REFLECTIONS ON THE TAXONOMY AND DISTRIBUTION OF MEDICINAL FLOWERS OF PAKISTAN

2004·4.4 MB·English

by  Mohammad Athar

REFLECTIONSONTHETAXONOMYANDDISTRIBUTION
OFMEDICINALFLOWERSOFPAKISTAN
MohammadAthar^ M.AkmalSiddiqi^
CaliforniaDepartmentofFoodandAgriculture ClinicalResearchCenter
2014CapitolAvenue MarshfieldClinicResearchFoundation
Sacramento,CA95814,U.S.A. 1000NorthOakAvenue
[email protected] Marshfield,Wl54449,U.S.A.
[email protected]
ABSTRACT
AliteraturesearchwasconductedtodeterminethemedicinalIloweringplantsfoundinPakistan
andusedasremediesforvariousdisordersordiseases.Tfietaxonomicposition,distributionandflow-
eringperiodoftheseplantsaredescribedtofacilitatetheircollectionatbloomiing.Therearc95spe-
ciesbelongingto85generaand43plantfamilies.MostofthespeciesbelongtoFabaceaeand
Asteraceae(17and13speciesrespectively),followedbyMalvaceae(7species),Lamiaceae(6species)
andBoraginaceae(4species).ApocynaceaeandRosaceaecontained3specieseach.Itisimportant
forthesustainabilityofPakistanimedicinalplantindustrytoconsolidatetheplant-resourcedata-
baseandexploretiienationalandinternationalmarketsioritsmedicinalIlora.Itisimperativethat
largescalecultivationprojectsbeimplementedandthatpriorityspeciesolthemedicinalplantsbe
salvaged.Pakistanalsoneedsexpandedresearchclfortsintocultivation,productionandconserva-
tionofmedicinalplants.Institutionallinkagesareurgent!)-neededbetweenallthePakistanire-
searchanddevelopmentorganizationsdealingwithmedicinalandaromaticplants.
RESUMEN
SerealizounaexhaustivabijsquedabibliograficaacercadelasangiospennasmedicinalesdePakistan
utilizadascomoremedioscontraenfermedadesdedix-ersanaturaleza.Sepreparounalistadelas
especiesencontradasconreferenciaasuposiciontaxonomica.Seinclu\^esudistribucion)periodo
fenologicoparatacilitarsurecoleccionenelmomentooptimodelafloracion.Ellistadocomprende
untotalde85generosy95especiespertenecientesa43familias.Lamayoriadelasespeciespertenecen
alasfamiliasFabaceaeyAsteraceae(17y13especiesrespectivamente)seguidasdeMalvaceae(7
especies),Lamiaceae(5especiesj)'Boraginaceae(4especies);ApocynaceaeyRosaceaepresentan3
especiescadauna.Resultaimportanteparalaindustriasosteniblepakistanideplantasmedicinales
consolidarelbancodedatosdisponiblesyexplorarlosmercadosnacionalesemternacionalesque
ataiienasuIloramedicinal.Esimperativeaumentarlosproyectosdecultix'osagranescalaypreservar
laprioridaddelasplantasmedicinales.Pakistannccesitatainbicnextenderlosestuerzosde
investigacionalosproblemassobreculti\'0.produccionyconservaciondeplantasmedicinales.
DestacamosasimismolaimperiosanecesidaddedesarroUarunsistemadetransterenciainstitucional
entrelainvestigacionylasorganizacionesdedesarrolloqueinter\'ienenenlosprocesosmdustriales
deplantasmedicinalesyaromaticasenPakistan.
'DisclaimerTheviewsexpressedinthisarticlearethoseofauthorsanddonotnecessarilyrepresentthoseof
theirrespectivedepartments.Thepubiicationofthisarticledoesnotconstitutearecommendationoren-
dorsementoftheuseoftheseflowersasherbalmedicine.TheauthorsorIheirdepartmentsmakenowarranty,
expressedorimplied,andassumenolegalliabilityfortheuseoftheseflowersformedicalpurposes
SIDA21(1):357-368.2004
358 BRIT.ORG/SIDA21(1)
INTRODUCTION
The(loraofPakistanisveryrichduetothediversechmaticandsoilconditions
initsdifferentecologicalregions.Thecountryhasaround6000speciesofwild
plants;about400-600areconsideredtobeotmedicinalimportance.Pakistan
hasconsiderablesignificanceIromthepointofviewolmedicinalplants(Nasir
etal.1972)andhasbeencorrectlycalledasthefloralemporiumolmedicinal
plants(Rizvi1998).Anestimated80%oftheruralpopulationinPakistande-
pendsontraditionalmedicinesfortheirprimaryhealthcareneeds,themajor-
ityofthatareplantsortheiractiveprinciples(Shinwari&Khan1998).
Thesustainableharvestingofmedicinalplantshasgreateconomicpoten-
tial.Althoughsomemedicinalplants,suchasCarthamustinctonus,Crocus
sativusandPassijloracdulis,arelocallygrownbutrequireknowledgeabout
thepropercollectionandpreservationof tlieseimportantmedicinalplants
CRizvi1998;William&Ahmad1999).However,medicinalplantsareusedboth
mtheindigenousmedicinalsystemandbypharmaceuticalindustries(Shaheen
etal.2003).
Manydifferentfloweringspecies,suchasArtemisiaabsinthium,(Gul-e-
afsantee),Matricariachamomilla(Gul-c-babuna), Violaodorata(Gul-e-
banafsha),Rosadamascena(Gul-e-surkh),andCrocussativus(Gul-e-zafran),
areknownaspotentialsourcesforcuringvariousliverdiseases(Bach1994;Bisset
1994;Duke1986;Khanetal.1996).SalfloweriCarthamustinctorius)hasbeen
usedlorcenturiesinpAiropeandAsiaasalaxativeanddiuretic(Keville1995).
Passionflower{.Passijloracdulis)isreputedtohaveanti-spasmodicandseda-
tivepropertiesandusedwidelyasaningredientinherbalremedies(Reynoldet
al.1994).TheaqueousextractpreparedfromthecalyxofHibiscussahdariffais
reportedtopossesscatharticactivity(Haruna1997).
Classificationofmedicinalplantsisorganizedindifferentwaysdepend-
ingonthecriteriaused.Ingeneral,medicinalplantsarearrangedaccordingto
theiractiveprinciplesintheirstorageorgansofplants,particularlyroots,leaves,
flowers,seedsandotherpartsotplant(Shaheenetaf.2003).Theseprinciples
arevaluabletomankindin thetreatmentofdiseases(Shaheenetal.2003;
Shinwari&Khan1998).AccordingtotheliteraturetherearemanyPakistani
medicinalplants(Bach1994;Nasir&All1972;Rizvi1998;Shinwari&Khan
1998)thatcouldbeusedforremedies,medicinalpreparationsandfutureutili-
zation(Bach1994;Bugti1998;Mahmoodetal.1996;Nasir&Rafiql995;Shinwari
&Khan1998;Zaman&Khan1970).ThispaperpresentsthetaxonomyofPaki-
stanimedicinalfloweringplants,theirregionaldistribution,andflowering
periods.
MATERIALSANDMETHODS
AliteraturesearchwasconductedtofindoutwhichPakistaniplantsareused
asremedieslorvariousdisordersordiseases(Bach1994;Bugti1998;Duke1986;
ATHARANDSIDDIQl,MEDICINALPLANTSOFPAKISTAN 359
Mahmoodetal.1996;Malik&Farooq1984;Nasir&All1972;Nasir&Rafiq
1995;Rizvi1998;Shaheenetal.2003;Shmwari&Khan1998;Zaman&Khan
1970).Thetaxonomicpositionofspecieswithmedicinalpropertieswasdeter-
mined.Theirdistributionand1loweringperiodwasalsonotedtofacilitatetheir
collectionatblooming.Theplantsincludedherbs,shrubs,vinesandtrees.The
generawerearrangedalphabeticallywithineachfamily.Thenomenclatureand
classificationfollowedNasirandAH (1972),andauthorcitationsfollowed
BrummittandPowell(1992).
RESULTSANDDISCUSSION
Ninety-fivePakistanispeciesdistributedamong85generaand43plantfamilies
werefoundtohavemedicinalproperties(Table1).Thelargestnumbersofspecies
werefoundinFabaceaeandAsteraceae(17and13speciesrespectively),followed
byMalvaceae(7species),Lamiaceae(5species)andBoraginaceac(4species).
ApocynaceaeandRosaceaeeachcontained3speciesofmedicinalplants.Other
familiescontainedonlyoneortwospeciesofmedicinalplants(Table1).Their
floweringperiodanddistributionwerealsoworkedoutandpresentedinTable1.
Themedicinalplantsthatarecommerciallyexploitedinlargequantitiesoccur
mainlyinfourecologicalregionsofPakistan:alpineandhighaltitude;temperate
mountainforests;sub-tropicalfoothillforests;andaridandsemi-aridscrubs(Ali
&Qaiser1986;Shaheenetal.2003;William&Ahmad1999).
AnumberofmedicinalfyimportantPakistaniplantsarefoundinthemoist
alpineandhighaltitudeareas,especiallyinthenorthwesternvalleys(Nasir&
Ali1972;Shaheenetal.2003;William&Ahmad1999).Mostplantsofthese
areasareslowgrowingperennialspecies,whichrequireseveralyearsofvegeta-
tivegrowthbeforereproductionbyseed(Shaheenetaf.2003).Someofthespe-
ciesareclassifiedasthreatenedorvulnerableifthecurrentrateofcollection
continues. Endangered plant speciesof thisarea includesPodophyllum
hexandrum,Saussaureacostus,Picrorrhizakunooa,Aconitumheterphyllum,
andCorydalissp.(Shaheenetal,2003).Careshouldbetakenintheconserva-
tionofplantswithmedicinalflowerssothattheirexistenceisnotthreatened.
TheoriginofUnani(Greek)medicinesgoesbacktothematerialmedicaof
numerousearlycivilizations.UnanimedicinetracesitsorigintoGreekmedi-
cine,whichwasadoptedbytheArabsandthereafterspreadtobothEurope
andIndo-Paksubcontinent(William&Ahmad1999).Thereareabout27large,
Pakistaniherbal-manufacturingcompanies,whichproduceUnanimedicines
onacommercialscale(Shaheenetal.2003).Thenumberofherbal-medicine
manufacturersinthenon-organizedsectorrunsintothehundreds.Theannual
grossincomeofsomelargeherbalmanufacturersiscomparabletothatofmul-
tinationalcompaniesinPakistan.About50,000traditionalhealers,including
homeopaths,areservingabout60%ofthepopulation,especiallythoseliving
inruralareas(Shaheenetal.2003;William&Ahmad1999).
360 BRIT.ORG/5IDA21(1)
Taulel.Thetaxonomy,distribution,andfloweringperiodofsomeofthemedicinalflowersof
Pakistan.
Species Flowering Distribution MedicinalRemedies
period
MONOCOTYLEDONS
Poaceae
Cymbopogonjwarancusa Jul-Oct FoundinKaraci^i, Detoxifier,astringentand
(Jones)Schult. Multan,Chitral,NWFR tonic
Quetta,Gilgit
Zeamaysi. Feb-May CultivatedinSindia, Astringent,chloretic,
Punjab,NWFP diureticandremedyfor
urinaryinfection
DICOTYLEDONS
Acanthaceae
AdhatodavasicaNees= Feb-Apr PlantedinKarachi,Sindh Asthma,bronchitis,
JusticiaadhatodaL. gonorrhea,highgrade
feverandconjunctivitis
Amaranthaceae
AchyiainhesasperaL. Sep-Apr FoundinGilgil,Karachi, Anti-hemorrhoidal
Punjab,Baluchistan
CelosiacnstataL.=Celona Oct-Dec Growningardens Astringent,anti-diarrheal
argenteaL.vancr/sfofo andforirregularityof
(L.)Kuntze menstrualcycle
Anacardiaceae
MangiferaindicaL. Jan-Mar GrowninPunjaband Astringent,urinaryinfection,
Sindh catarrh,anti-diarrheal,anti-
dysenteryveneraldiseases
Apocynaceae
Catharanthiisroseus(L.) Throughout Cultivatedand Asthma,antideukemia,
G.Don. outtheyear naturalizedinthetropics eyessalveandflatulence
PergulariaextensaJacq.= Sep-Apr FoundinKarachi,Sindh, Anthelmintic,emetic,
Pergulariadaemia Fasbella,Peshawar, expectorant
(Forssk.)Chiov.var. Rawalpindi
daemia
VincamajorL. Dec-Mar FoundinParochial, Freshflowersarepurgative
Abbottabad,Morehills
Asclepiadaceae
Calotropisprocera(Ailon) Throughout Widelydistributedin Asthma,catarrh,cold,
W.T.Alton theyear desertsthroughout cough,cholera,andfor
Pakistan dyspepsia
Asteraceae
AchilleamillefoliumL Aug-Mar OccursinGilgit,Swat, Hypotensive,haemostatic
Murree,Poonch, toarrestbleeding
Baluchistan,Chagia
ArtemisiaabsinthiumL. Aug Sep GrowsinThandiani Anthelmintic,anti-scorpion
venomandanti-snake
venom
ATHARANDSIDDIQI,MEDICINALPLANTSOFPAKISTAN 361
Tablf1.continued
Species Flowering Distribution MedicinalRemedies
period
ArtemisiamaritimaL Aug-5ep FoundinAster, Dyspepsia,tonicandanti
Baluchistan,Chitral,Swat helminthic
CalendulaofficinalisL. Dec-Apr Cultivatedinmanyparl<s Duodenal-gastriculcers,
andgardensofPakistan hypotensive,emmenag-
ogueandcuresskin
diseases
CaniiamustinctoriusL Apr-Jul DistributedNWFR Emmenagogue,laxative,
Baluchistan,(Harnai), sedative,stimulant
Punjab
Chrysanthennunn Mar-Jul CultivatedinPeshawar, Aperient,conjunctivitis
cinerariifolium(Trevir.) Abbottabad anddyspepsia
Vis=7o/)acefum
cinerariifolium(Trevir.)
Sch.Bip.
HelianthusannuusL. Jul-Sep Widelycultivatedin Anti-diarrheal,anti-
Pakistan inflammatorycarminative,
diuretic
MatricariachamomillaL= Jul-Jan FoundinplainsofPunjab, Analgesicantiseptic,
MatricariarecutitaL. Pishin carminative,anti-
convulsant,diuretic,liver
diseases,dyspepsia
Silybummarianum{i.) Mar-Apr FoundinLahore,Peshawar, Flowerheadsareconsumed
Gaertn. SaiduSharif,Abbottabad, fordiabetescontrol
Mirpur,Rawalpindi
TageteserectaL. Jun-Nov Growningardensof Anti-doteagainstwasp
Pakistan stings,cureforeczema,
diuretic
TanacetumgracileHool<.f. Jun-Aug FoundinHunza, Anti-helminthic
SThomson Baluchistan
Taraxacumofficinale Feb-Apr Widelydistributed Aperient,diuretic,stimulant,
F.H.Wigg.Group throughoutBaluchistan stomachic,tonic,detoxicant
XanthiumstrumariumL. Jul-Aug FoundinKarachi, Flowersusefulfortooth-
Gilgit,Chitral,Baluchistan, ache
Swat.NWFPHazara
Balsaminaceae
ImpatlensbalsarvinaL Jul-Oct CultivatedinKarachi, Antibioticactivity,inter-
Chitral,Murree costalneuralgiaand
usefulinlumbago
Bignoniaceae
MillingloniahortensisL,f. Nov-Mar CultivatedinSindh.Purijab Curesasthma
Stereospermumsuaveolens May-Jun OccursinRawalpindi Aphrodisiac,hiccoughs
DC.=Stereospermum District
colais(Buch.-Ham.ex
Dillwyn)Mabb,
362 BRIT.ORG/SIDA21(1)
Table1.continued
Species Flowering Distribution MedicinalRemedies
period
Bombacaceae
BombaxceibaI. Dec-Mar Cultivatedasroadside Diureticandlaxative
andgardenplantin
Pakistan
Boraginaceae
Afnebiabeiithamii(Wall. Oct-Nov FoundinMakran, Angina,fever,pharyngitis
exG.Don)l,M.Johnst, Kaghan,Poonch
BoragoofficinalisI. Jan-Feb Reproducedfromseeds Anti-canceragent(breast
atKaraclii orface),corns,sclerosis
andtumors
OnosmohispidumWaW. Mar-Jul FoundinPishin,common Cardiactonic,stimulant
&G.Don inLandikotal,5wat,Chitral,
Kaghan
Trichodesmaindlcum(L.) Aug-Oct OccursinMangopir Flowersusedasemullient
Sm. anddiuretic
Brassicaceae
CheiranthuschelriL. Mar-May Cultivatedingardens Cardiacdisorders,emme-
Erysimumcheirl(L.) nagogue,remedyfor
Crantz impotenceand paralysis
Byttneriaceae
Pterospermumacerifolium Dec-Jul CultivatedinIslamabad, Dehydration,otalgia,
(UWilld. Peshawarasan haematuria,massage
introducedtree
Cannabaceae
HamuluslupulusL Jut-Aug FoundinPangionthe Anti-septic,femaleinflo-
upperChenab rescenceusedasdiuretic,
emmenagogue,dyspepsia
Caprifoliaceae
SambucAJSnigraL lar-Apr OccursinParachinar, Laxative,anti-pruriticand
Nathiagali,hiazara stimulantofblood
circulation
Cucurbitaceae
Irichosaniht'sdioicaRoxb. Jun-Oct FoundinPunjab,Ravi, Lowerstotalcholestro
Chenab,Doab,Rawalpindi andbloodsugar
District
Fabaceae(Caesalpinioideae)
BauhiniapurpureaI. SepNov CultivatedinPunjab, Flowersareusedas
NWFRRawalpindi purgative
BauhiniavanegataL Feb-Apr CultivatedinPakistan Flowersareaperient
Caesalpiniapulcherrima Apr-Scp Cultivatedingardens Asthma,bronchitis,
(L)Sw, ofPakistan anti-pyretic,expectorant,
anti-malarial
CassiaalataL-Senna Oct-Dec Sometimescultivated Laxative,Usefulinsl<.in
alata(L.)Roxb, inPakistan texture
ATHARANDSIDDIQI,MEDICINALPLANTSOFPAKISTAN 363
TAi5Lh1.continued
Species Flowering Distribution MedicinalRemedies
period
CassiafistulaL. Apr--May Naturalizedthroughout Cough,diphtheria,laxative,
Pakistan.Cultivatedin edema
Karachi,Punjab
Cassiasiamealdmk.= Oct--Dec CultivatedinKarachi, Anthelmintic,anti-hyper-
Sennasiamea Sindh tensive,asthma,dandruff,
(Lam.)H.S.Irwin& insomnia,laxative,tranquil-
Barneby izer,sedative
Delonixregia(Bojerex May-Jun PlantedinKarachi, Anthelmintic
Hook.)Raf. Hyderabad,Lahore
TannarlndusindicaL. Feb--Apr GrowninSindh,Punjab, Anti-viralagainstNew
Jehlum,Karachi Castlediseasevirus,
astringentandsedative
Fabaceae{Mimosoideae)
Acacianilotlca(L.)Delile May-Jun Foundcultivatedor Usefulinjaundiceand
wildinSindh,Punjab, palpitations
Baluchistan,NWFP
Alblzlalebbeck(L.)Benth Jul-Oct GrowsinSialkotto Aperient,boils,carbuncle,
Hajara,Bajaur,Malakand antibacterial
Prosopiscineraria{I.) Apr-Jul FoundinSindh, Beneficialagainst
Druce Baluchistan,Punjab(in miscarriage
ThaiandCholistan
deserts)
Fabaceae{PapHionoideae)
Sufeofronc/osoRoxb.= Mar-Apr CultivatedinPunjab, Anti-pyretic,appetizer,
Buteamonospernna NWFP aphrodisiac,bloodpurifier,
(Lam.)Taub. diuretic,tonic,viralhepatitis
Buteamonosperma(Lam.) Mar-Apr CultivatedinPunjab, Astringent,aphrodisiac,
Taub. NWFP boildepurative,diuretic,
gout,anti-leprosyagent
PongamiapinnataL= Apr-May CultivatedinSindh, Flowersareusedin
Miilettiapinnata Punjab diabetes
(L.)Panigrahi
Sesbaniagrandlflora(L) Aug-Mar PlantedinKarachi,Kutch, Flowerjuiceimproves
Pers. Sindh,Punjab vision(aseyedrops)
Sesbaniasesban(L.)Merr, Apr-Nov Foundcultivatedandwild Anti-fertilityactivity
nSindh,Punjab reported
TrifoliumpratenseL. Feb-Apr OccursinChitral,Astor, Anti-asthmatic,anti-
Swat,Hazara spasmodic,bronchitisand
expectorant
Iridaceae
CrocussativusL. Oct Propagatedbybulbin Beneficialforliver,brain,
Baluchistan heart,regulatesthe
menstrualfunction
364 BRIT.ORG/SIDA21(1)
Table1.continued
Species Flowering Distribution MedicinalRemedies
period
Lamiaceae
HyssopusofficinalisL Jun-Sep CultivatedinKashmir, Usedforchestcongestion,
Pangi,UpperChenab flowerteaisexpectorant
Leucasaspera(Willd.)Link Aug-Feb FoundinJammu,Ghal, Anti-tussive,decongestant
Ravi,Chenab,Doab forchildren
Menthalongifolia(L)Muds. Feb-May Commoninhomegardens Carminativeandstimulant
OcimumbasilicumL. Nov-Apr CultivatedinKarachi, Decongestant
Baluchistan,Putajab
PervosliiaabrotanoidesKar. Sep-Oct OccursinBaluchistan, Anti-pyretic
Chitral,Gilgit,Hunza,
Quetta.Ziaral
Linaceae
LinumusitatissimumL Feb-Apr CultivatedinKarach Cardiacandnervetonic
Lythraceae
LawsoniainermisL. Jun FoundinSindh, Anti-pyretic,sedative.
Baluchistan,Purajab soporific
Magnoliaceae
Micheiia(hampacaL Throughout CultivatedinPunjab, Usedindyspepsia,anti-
theyear NWFP pyretic,anti-emetic
Malvaceae
Abutilonindicum(L.) Feb-Mar Widelydistributedin Anti-diarrheal,demulcent
Sweet Karachi,Sindh,lower anli-hemoptysis,sedative
hillsofPunjab anddecongestant
AltliaeaofficinaiisL Jul-Oct GrowsinAzadKashmir, Emollient,demulcent,di-
Peshawar,ICawalpindi uretic,bronchialcatarrh
andrheumatism
GossypiumlierbaceumL. May-Jul Cultivatedasacropin Extractedflowersusedas
PunjabandSindh abortificientandfor
inducingmenstrualflow
f-libiscuscannabinusL Autumn- CultivatedinSindh, Gastritisandpopular
Winter Karachi,Swat,Puniab, laxative
Chitral
Hibiscusrosa-sinensisL. Apr-Sep Grownasornamental Cardiactonic,expectorant,
plantinPunjab,Sindh anti-pyretic,anti-tussive,
decongestant
HibiscussabdariffaL Aug-Sep CultivatedinKarachi Catharticactivity
UrenalobataL. Sep-Dec OccursinLahore,Jehlum, Aphthosis,expectorant,
ChangaManga decongestant
Meliaceae
AzadlrachtaindicaA.Juss Mar-Apr FoundinSindh,southern AcJrenalgicstimulant,dys-
Punjab,lowerBaluchistan pepsia.alsousedinskin
diseases
MeliaazedarachL. Mar-May FoundinSindhand Poulticetorelievehead-
Punjab ache,nervousness
ATHARANDSIDDIQI,MEDICINALPLANTSOFPAKISTAN 365
Table1.continued
Species Flowering Distribution MedicinalRemedies
period
Moringaceae
MoringaoleiferaLam. Feb-Apr CultivatedinRawalpindi, Cholagogue,diuretictonic
plantedinSindh
Musaceae
MusasapientumL.= Feb-Sep CultivatedinSindh, Anti-hypoglycemic
MusaxparadisiacaL. Punjab,NWFP
Myrtaceae
MyrtuscommunisL Apr-Jun WildinBaluchistan, Asanti-septic,disinfectant
NWFP
Nyctaginaceae
MirabilisjalafxiL Nov-Jan FoundinKarachi,NWFP, Anti-hemorrhoidal
Hunza,Gilgit
Nymphaeaceae
NelumbonuciferaGaertn. May-Ju FoundinCharsada, Cardiactonic,diuretic,
Multan,Shahdara anti-pyretic
Oleaceae
JasminumgrandiflorumL Warmseason OccursinPeshawar, Aphrodisiac,astringent,
Karachi carminative,dysentery,
hepatitis,suppressexcess
lactation
Jasminumsambac(L.; Jul-Oct OccursinKarachi,Lahore, Anti-pyretic,cardiactonic,
Alton Islamabad lactifuge
Paeoniaceae
Poeon/aemod/Wall. May-Jun Commoninmoist Anti-diarrheal
exRoyle ground,Kaghan,
Thandiani,Chltral,Bahrin,
Poonch
Papaveraceae
PapaverrhoeasL Jun-Sep Cultivatedingardens Bronchitis,hoarseness,
sedative,sudorific
Passifloraceae
PassifloraincarnataL. Jul-Sep CultivatedinKarachi Asthma,dysentery,insom-
nia,whoopingcough
Pontederiaceae
Eichhorinacrassipes Apr~Jul Occasionallyfound Arthritisandgout
(Mart.)Solms fillingpondsinplains
Punicaceae
PunicagrancitumL May-Jun Commonlygrownin Anti-diarrheal,dysentery,
Quetta,Sibbi,Karachi, bronchitis
Punjab,NWFP
366 BRIT.ORG/SIDA21(1)
Tablf1.continued
Species Flowering Distribution MedicinalRemedies
period
Rosaceae
Eriobotryajaponica Jul-Aug Cultivatedinsub- Flowersareexpectorant
(Thunb.)Lindl. Himalayanzone
RosaxdamascenaMiW. Jan-Jul Cultivatedingardens Anti-HIV,apenent,cardio-
ofPakistan active,liverprotector
RosafoetldaHerrm. Jan-Jul FoundinBaluchistan, Anti-diarrheal
Kurrum,Quetta,Ziarat
Sapotaceae
BassialatifoliaRoxb.= Jul-Aug CultivatedinSindh, Regardedasbronchitis,
MadhucalongifoHa Punjab cooling,cold,anti-tussive,
(L.)J.RMacbr. demulcentandtonic
Scruphulariaceae
VerbascumthapsusL. Jun-Aug ConnmoninChitral, Coughs,diarrhea,febrifuge,
Manschra stimulant,pharyngitis
Solanaceae
DaturametelL. May-Jun Weedyplaces,Karachi Smokeasanti-asthma
Solariumsurattense Jun-Nov ThroughoutPakistan Paresthesia,carminative
Burm.f.=Solarium
virginianumL.
Rubiaceae
IxoracoccineaL. Jul-Jan CultivatedinKarachi Curesores,relieveblood,
ulcers
Tropaeolaceae
TropaeolummagusL. Dec-Feb CultivatedinKarach Naturalanti-biotic
Verbenaceae
Nyctanthesarbor-tnstisL Aug-Ocl NaturalizedinPunjab, Anti-pyretic,faintness,
Rawalpindi,NWFRMardan anti-vertiginous
Vltexriegundoi. Mar-Jun CultivatedinThai,Swat, Cardiotonic,cholera,
Mirpur diarrhea,usefulforliver
disorders
Violaceae
ViolaodorataL, Mar-May NaturalizedinNathiagali. Liverprotector,
Hazara,Kaghan,Swat, decongestant
Chita!
Pakistanhasthepotentialforsustainableutihzationofitsmedicinalflora.
Basicinfrastructurealsoexiststocarryoutresearchanddevelopmentactivi-
tiesinthisfield.Hov^^ever,moreattentionneedstobepaidtothesystematic
propagation,collectionandconservationofmedicinalplants,itisimportant
thatthecountryconsolidatesitsplant-resourcedatabase,explorestheinterna-