Diversity and use of ethno-medicinal plants in the region of Swat, North Pakistan

Akhtar, Naveed; Rashid, Abdur; Murad, Waheed; Bergmeier, Erwin

doi:10.1186/1746-4269-9-25

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Table 1 Medicinal plants of the Miandam area with their medicinal properties, and biological, ecological and chorological characteristics

From: Diversity and use of ethno-medicinal plants in the region of Swat, North Pakistan

Plant family	Taxon name	Local name	Parts used	Medicinal uses, remedies	Growth form	Plant status	Frequency	Habitat
Amaranthaceae	Amaranthus viridis	Chalvaray	Leaves	Leaf extract is emollient, also used for curing cough and asthma.	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Anacardiaceae	Pistacia chinensis	Shnai	Insect galls, leaves and bark	Powdered insect galls, bark and leaves are topical antiseptic, also for curing jaundice and liver diseases.	Tree	Established alien	Scattered	Woodland
Apiaceae	Bupleurum longicaule	Gillo	Whole plant	Powdered plant is mixed with milk and used as laxative	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Apiaceae	Coriandrum sativum	Dhanyal	Whole plant	Stimulant and carminative	Annual	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Apiaceae	Foeniculum vulgare	Kaga vanalay	Fruit	Powdered fruit is mixed with sugar, taken with a cup of milk for curing urinary problems (dysuria); dry fruits are carminative and laxative	Annual	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Apiaceae	Pimpinella diversifolia	Watani kaga	Fruit	Powdered fruits are carminative	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Apiaceae	Heracleum candicans	Kadu panra	Root	Decoction of root against colic and asthma	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Wetland
Araceae	Arisaema jacquemontii	Marjarai	Rhizome	Rhizome bolus is given orally to livestock for respiratory problems	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Araliaceae	Hedera nepalensis	Prewata	Leaves	Juice from leaves for curing diabetes, also considered as blood purifier	Woody climber	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Asclepiadaceae	Periploca aphylla	Barara	Stem, fruits	Milky juice of stem and fruit applied to swellings; stem latex as antimycotic for curing dermatitis in livestock	Shrub	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Asteraceae	Artemisia scoparia	Jaukay	Shoot and seeds	Respiratory stimulant, anthelmintic, purgative and against earache	Biennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Asteraceae	Cichorium intybus	Han	Root	Decoction of fresh root for treatment of fever	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Asteraceae	Echinops echinatus	Ghwand Saray Ghanowala	Root	Powdered root applied to wounds of cattle for killing maggots; also to kill lice	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Wetland
Asteraceae	Launaea procumbens	Shauda pai	Leaves	Mixture of powdered leaves with sugar to enhance lactation in livestock	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Asteraceae	Sonchus asper	Shauda pai	Shoot	Shoots fed to livestock for enhancing lactation	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Asteraceae	Taraxacum sp.	Ziar gulai	Leaves and roots	Grinded leaves are tonic, root decoction against kidney and liver disorders	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Asteraceae	Xanthium strumarium	Ghishkay	Leaves	Leaf decoction recommended in malarial fever	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Berberidaceae	Berberis lycium	Kwaray	Root bark	Dried root bark given orally as body tonic	Shrub	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Berberidaceae	Podophyllum hexandrum	Kakora	Rhizome	Powdered rhizome used to cure liver diseases	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Boraginaceae	Cynoglossum lanceolatum	Gat gul	Whole plant	Powdered plant taken with a decoction of Coriandrum sativum fruits as laxative	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Boraginaceae	Onosma hispida	Khwaga abai	Root	Used to color mustard oil which is applied for smoothing hair	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Brassicaceae	Brassica campestris	Sharshum	Seeds	Oil, extracted from seeds, is used as ointment, for massage of body and hair	Annual	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Brassicaceae	Brassica campestris var. rapa	Tepar	Leaves, roots	Against stomachache and ulcer problems	Annual	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Brassicaceae	Capsella bursa-pastoris	Bambesa	Leaves and seeds	Paste of fresh leaves with milk for curing diarrhea; seeds are stimulant and diuretic	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Brassicaceae	Nasturtium officinale	Talmera	Young shoot	Young shoot against constipation and stomachache	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Wetland
Buxaceae	Sarcococca saligna	Ladanr	Leaves	Heated in mustard oil and applied to muscular pain; infusion of leaves orally for rheumatism	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Cannabaceae	Cannabis sativa	Bang	Leaves	Leaves in bandage for wound healing; powdered leaves as anodyne, sedative, tonic and narcotic; juice added with milk and nuts as a cold drink (“Tandai”) generating a pleasant excitement; “Charas” is also prepared from it	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Arable
Caprifoliaceae	Sambucus wightiana	Benakai	Leaves, fruits and flowers	Poultice from leaves and flowers to treat burns and rheumatism; berries are purgative and used in dropsy	Shrub	Indigenous	Rare	Woodland
Caprifoliaceae	Viburnum grandiflorum	Ghuz meva	fruit	Fresh fruit is eaten to cure stomach problems	Shrub	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Caryophyllaceae	Arenaria griffithii	Kinar	Shoots	Dried shoot powder with honey after meal as antispasmodic	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Caryophyllaceae	Silene vulgaris	Matorangay	Shoot	Shoot against stomachache and as emollient	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Caryophyllaceae	Stellaria media	Oulalai	Whole plant	Decoction is considered as purgative	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Arable
Chenopodiaceae	Chenopodium album	Sarmay	Whole plant	Dried powdered plant considered as carminative and diuretic agent	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Clusiaceae	Hypericum perforatum	Shin chai	Shoot	Used as diuretic and its tea is stimulant and analgesic	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Convolvulaceae	Convolvulus arvensis	Prewatai	Whole plant	Purgative, also applied in skin disorders	Perennial, climber	Indigenous	Common	Arable
Cuscutaceae	Cuscuta reflexa	Zelai	Whole plant	Decoction for urine control, diabetes and blood purification; plant extract used as anti-lice	Perennial, climber	Established alien	Scattered	Arable
Dioscoreaceae	Dioscorea deltoidea	Kanis zelai	Rhizome	Powdered rhizome mixed with powdered root of Berberis lycium, the mixture is used for treatment of jaundice and ulcers	Perennial, climber	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Ebenaceae	Diospyros kaki	Sur amlok	Ripe fruits	Laxative	Tree	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Ebenaceae	Diospyros lotus	Tour amlok	Dried ripe fruits	Carminative, purgative and causing flatulence; boiled in milk and taken against constipation and dysentery	Tree	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Elaeagnaceae	Elaeagnus umbellata	Ghanum ranga	Flowers, leaves	Decoction of flowers used twice a day to cure heart diseases; decoction of leaves against cough; mature raw seeds eaten as vitamin C source	Shrub	Indigenous	Rare	Woodland
Euphorbiaceae	Euphorbia wallichii	Shangla	Whole plant	Dried leaves and seeds given to children in bowel complains; plant juice against ringworm	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Euphorbiaceae	Ricinus communis	Harhanda	Seeds	Seed oil demulcent and to evacuate bowels in children	Shrub	Established alien	Scattered	Ruderal
Fabaceae	Indigofera heterantha	Ghwarija	Root and leaves	Dried powdered root taken with glass of water against scabies; leaves against stomach problems	Shrub	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Fabaceae	Lathyrus aphaca	Korkamanai	Seed	Decoction of the seed 3 times a day for wound healing	Annual	Indigenous	Scattered	Arable
Fabaceae	Lotus corniculatus	Fateh khana	Whole plant	Decoction of dried powdered plant with ghee or boiled water against sexual debility and backache	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Fagaceae	Quercus oblongata	Banj	Fruit	Powdered fruits in urinary infection	Tree	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Fagaceae	Quercus floribunda	Tour banj	Fruit	Powdered fruits for treating gonorrhea and urinary disease	Tree	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Fumariaceae	Corydalis stewartii	Mamera	Floral shoot	Decoction of floral shoot to cure eye diseases	Biennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Mountain grassland
Geraniaceae	Geranium wallichianum	Srazela	Root	Root decoction with pods of Pistacia chinensis to treat cough and fever and urinary complaints	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	woodland
Hippocastanaceae	Aesculus indica	Jawaz	Seeds and bark	Fruits are anthelmintic and given to horses in colic; plant oil externally used against rheumatism; nuts against colic and to cure chest diseases in horses, donkeys and mules	Tree	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Juglandaceae	Juglans regia	Ghwaz	Fruit, bark, leaves	Dried fruit mixed with coconut and honey used as tonic; bark (locally called Dandasa) for cleaning and sparkling of teeth; decoction of leaves against eczema and intestinal worms	Tree	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Lamiaceae	Ajuga bracteosa	Booti	Whole plant	Locally, decoction of the plant or its powder swallowed with water before breakfast for the treatment of throat sore, internal colic, purifying blood and epilepsy; decoction for curing jaundice and hypertension	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Lamiaceae	Mentha spicata	Podina	Leaves and stem	Carminative	Perennial	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Lamiaceae	Mentha royleana	Valenay	whole plant	Decoction of leaves for treatment of diarrhea in children; powdered plant mixed with sugar for prevention of vomiting and dyspepsia	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Lamiaceae	Nepeta cataria	Pisho botai	Flowers and leaves	Dried leaves and flowering tops carminative	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Mountain grassland
Lamiaceae	Otostegia limbata	Spin azghai	Whole plant	Juice of leaves applied to gums for treatment of gum problem in children; dried powder of plant is used in jaundice	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Lamiaceae	Isodon rugosus	Spearkai	Leaves	Dried leaves put in mouth as remedy for toothache	Shrub	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Lamiaceae	Origanum vulgare	Shamakay	Whole plant	Diuretic and against toothache and earache	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Lamiaceae	Salvia lanata	Spera botai	Leaves	Paste of leaves applied to toes laceration in hot and moist season	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Lamiaceae	Salvia moorcroftiana	Kherghwag	Leaves	Brassica campestris oil applied to fresh leaves tied round for healing of wounds	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Lamiaceae	Thymus linearis	Chi botai	Shoots	Tea of shoots advised for treating pain and fever	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Mountain grassland
Liliaceae	Allium sativum	Ouga	Bulb and leaves	Boiled and the cooled extract administered against diarrhea, dysentery and for lowering blood pressure; bulbs stimulant; leaves diuretic, aphrodisiac and expectorant; antiseptic; juice applied to soothe irritation caused by scorpion and hornet stings	Perennial	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Liliaceae	Allium cepa	Piaz	Bulb and leaves	Bulbs stimulant; leaves diuretic, aphrodisiac and expectorant; also antiseptic and juice applied to soothe irritation caused by scorpion and hornet sting; Mountaineers have it with them while crossing high altitude passes as it enhances the intake of oxygen	Perennial	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Liliaceae	Colchicum luteum	Qaimat guallay	Whole plant	Blood purifier, laxative and aphrodisiac; fried corms are used for joints pain	Perennial	Indigenous	Rare	Mountain grassland
Liliaceae	Polygonatum multiflorum	Noorealam	Rhizome	Rhizome infusion against dysentery; referred aphrodisiac	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Liliaceae	Polygonatum verticillatum	Noorealam	Rhizome	Against rheumatism and as aphrodisiac	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Malvaceae	Abelmoschus esculentus	Bhindi	Fruits	Emollient, demulcent and diuretic	Annual	Cultivated	Scattered	Arable
Meliaceae	Melia azedarach	Tora bakyana, shandai	Fruits, shoots, bark, leaves	Dried, crushed fruits against gastric trouble, fever and cough; dry leaves mixed with wheat flour used as anthelmintic in livestock; decoction of the bark considered anti-allergic; extraction of leaves used by women against head lice; leaves, young branches or fermented fruits are given as carminative to cattle, when belly is swollen through gas accumulation due to overeating	Tree	Established alien	Scattered	Woodland
Moraceae	Ficus palmata	Inzer	Flowers and fruits	Fresh floral parts as demulcent; juice extracted from fruit as expectorant	Tree	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Moraceae	Morus alba	Toot	Fruit	Fruit to treat constipation and cough	Tree	Indigenous	Common	Arable
Oleaceae	Jasminum humile	Rambil chambil	Roots and flowers	Powdered roots as anthelmintic and diuretic; juice extracted from flowers against skin diseases, headache and mouth rash	Shrub	Indigenous	Rare	Woodland
Oleaceae	Olea europaea	Khona	Leaves	Decoction of leaves as gargle considered as remedy for toothache, mouth and gum diseases	Tree	Cultivated	Scattered	Arable
Oxalidaceae	Oxalis corniculata	Tarukey	Whole plant	Decoction of plant to enhance digestion	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Paeoniaceae	Paeonia emodi	Mamekh	Rhizome	Powdered rhizome with milk to cure backache and general weakness	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Papaveraceae	Papaver somniferum	Qashqash	Capsule, seeds	Capsules and seeds as narcotic; dried capsule to make tea for cough and fever	Annual	Indigenous	Scattered	Arable
Plantaginaceae	Plantago lanceolata	Jabai	Leaves	Leaves applied to treat bedsores, inflamed surfaces and candidiasis	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Ruderal
Plantaginaceae	Plantago major	Ghwa jabai	Seeds, leaves	Leaves applied to treat bedsores and candidiasis	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Ruderal
Platanaceae	Platanus orientalis	Chinar	Bark	Powdered bark taken orally to control diarrhea	Tree	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Poaceae	Avena sativa	Jamdaray	Fruit	Fried in ghee and milk, the paste is considered as general body tonic and aphrodisiac	Annual	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Poaceae	Cynodon dactylon	Kabal	Whole plant	Decoction as blood purifier and to control nose bleed; chewed and placed on wound to stop bleeding and as topical anti-septic	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Polygonaceae	Rumex dentatus	Shalkhay	Rhizome, leaves	Rhizome and leaves as poultice for wound healing	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Portulacaceae	Portulaca oleracea s.l.	Warkharae	Shoot	Shoot decoction against liver and kidney diseases	Annual	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Primulaceae	Primula denticulata	Mamera	Stem base	Infusion of young stem base ophthalmic	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Punicaceae	Punica granatum	Nangoray, Anar	Fruit	Dried fruit in bolus form for removal of intestinal helminths	Shrub	Cultivated	Scattered	Arable
Ranunculaceae	Aconitum violaceum	Zaharmora, Da Ghra Zahar	Rhizome	Rhizomes, wrapped in sheep or goat intestine and thoroughly boiled in milk; milk discarded and rhizomes crushed into powder, taken against rheumatism and arthritis; administering as such may cause death or mental problems if overdozed	Perennial	Indigenous	Rare	Woodland
Ranunculaceae	Caltha alba	Makan path	Leaves	Leaves laxative in nature	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Wetland
Ranunculaceae	Delphinium denudatum	Jadwar	Rhizome	Rhizome powder with water to cure cough and fever	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Rosaceae	Fragaria bucharica	Da zmaki toot	Root, fruit	Powdered root useful in disease of urinary tract; fruits carminative and laxative	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Rosaceae	Prunus armeniaca	Khubanai	stem	Gum obtained from stem famed as anticancer	Tree	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Rosaceae	Prunus domestica	Alucha	Fruits	Fruit laxative	Tree	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Rosaceae	Rosa moschata	Gulab	Flowers	Decoction of flowers for curing stomach disorders	Shrub	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Rosaceae	Spiraea spec.	Krachae	Flowers	Tea from its flowers to ease natal pain	Shrub	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Rutaceae	Skimmia laureola	Nazar pana	Leaves	Burnt incense to expel evils and evil eyes; tea for indigestion, smoke considered as antiseptic	Shrub	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Rutaceae	Zanthoxylum armatum	Dambara	Fruit	Fruits as antipyretic and for treating stomachache	Shrub	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Saxifragaceae	Bergenia stracheyi	The Spinsar Gat Pana	Rhizome	Powdered rhizome with milk in the mornings as tonic	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Simaroubaceae	Ailanthus altissima	Backyanra	bark	Bark juice mixed with milk to cure dysentery and diarrhea	Tree	Established alien	Common	Arable
Solanaceae	Atropa acuminata	Bargak	leaves	Poultice of leaves against pain and rheumatism	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Solanaceae	Capsicum annuum	Marchakay	Fruits	Carminative	Annual	Cultivated	Common	Arable
Solanaceae	Datura stramonium	Batora	Leaves, seeds and flowers	poultice of flowers applied to wounds to reduce pain; seeds narcotic in nature	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Solanaceae	Solanum nigrum	Kachmacho	Leaves and fruit	Leave paste applied to treat skin inflammation, fruits against fever	Annual	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal
Solanaceae	Solanum virginianum	Marraghonay	Fruit	Decoction of fruit diuretic and anthelmintic	Perennial	Indigenous	Scattered	Ruderal
Solanaceae	Withania somnifera	Kotilal	Whole plant	Aphrodisiac	Shrub	Indigenous	Scattered	Ruderal
Thymelaeaceae	Daphne mucronata	Laighonai	Fruits, leaves	Poultice from fruits and leaves against rheumatism	Shrub	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Ulmaceae	Celtis australis	Tagha	Fruits, bark	Fruits against colic and amenorrhea; bark decoction as anti-allergic	Tree	Indigenous	Scattered	Woodland
Urticaceae	Debregeasia saeneb	Ajlai	Leaves	Fresh ground leaves in paste form for blistered feet	Shrub	Indigenous	Common	Woodland
Verbinaceae	Verbena officinalis	Shamakai	Whole plant	Decoction is anti-malarial	Perennial	Indigenous	Common	Ruderal

Back to article page

ISSN: 1746-4269

Contact us

General enquiries: journalsubmissions@springernature.com