Medicinal uses of honey [Quranic medicine] and its bee flora from Dera Ismail Khan District, KPK, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out during 2005-2008 to identify existing plant species visited by workers of honeybees for nectar and pollen collection in Dera Ismail Khan [D.I.Khan] District, Pakistan. The honeybee species investigated in the area were, rock bee [Apis dorsata F.], little bee [A. florea F.] and European honeybee [A. mellifera L.]. A detailed list of 86 plant species both wild and cultivated was prepared, out of which 12 species, Phulai [Acacia modesta Wall.], Sarsoon [Brassica campestris L.], Kaghzi nimboo [Citrus aurantifolia L.], Khatta [C. medica L.], Malta [C. sinensis [L.] Osbeck.], Shisham [Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.], Date [Phoenix dactylifera L.], Barseen [Trifolium alexandrianum L.], Shaftal [T. resupinatum L], Makai [Zea mays L.], Ber [Zizyphus mauritiana Lam.] and Jher beri [Z. numularia [Burm. f.] Wight and Arn.,] were found as major sources [table 1] for the production of surplus honey in a year at different localities in the District. Among the minor sources various plant species were included [table 2]. These plants fill the flowering gaps between the major sources in various parts of the year and help in continuous supply of food to honey bees