Conservation of indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants of Western Himalayan region Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan

The aim of present was to document indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants traditionally used by inhabitants of Rawalakot Azad Kashmir and to screen selected medicinal plants for their antibacterial potential. Several field surveys were conducted to document indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants through interviews from local inhabitants during 2010-2013. During the study, 58 plant species, belonging to 37 families, were identified and their medicinal uses were recorded. Ethnobotanical data indicates that inhabitants of Rawalakot use medicinal plant mainly for the treatment of stomach, liver and sexual disorders. Usually fresh plant materials were used for medicinal preparations and administrated orally. Among all the species studied, three most frequently used medicinal plants Achillea millefolium, Berberis lycium and Zanthoxylum armatum were screened for their antibacterial potential by using disc diffusion method. The crude aqueous, petroleum ether and ethanolic extracts were found to be very active against selected bacterial strains. The present study contributes significantly to the medicinal plant knowledge and shows that medicinal plant knowledge is deteriorating among younger generations. Therefore, further research is needed to document indigenous knowledge, to find conservation status of medicinal plant species and to find antimicrobial compounds for more sophisticated usage of medicinal plants in future

Antimicrobial activities of three species of family mimosaceae

The antimicrobial activities of crude methanolic extract of leaves of Acacia nilotica L., Albizia lebbeck L. and Mimosa himalayana Gamble belonging to family mimosaceae were investigated in this research work. Antibacterial activity was studied by agar well diffusion method against one gram-positive Bacillus subtilis and three gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia. Crude extract of all plants showed best activity against gram-negative bacterial strains while minor inhibition zones were found against gram positive bacterial strains. Antifungal activity of crude plant extract was screened by agar tube dilution method against Aspergillus nigar and Aspergillus flavus. These results showed that these plants extracts have potential against bacterias, while against fungi their activity is not much effective

Ethnobotanical study of some cultivated plants of Chhuchh region [District Attock]

The paper is based on the results of an ethnobotanical research project conducted in the area of Chhuchh, district Attock [Pakistan] during March-May 2000. The region is the most fertile area of Attock district with very gentle slope. There is no mountain range in this area. The remote villages of the area have been rarely visited by the botanists, hence ethnobotanical information is quite meagre. The inhabitants of the area have always used cultivated plants for various medicinal purposes and have for a long time been dependent on the surrounding plant resources for their food, shelter, fodder, ornamental, fuel, health care etc. This study mainly focuses on the information regarding traditional uses of plants for medicinal as well as other purposes by the local inhabitants. A total number of 30 cultivated plant species belonging to 26 genera of 17 Angiospermic families are used by local inhabitants for medicinal, shelter, food, ornamental, fuel and fodder purposes

exploration of organic matter status, fertilizer elements from Balochistan in Pakistan

Extensive studies have been carried out to assess the organic matter status of soil in different soil types in Balochistan for the provision of guidelines to farmers and researches for better crop production. Different soil types of the area were collected, analyzed and classified for organic matter, pH, and density, hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur and nitrogen contents. Organic matter is essentially required for plant growth but its contents vary in different soil types. By looking at the table it is clear that the nitrogen is higher in sandstone [0.90%] with weak acidic condition [6.90%]. Sulphur contents are higher in sandy limestone [1.0%] while minimum in limestone [0.00%]. Oxygen contents are higher in sandstone [18%], which is considered to be suitable for plant growth as it has low conductivity and weak acidic pH. Organic contents are higher in shale stone. Fertilizer recommendations were advised to the famers according to soil conditions

Studies on phytochemical properties, medicinal uses and economic value of jatropha curcas linn.

Jatropha curcas Linn. is an economically important plant, its seeds oil is used as fuel. The plant is recommended as a remedy for various ailments used by the tribal people and the villagers for thousands of years. Many researchers have focused on the scientific facts, behind the usage in traditional and modern medicine system and economic importance of its seed oil used as commercial sources of the fuel. The present study is a comprehensive review of its utility in the light of contemporary research and information collected from the local people

Checklist of plants of Bhogarmang, Siran, Valley, N. W. F. P., Pakistan

This checklist is an attempt to accumulate the taxonomical nomenclatural, ecological, economical and ethnobotanical information on 232 species of plants cited from the north-western areas of N.W.F.P., Pakistan. Species names are listed with synonyms and distribution of localities