Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 5(32), pp.

7073-7075, 30 December, 2011

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/JMPR
ISSN 1996-0875 ©2011 Academic Journals
DOI: 10.5897/JMPR11.1358

Short Communication

Ethnobotanical survey of common medicinal plants

used by people of district Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan
M. Akram1, Muhammad Irfanullah Siddiqui2, Naveed Akhter3, Muhammad Khurram Waqas4,
Zafar Iqbal3, Muhammad Akram5, Aubid Allah Khan3, Asadullah Madni3, H. M. Asif3
1
Faculty of Pharmacy and Alternative Medicine, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
2
Faculty of Eastern Medicine, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
3
University College of Pharmacy, The University of Punjab Lahore, Pakistan.
Accepted 14 November, 2011

Medicinal plants are used for treatment of various diseases in Unani system of medicine.
Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by people of Sargodha was carried out. This study was
carried on the basis of survey. 10 hakim and 40 local people were included in the study and interviewed.
The study area was Sargodha. In this study, medicinal uses of plant were presented.

Key words: Ethnobotanical studies, medicinal plants, Sargodha, Punjab.

INTRODUCTION

Medicinal plants have been used for healing purposes MATERIALS AND METHODS
and people all over the world are still using medicinal
Study area
plants as treatment for various ailments. Synthetic drugs
and new synthesized drugs are not able to replace herbal Sargodha is a district in Punjab, Pakistan. The people of Sargodha
medicine because herbal medicine are effective and have use traditional medicine for treatment of various diseases. Majority
few or no side effects. Documentation of the indigenous of the population of Sargodha live in rural areas.
knowledge through ethno botanical studies is important The data were collected from 10 hakims and 40 old men living in
for the conservation and utilization of biological Sargodha. Questionnaire contains names of plant and its uses.
resources. This study was conducted to document Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f.
information on medicinal plants that are used for Common names: Kwargandal, aloe
treatment of various diseases in district Sargodha, Parts used: Leaf
Province Punjab. Medicinal plants used for various Family: Xanthorrhoeaceae
diseases were identified. The present study indicates that Uses: Arthritis, wound healing
practice of traditional medicine will continue inspite of
Acacia nilotica (L.) Delile.
advancement in allopathic system of medicine. It has Common names: Kekar, gum arabic
been estimated by the world health organization that 80% Parts used: Pod
of the world s’ population relies on traditional medicine Family: Fabaceae
(which are usually plant based) to meet their daily health Uses: It is used in liver disorders
requirements (Shinwari and Muqarrab, 2007). Traditional
Althaea officinale
foods and medicine cannot be neglected (Begossi, 1998;
Vernacuar name: Resha khatimi
Pieroni et al., 2002). Family: Malvaceae
Uses: It is used as anti-inflammatory agent

Allium cepa
Vernacuar name: Tukhm peyaz
Family: Amaryllidaceae
*Corresponding author. E-mail: makram_0451@hotmail.com.
7074 J. Med. Plants Res.

Uses: It is used as paste at boils Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.ex DC.

Common names: Tali, rosewood
Avena sativa Linn. Parts used: Bark
Common name: Jao, oat Uses: it is used as a paste at swelling
Parts used: Seeds
Family: Poaceae Daucus carota
Uses: Tension and skin alergies Vernacuar name: Tukhm gazar
Uses: It is used as diuretic and urinary tract infections
Badian
Local name: Badian Datura alba
Botanical name: Foeniculum vulgare Vernacuar name: Tukhm dhatura
English name: Badiyan Uses: It is used as bronchodilator in asthma
Family name: Apiaceae
Urdu: Location: Desmostachya bipinnata (L.)
Uses of plant Common names: Dab, tail grass
Local use: Flower and green leaves decoction is used for cough, Parts used: Leaf
fever, body ache and abdominal pain. It is used as antiflatulent in Uses: Decoction made from leaves is used to treat fever.
children. It is commonly used in indigestion.
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Bombax ceiba L. Common names: Sofeda, eucalyptus
Common name: Simbal Parts used: Leaf
Parts used: Flowers, roots, bark and seeds Uses: Common cold, nose infections, common cold.
Family: Malvaceae
Uses: Dysentery, stimulant, blood purification, constipation, snake Ficus religiosa L.
bite and gonorrhoea. Common names: Pipal, sacred fig
Parts used: Bark
Brassica napus Uses: It is used in urinary tract infections
Vernacular name: Tukhm Shalgham
Family: Brassicaceae Ficus benghalensis L.
Uses: It is used as diuretic and is cooked Common names: Boher, banyan
Parts used: Latex
Citrus aurantium Uses: It is used in sexual weakness
Common name: Bitter orange
Uses: It is used as appetizer, stimulant, aromatic and stomachic Melia azedarach L.
Common names: Dherak, chinaberry
Parts used: Leaf and fruit
Chenopodium album L.
Uses: It is used in diabetes mellitus and as blood purifier.
Common names: Bathu, goose foot
Parts used: Whole plant
Uses: it is used in liver disorders. It is used as diuretic agent Morus nigra L.
Common names: Kala toot, mulberry
Parts used: Root, leaf and fruit
Citrus limon (L.) Burm. f. Uses: Bad thorax, stomach worms,
Common names: Nimboo, lemon
Parts used: Fruit
Phoenix dactylifera L.
Uses: Toothpowder for teeth diseases and in infections
Common names: Khajur, date
Parts used: Fruit
Cucumis melo var. agrestis Naudin Ethnomedicinal uses: Sexual weakness
Common names: Chibbar, wild water melon
Parts used: Fruit and seed Psidium guajava L.
Uses: It is used as diuretic Common names: Amrood, guava
Parts used: Fruit
Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. Uses: Improvement of appetite, and stomach problems.
Common names: Akash bail, dodder
Parts used: Stem Punica granatum L.
Uses: It is used in melancholia Common names: Anar, pomegranate
Parts used: Exocarp of fruit
Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. Uses: Dysentery and menstrual irregularities.
Common names: Khabal, bahm grass
Parts used: Whole plant Ricinus communis L.
Uses: Treatment of wounds. Common names: Hernoli, castor oil
Parts used: Seed
Cyperus rotundus L. Uses: It is used as laxative
Common name: Deela
Parts used: Rhizomes Rosa indica L.
Ethnomedicinal uses: Fever, diarrhoea, dysentery and blood Common Names: Gulab, rose
disorders. Tuberous, indigestion, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, Parts used: Flower and seed
stomachic and diuretic. Uses: Eye disorders and heart disease.
 Akram et al. 7075

Saccharum spontaneum L. plants have great pharmacological and ethnobotanical

Common name: Sarrout significance. Plants are used in the treatment of various
Parts used: Whole plant
diseases. Therefore, this type of study helps in designing
Uses: Improvement of appetite and in the treatment of abdominal
pain new formulation and new drug development
(Usmanghani and Saeed, 1997; Rout and Pandey, 2007).
Sesamum indicum Such ethnobotanical studies enable the transfer of
Vernacuar name: Til siah knowledge on plant-based treatments (our natural
Uses: It is used in general weakness inheritance) to future generations.
Solanaceae: Datura inoxia Mill.
Common names: Datura, thorn apple
Parts used: Seed Conclusion
Uses: Gonorrhea
Herbal drugs in the traditional system of medicine are
Solanum nigrum L.
well documented. In recent years, there has been a
Common names: Kainch mainch, nightshade
Parts used: Leaf growing trend to evaluate the ethnobotonical uses of
Uses: Abnormal and painful secretions from ears. medicinal plants so that a systemic approach could be
adopted for their therapeutic utilization. Rural
Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels communities in Sargodha are a rich source of information
Common names: Jaman, jambolan on medicinal plants as presented in this study. This study
Parts used: Seed
is important to preserve the knowledge of medicinal
Uses: Diabetes
plants used by the people of Sargodha. But there is need
Withania somnifera Linn to scientifically evaluate the efficacy of these medicinal
Family: Solanaceae plants.
Local name: Aksan, asgand
Parts used: Whole plant
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People of this community were interested to share their
knowledge with others. This study is important to
preserve the knowledge of medicinal plants used by
people of Sargodha. In this study, many of plants were
identified for the management of various diseases. The
surveys of phytopharmacological literatures of these