Traditional practices of the ethnoveterinary plants in the Kaghan Valley, Western Himalayas-Pakistan / Prácticas tradicionales etnoveterinarias de las plantas en el valle de Kaghan, Himalaya occidental Pakistán

Introduction: Indigenous people in a far-flung mountainous area without basic facilities, mainly rely on medicinal plants to cope with various veterinary health problems. Objective: The present study was carried out to explore the traditional knowledge of ethnoveterinary practices in Kaghan Valley, district Mansehra, Western Himalayas-Pakistan. Method: Ethnoveterinary data were collected between February to October 2014 from nine villages of the Kaghan Valley by involving 80 local people include traditional healers using a semi-structured interview. Results: A sum of 41 plant taxa of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants was documented for treating livestock ailments. Out of which, herbaceous plants were recorded with high percentage (27 species, 65.8 %). Most of the species were used to treat gastrointestinal diseases (12 taxa), followed by health improvement (7 taxa). The widely used part of plants for livestock aliments was the whole plant (9 species) followed by leaves (7 species), and preparation were paste (18 species) followed by powder with 10 species. The highest used values were recorded for Arisaema costatum (0.82), Primula denticulata (0.76), and high relative frequency citations for Berberis lyceum and Dryopteris ramosa with 0.37 each. Among the plant species Skimmia laureola, Thymus linearis and Phytolacca latbenia were among the taxa with cent fidelity level. Conclusion: The flora used in traditional remedies of the valley was found mostly endemic due to excessive utilization. Thus, further chemical investigation, better utilization and conservation of indigenous use of the reported species should be considered for future work.

Introducción: Los pueblos indígenas de zonas montañosas lejanas sin facilidades básicas dependen principalmente de las plantas medicinales para afrontar problemas de salud de tipo veterinario. Objetivo: Explorar el conocimiento tradicional en las prácticas etnoveterinarias en el valle de Kaghan, distrito de Mansehra, Himalaya occidental-Pakistán. Métodos: Se recopilaron datos etnoveterinarios mediante una entrevista semiestructurada entre febrero y octubre de 2014 en nueve aldeas del valle de Kaghan, con la participación de 80 habitantes locales, incluidos curanderos tradicionales. Resultados: Se documentó un total de 41 taxones de plantas medicinales etnoveterinarias para el tratamiento de enfermedades del ganado. Se registró un alto porcentaje de plantas herbáceas (27 especies, 65.8 %). La mayoría de las especies utilizadas han sido para tratar enfermedades gastrointestinales (12 taxones), y mejora de la salud (7 taxones). Para el tratamiento de enfermedades del ganado, lo más usual fue utilizar la planta entera (9 especies), seguida de las hojas (7 especies), con preparación en pasta (18 especies) y en polvo (10 especies). Las especies registradas con más uso fueron: Arisaema costatum (0.82), Primula denticulata (0.76) y Berberis lyceum y Dryopteris ramosa con la misma alta frecuencia relativa (0.37 cada una). Las especies Skimmia laureola, Thymus linearis y Phytolacca latbenia se reportaron entre los taxones con mayor nivel de fidelidad porcentual. Conclusión: La flora utilizada en los remedios tradicionales del valle de Kaghan fue mayoritariamente endémica. Se propone para trabajos futuros mayor investigación química, y mayor utilización y conservación en las especies de plantas reportadas por los indígenas.

Micro-morphology of Achillea clypeolata: contribution to the pharmacognostical profile.

Achillea clypeolata Sibth. & Sm. is Balkan endemic species, commonly known as yellow yarrow and traditionally used in Bulgarian folk medicine. The purpose of this study was to establish pharmacognostical profile of A. clypeolata, including macroscopic and microscopic morphological characteristics. The study also aims to propose a method for micromorphological investigation and pharmacognostical identification. As a result were established morphological characters necessary for identification of Achilleae clypeolatae flos and Achilleae clypeolatae herba – morphology of stem leaves (lanceolate in shape, pinnately lobed-margin, acute-apex with lamina), ligule petals (2.7-3 mm), involucre bracts (4.5x2 mm) and achenes (1.5-1.7 mm); micromorphology of lamina (110-130 μm), epidermal cells, stomata, glandular, non-glandular trichomes and 3-colporate, echinate pollen grains (20.5-20.8 μm). This study presents new micromorphological data. The used staining method dyed various tissues; makes visible the outlines of structures, tissues and some inclusions; allows by one procedure to visualize important diagnostic features; unlike many other methods, allowing pollen to be used as a characteristic of herbal substances. The results are useful for quality control methods for medicinal plant materials and contributes to the implementation of good practices for plant identification for the herbal industry, food, nutrient supplements and other plant based products.