Ethnomedicinal and traditional uses of the Ferns of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Ferns are often used by indigenous people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. This study was designed to collect the ethnomedicinal and traditional knowledge of these locals about this group of vascular plants. Forty taxa belong to nineteen genera and ten families are used in the treatment of different diseases. The Pteridaceae was the most representative family with twelve taxa (30%), followed by Athyriaceae and Dryopteridaceae with six taxa each (30%), and Thelypteridaceae with five taxa (12.5%). Regarding the genera, Adiantum, Asplenium and Dryopteris ranked first with four taxa each (30%), followed by Aleuritopteris, Diplazium, Pteris and Equisetum with three taxa each (30%), followed by Athyrium, Oeosporangium, Polystichum and Pseudophegopteris with two taxa each (20%). These taxa were commonly used in the treatment of respiratory disorders i.e. asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia; intestinal ulcer, stomach, urinary ailments and skin disorders by the methods of decoction and infusion. Traditional knowledge about ethnomedicinal plants is a valuable and essential source for the discovery of allopathic, herbal and homeopathic medicines.

Ethnobotany

Traditional medicines and natural products from ethnomedicinal plants have great significance in recent time. Various forms of medicines like Ayurveda, traditional Chinese medicine, kampo, Unani, have been plasticising in recent days due to their effectiveness against various human ailments and also have blossomed into the regulated systems of traditional medicine. This chapter reviews the relationship of plants and humans, along with their cultural relationship and role of the traditional medicines, by exploring the methodologies and various concepts for the discovery of various drugs. Further, this will also illustrate traditional medicines that have their incomparable advantages over the modern allopathic medicines.

Studies on Fluorescent Analysis of Two Ethnomedicinal Plants Duranta erecta L. and Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene

The fluorescent studies on two ethnomedicinal plants belongs to family Verbenaceae , Duranta erecta L. and Phyla nodiflora (L.) Greene. The present study will assist in standardization for quality, purity and sample identification. The etnomedicinal plants were analysed using standard methods.. The fluorescence analysis for two ethno-medicinal plants were conducted by using the visible light and ultra violet at 254nm and 354 nm, reveals the various colouration ranges from sea weed green to berry blue coloured highlighted compared with the source , Lularoe chart. The present study concludes that the data obtained can be used to authenticate, classify and standardize the above four ethno-medicinal plants. Keywords: Ethnomedicinal plants, fluorescent study, UV wavelength.

DISCOURSE ON ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANTS IN ANCIENT MALAY MEDICAL MANUSCRIPT FOR GASTROINTESTINAL DISEASES

Since ancient times, people have been using plants not only for a source of food, but also for a source of medicine. In the Malay culture, many ethnomedicinal plants are being used for various medicinal properties. This knowledge is recorded in many ancient Malay manuscripts that acknowledge many different local names of plants and its traditional uses and practices. This study will be discussing one of the ancient Malay manuscript named “Hikayat Nurul-lisan Menjawab Masalah” whereby the original work was written in Jawi alphabets. Fortunately, Harun Mat Piah in his book, “Kitab Tib Ilmu Perubatan Melayu” had transliterated the work to Latin alphabets and organised it to a better structure which makes the content readily accessible and easily interpreted for Malay researchers. The purpose of this study is to analyse and tabulate ethnomedicinal plants documented in the transliterated manuscript which mentioned gastrointestinal benefits. To attain the research objectives, qualitative thematic analysis will be employed on the manuscript in order to classify different themes in the text systematically. Among illnesses frequently mentioned in the manuscript are gastrointestinal related, such as digestion, bloating, diarrhea and others. The study highlights that there are 36 number of plants mentioned in the manuscript which relates to gastrointestinal diseases. There are many different practice of use, whereby some are with detailed explanation, and others very general. Some plants are mentioned as being used for the well-being of the digestive system. This study is imperative for comprehensively structuring the traditional knowledge obtained in the manuscript for easy reference and access to other researchers locally and internationally. Besides to enrich our traditional knowledge on ethnomedicinal plants, this research will indirectly serve to preserve one of an important Malay cultural heritage. Keywords: Ethnomedicinal plants; Thematic analysis; Malay ancient manuscript; Malaysia medicinal plants; Gastrointestinal