diabetes specifically in unindustrialized nations. The present study was done on leaves of Rhazya stricta Decane, Adhatoda zeylanica, Berberis lycium Royle and Olea furrrignea, whose methanolic extracts were used to check their hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic activity by using glucometer and kit method respectively in blood of male and female albino mice Balb C. Results showed that leaves of R. stricta were best for hypoglycemia (125.34±63.79mg/dl, 107.34±18.00mg/dl, 146.00±40.36mg/dl and 178.34±17.03mg/dl), hypocholesterolemia (147.88±21.83mg/dl and 125.89±14.03mg/dl) and triglycerides (103±8.88mg/dl and 89.±43.4mg/dl) in random and fasting conditions, in male and female mice respectively. All plant extract were most effective for hypoglycemia and hypocholesterolemia in female mice as compared to male mice. Moreover statistical analysis revealed that leaves of other plants were also effective but less than leaves of R. stricta. So this plant part and a combination of presently used plants can be used for further studies particularly among females by the purification of active compounds against hyperglycemia and hypercholesterolemia.

Effect of leaf extracts of Taraxacum officinale on CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity in rats, in vivo study.

Taraxacum officinale L is a medicinal plant, which has enormous medicinal values against various types of liver disorders and it has traditionally been used for the treatment of liver problems by people from the South East Asia. Previously we have screened the crude methanolic extract of T. officinale against cytotoxicity induced by CCl4. Present study was designed to compare the protective effect of ethanolic and n-hexane extract of leaves in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver toxicity in rats. The extract (200 mg/kg and 400mg/kg body weight) along with silymarin (100 mg/kg) a standard drug was administered to experimental animals. It was observed that ethanolic plant extract has significantly reduced the negative effect of CCl4 as compared to n-hexane extract and effect of extract was increased with increasing dose level. Although both leaf extracts decreased the concentration of TBARS, H2O2 and nitrite contents which enhance due to CCl4 toxicity but effect was higher in ethanolic extract. The results clearly indicated that Taraxacum officinale ethanolic leaves extract has better protective effect against CCl4 induced liver tissues toxicity. This claim was also supported by histopathological results obtained during this study and this might be due to presence of various polar phytochemicals that might be more prevent in this extract.