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International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2019; 7(6): 05-09

E-ISSN: 2321-2187

P-ISSN: 2394-0514

IJHM 2019; 7(6): 05-09

Received: 04-09-2019 Accepted: 08-10-2019

Sardar Irfan Mehmood

Department of Botany, Govt.

Boys PGC College, Poonch Azad,

Abbaspur, Kashmir, Jammu and

Kashmir, India

Nuzhat Shafi

Department of Zoology,

University Muzaffarabad Azad,

Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir,

India

Zeenat Jannat,

Department of Zoology,

University of Poonch Rawalakot

Azad, Kashmir, Jammu and

Kashmir, India

Shabnum Shahida

Department of Chemistry,

University of Poonch Rawalakot

Azad, Kashmir, Jammu and

Kashmir, India

Sajid Majeed

Department of Horticulture,

University of Poonch Rawalakot

Azad, Kashmir, Jammu and

Kashmir, India

Tariq Habib

Department of Botany,

University of Muzaffarabad

Azad, Kashmir, Jammu and

Kashmir, India

Corresponding Author:

Sardar Irfan Mehmood

Department of Botany, Govt.

Boys PGC College, Poonch Azad,

Abbaspur, Kashmir, Jammu and

Kashmir, India

Exploration of exotic ethno botanical potential in

district Poonch Azad Jammu Kashmir

Sardar Irfan Mehmood, Nuzhat Shafi, Zeenat Jannat, Shabnum Shahida,

Sajid Majeed and Tariq Habib

Abstract Azad Jammu and Kashmir is a famous natural territory with ecological zones for medicinal and aromatic

plants. Especially district Poonch is blessed with wide range of climatic zones from subtropical to alpine

zones which provide a home for medicinal herbs. Keeping these facts in mind twelve exotic species

(Calendula officinalis L., Cynara scolymus L., Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers., Lavendula angustifolia

Mill., Mimosa pudica L. Mentha X piperita L., Melissa officinalis L. Origanum majurona L. Rosmarinus

officinalis L., Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni), Solanum muricatum Ait., Thymus vulgaris L. were acquired

from (Bio Conservation Institute) NARC Islamabad and were planted in botanical repository at Govt.

Boys College Campus. After successful plantation and cultivation different formulations like powder, oil,

paste, infusion and extract were prepared from these medicinal plants. To check medicinal value of each

species these formulation were distributed to 100 local habitants of Azad Kashmir. These investigations

on exotic species in local area were continued during the last four years. These studies revealed that AJK

has good adoptability for exotic species. Introduction, adoptability and ethno botanical collaboration of

exotic MAPs can be proved beneficial for local peoples for curing basic health problems and for

pharmaceutical developments.

Keywords: adaptability, AJK, exotic flora, ethno botany, MAPs

Introduction

Azad Kashmir is situated between 73o28o14 East longitude and 34o22o25 North latitude. India

held Kashmir is located towards East, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in West, Punjab on South and

Northern Areas on North. This state is bestowed with different ecological zones with drastic

medicinal plant diversity [1]. Usage of medicinal plants in natural and allopathic medicines has

tremendously increased during recent years in urban and rural parts of the world [2]. Native

people of every region of world widely using plant based medicines providing a roadmap for

modern drug developments in pharmaceutical industry [3]. Utilization of medicinal plants to

combat different types of diseases can be traced back to human origin on earth [4]. Plants are

providing clothing, food, shelter, decoration and treatments of various ailments [5]. About 20%

medicinal plants have been explored for medicinal purposes up till now [6]. Domestication of

plants for medicinal purposes, cosmetic usage and for forage is evident from human history [7].

Ethno botanists investigate and document information about interaction between human

culture and plants. Their main focus was utilization, and management of plants in different

societies [8].

In ethno botany taxonomic, morphological and ecological skills were essential to study

cultural concepts about different plants [9].

Recent investigation on usage of medicinal plants revealed that about 70% Himalayan

population and 75% Pakistani people depend upon medicinal plants to meet their health care

requirements [10, 11]. Further it is reported that about 600 plant species are used for medicinal

purposes in Pakistan [12].

A major part of population in Pakistan depending upon ethno medicines are restricted to

western area due to presence of Himalaya habiting major bulk nearly 8000 of MAPs [13, 14].

The state of Jammu Kashmir is famous for its native and regional flora providing a sustainable

home for exotic and indigenous plant species. Small piece of work has been done about exotic

flora of state of Jammu Kashmir [15, 16]. Thirty seven genera of indigenous and alien were

documented in Kashmir among them thirty seven species have been naturalized. There is gap

of investigations on medicinal, ornamental, species in Kashmir [17]. Plant based industries have

hedge potential in state of Jammu Kashmir due to its facilitating climato-edaphic environment [18]. Medicinal and ornamental flora in Kashmir flourish well as compare to neabouring regions

of this state [19]. Shifting of plant species from indigenous areas to new areas is part of human

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International Journal of Herbal Medicine http://www.florajournal.com/ history for plantation purposes [20]. Rate of introduction of

new species in new regions has increased during recent years

due economic values of plants in internationalized and

globalized world [21]. Recent investigation on exotic flora of

Kashmir revealed that it is ideal place for lavender cultivation

which is a important medicinal plant and is also part of our

study [22].

Current research work first time investigates collectively

introduction, cultivation, documentation, and ethno botanical

usage of exotic medicinal and aromatic plants in Azad

Kashmir. Ultimately creating a scientific room for all has

stake holders who have deep concern with plant oriented

medication.

Materials and Methods

All twelve species of MAPs were acquired from (Bio

Conservation Institute) NARC Islamabad and were planted in

repository and targeted areas in AJK. Then various types of

preparations (diction, paste, oil, extract) were prepared and

distributed to 100 local inhabitants. Information on the ethno

botanical properties of medicinal plants was collected from

100 local inhabitants and herbalists and all categories using

open ended and semi-structured questionnaires during months

of August 2014-Jul 2019. Ethno medicinal study was carried

out according to [23]. Standard ethno botanical methods such

as participant involvement, observation and open semi

structured interviews were used to gather the information.

Plant were identified and herbarium specimens were

deposited at Azad Jammu Kashmir Herbarium (AJKMAPH) [24, 25]. Labeled field images of plant species were taken

according to [26] for end users to resolve ambiguous taxonomic

identification. The medicinal enumerated alphabetically

names along with their respective family.

Results and Discussion

In current study 12 selected exotic species were planted and

investigated for medicinal usage. Detail descriptions

Botanical names, family, introduced name, origin, habit, part

used, medicinal usage was briefly described below (Table 1).

Twelve species were cultivated and propagated at College

Campus and each plant species showed 100% growth and

survival rates were represented in Fig: I and II. Mode of

preparations of medicine from each plant was elaborated in

Fig: III. Actual native origins of each plant species under

study were elaborated in Fig: V.

Table: I: Exotic medicinal flora used for the treatment of different diseases in Azad Kashmir Under study.

Botanical name Family Introduced local name Origin Habit Part used Medicinal usages References

Cynara

scolymus L. Asteraceae Kandara Mediterranean region H L

Hepatoprotective, lowers cholesterol level,

anti-diabetic [27, 28, 29]

Calendula

officinalis L. Asteraceae Gulasrafi Southern Europe H F

Antitumor, antispasmodic, Blood purifier,

wound healer. [30, 31, 32]

Kalanchoe pinnata

Pers. Crassulaceae Pather Chat Africa H L

Antimicrobial, anti-ulcer, Hepatoprotective

kidney stones breaker. [33, 34, 35]

Lavender

angustifolia Mill. Lamiaceae Lavender

Mediterranean

region S F & L Antimicrobial, antidepressant, Perfumery. [22, 46]

Mimosa pudica L. Fabaceae Chi Mui Tropical America,

Australia. H L & R

Anticonvulsant, arresting bleeding, skin

diseases [38, 39, 40]

Mentha x piprata Lamiaceae Sat Podina Middle East H F & L Antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiseptic,

carminative, [41, 42, 43]

Melissa officinalis

L. Lamiaceae Lemon bom Mediterranean region H F & L sedative, spasmolytic and antibacterial [44]

Origanum

majorana L. Lamiaceae Walhti katkini Cyprus H F & L

Antibacterial, antioxidant, tranquilizer,

sedative [25, 45, 46]

Rosmarinus

officinalis L. Lamiaceae Rosemary

Mediterranean, Spain,

France and Palestine. S F & L Antimicrobial, treats gout, arthritis, sciatica. [47, 48]

Solanum

muricatum Ait. Solanaceae Pipo fruit Andean South America H F

Anti-cancer, Diuretic, kidney asher, improves

immune system [49, 50, 51]

Stevia rebaudiana

(Bertoni) Asteraceae Methi Buti

Paraguay (South

America) H L

Antibacterial, noncarcingic, natural

Sweetener [52, 53]

Thymus vulgaris L. Lamiaceae Walti Chikel Mediterranean Region H L antimicrobial, antioxidant, asthma, sore

throat [25, 54, 55]

Parts used Key: L-Leaves, F-Fruits, R-Root, S-Seed, F-

Flower, B-Bark, WP-Whole plant, Rh- Rhizome, T-Tuber and

b-.

Habits Key: T-Tree, S-Shrubs, H-Herb and C-Climber.

Calendula officinalis L. Cynara scolymus L. Kalanchoe pinnata (Lam.) Pers. Lavender angustifolia Mill.

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International Journal of Herbal Medicine http://www.florajournal.com/

Mimosa pudica L. Mentha X piperita L.

Fig 1: Cultivation of exotic MAPs in targeted areas of Azad

Kashmir.

Misslia officinalis, Origanum majurona

Rosmarinus officinalis L Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni

Solanum muricatum Ait Thymus vulgaris L.

Continued Fig I

Fig: II: Cultivation of exotic MAPs at Govt. College Abbaspur Azad Kashmir.

Fig: III: mode of preparation of medicines

Fig IV: native regions of MAPs under study

Conclusion

Usage of local and exotic medicinal flora in District Poonch

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International Journal of Herbal Medicine http://www.florajournal.com/ has been commonly investigated during recent years.

Cultivation of local as well as exotic flora is not in practice in

Azad Kashmir. Imported medicinal plant materials are of poor

quality facing contaminations. In ordered to bridge these

problems present study was conducted. Current investigation

of the exotic flora bridges acquiring, cultivation, ethno

botanical documentation useful for sustainable usage of

medicinal plants and medicinal plants oriented products in

Azad Kashmir. This study is parallel to other countries where

plants are cultivated on huge scale for pharmaceutical

purposes. Ultimately live plantation and scientific

investigations will paved the way for allopathic, herbal and

homeopathic systems of medicines and cosmetic industry in

local area. This study also open the gate for better

management, practical utilization, broad execution concern

with future discoursers of exotic medicinal flora in state of

Jammu and Kashmir.

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