Microsoft Word - 08. Ethno_Punjub_Revised_14.6.13.doc


Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 20(1): 67-76, 2013 (June) 
© 2013 Bangladesh Association of Plant Taxonomists 

ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDIES OF WILD HERBS OF CENTRAL PUNJAB, 
PAKISTAN 

 

ARIFA ZEREEN1, ZAHEER-UD-DIN KHAN AND ANDLEEB ANWAR SARDAR 
 

Department of Botany, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan 
 

Keywords: Ethnobotany; Wild herb; Herbal Medicines; Pakistan. 
 

Abstract 
 The current research work was designed to file the indigenous knowledge on the 
flora of eight districts of Central Punjab, viz., Faisalabad, Pakpattan, Lahore, Nankana 
Sahib, Narowal, Sahiwal, Sialkot and Vehari. Frequent field trips were made during 
2006-2008 to record ethnobotanical data by interviewing people of various age groups, 
mostly ranging between 30 to 70 years, including medicinal healers (herbalists/hakims). 
The total number of species recorded was 102 that belonged to 90 genera and 38 
families and were being used by local people of respective districts for various purposes 
e.g. medicine, fuel, fodder, vegetables, fruits and for making mats and baskets.  

  

Introduction 
 Different ethnic groups of the world possess empirical knowledge about the utilization of local 
flora of that area on which they are immediately and intimately dependent. Plants and plant 
products continue to play a fundamental part in the material culture of many of the world’s 
indigenous communities. However, with the increased contact with industrialized world and 
through the erosion of their natural source base, the indigenous knowledge is gradually vanishing.  
 Pakistan comprising nine major ecological zones is bestowed with a unique biodiversity. 
About 6,000 species of wild plants are found in the country, out of which almost 400 - 600 species 
are considered to be of medicinal importance (Hamayun et al., 2005). In Pakistan, medicinal 
plants are primarily used by Tibbi Dawakhanas (medical centers of indigenous physicians known 
as Hakims). The study of traditional uses of plants in Pakistan has been increasing during the last 
few years (Hamid et al., 1996). Aboriginal remedies which are believed to be inexpensive, safe 
and more effective are gaining recognition among the people of both countryside and city areas. 
Knowledge gained from tribal groups about indigenous long-established medicine has played a 
very important role in the discovery of new products from plants as chemotherapeutic agents 
(Katewa et al., 2004). People living in villages and tribal localities are using native plants for 
medicinal and various other purposes from time immemorial as this knowledge is based on 
experience and reaches them through generations (Shinwari and Khan, 1998). In an ethnobotanical 
study in Bangladesh the use of plants for medicinal purposes among four indigenous communities 
of Bandarban was recorded (Mohiuddin et al., 2012). In another study Patel and Patel (2012), 
showed the ethnogynaecological uses of plants from Gujarat, India. In this regard 16 plant species 
belonging to13 families were documented. Rawat and Kharwal (2010) provided ethnobotanical 
information on Sapium insigne, a conserved plant of Shivalik Hills, India. The plant was used by 
locals for fish poisoning. Pragada and Rao (2012) highlighted the ethnoveterinary uses of plants to 
treat common diseases in cattle and pet animals in tribal belts of Andhra Pradesh, India. In a study 
conducted by Sardar and Khan (2009), the indigenous knowledge of local people of Tehsil 
Shakargarh, District Narowal, Pakistan about medicinal and conventional uses of plants was 
reported.  
 
1Corresponding author. Email: arifazereen@yahoo.com 



68 ZEREEN et al. 

 Punjab is ranked as Pakistan’s second largest province after Baluchistan with an area of 
205,344 km2 and is located between latitudes 27.42º and 34.02º N and longitudes 69.81º and 
75.23º E at the northwestern edge of the geological Indian plate in South Asia. The present study 
has been carried out to collect, identify and document the ethnobotanical plants used by the 
indigenous people of Central Punjab. 
 

Materials and Methods 
 In order to collect the data 32 field trips were made during the year 2006-2008. The local 
names, traditional and medicinal uses of the herbs were recorded by interviewing the local persons 
of different age groups mostly between 30 to 70 years, including herbal practitioners. The 
collected plant specimens were pressed and identified with the help of Nasir and Ali (1970-1989), 
Ali and Nasir (1990-1992), Nasir and Rubina (1995) and Ali & Qaisar (1992-2007). A 
questionnaire was developed for documenting ethnobotanical knowledge. The collected 
information was also crosschecked with the available literature. 
 

Results and Discussion 
 A total of 102 species under 90 genera and 38 families were recoded which were being used 
by local inhabitants for various purposes such as fodder, furniture, fuel, medicine, edible fruits and 
vegetables (Table 1). Most of the species are reported to have multipurpose use by the inhabitants 
of the respective areas. They use them as medicinal plants (74 species), fodder (50 species), 
vegetables (9 species), wild fruits (2 species), reclamation of saline soils (1 species), multifarious 
use (8 species), herbal veterinary medicines (3 species), fuel wood (2 species), crop weeds (2 
species), poisonous (1 species), religious value (1 species), condiments (1), narcotic (4) and 
cosmetic (1) etc. Majority of the herbs present in the study area have medicinal use and in order to 
treat various diseases a variety of plant parts are used. The local people use plants for a number of 
ailments like bronchial disease (19 species), blood purifier (9 species), fever (19 species), hepatic 
problems (5 species), arthritis (5 species), sexual diseases (11 species), digestive disorders (43 
species), general tonic (6 species), diabetes (4 species), urinary diseases (4 species), eye diseases 
(7 species), ear problems (3 species), hair fall (2 species), toothache (4 species), skin problems (18 
species), piles (7 species), wound healing (6 species), jaundice (4 species) and cardiac problems (3 
species).  
 Population of the Punjab Province estimated to be 70 million is comprised of about half the 
total population of Pakistan (Punjab World Gazetter in 2009). Central Punjab with a good number 
of renowned cities is the hub of industrial, agricultural, educational and business activities. In the 
process of urbanization construction activity consisting of multistoried buildings, industrial units 
and roads in the area is therefore more compared to the other parts. These developments have 
greatly influenced the plant biodiversity (Cubizolle et al., 2003). Central Punjab is quite rich in 
plants of economical importance, with record of 102 species of herbs confirming the fact. Local 
people have depended upon indigenous plants since long for their means of living like food, 
medicine, shelter, trade besides the needs of fuel and animal feed etc. Most of the herbs because of 
their great medicinal value have remained under heavy anthropogenic pressure in the form of 
cutting, harvesting and grazing. With the support of fertile land and a vast irrigation system 
majority of the land owners in Central Punjab use pesticides and herbicides to obtain higher 
yields, which create pollution and destroy vegetation in the adjoining areas. Pollution of gasoline 
containing heavy metals also causes damage to plants on road verges (Gracia-Miragaya et al., 
1981; Gjessing et al., 1984).  In all this situation people’s awareness about the sustainable use and 
conservation of these species is primarily essential to control indiscriminate cutting and damaging 
process before many of these become non-existent. 



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(Manuscript received on 19 July 2012; revised on 26 November 2012)