Impact of Medicinal Plants on Human Health in Yaseen Valley.

The Yasin Valley, Tehsil Yasin or Babaye-i-Yasen or Worshigum is a high mountain valley in the Hindukush Mountains, in the northwest region of Gilgit in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.

Plants having active constituents are used to treat various ailments in both human and animal. In most instances, certain medicinal plant species are considered specific for a particular illness but occasionally they have mixed usage. 

Women, followed by children, are identified as the principal collectors of medicinal plants. Due to over-exploitation, several species have gone extinct in the Hindukush-Himalayan regions. 

Local collectors, vendors, herbal drug dealers and others are the ones who threaten the flora of Pakistan contribute to the extinction of some and bringing others to the brink of extinction.

 Though medicinal plants from the wild are an important source of income for local communities, but if not properly managed, this may lead to the destruction of habitat and in return extinction of species.

A medicinal  plant is any plant in which, one or more of its organs contain substances that can be used for the therapeutic purpose or which is a precursor for the synthesis of useful drugs.

 The plants that possess therapeutic properties or exert beneficial pharmacological effects on the animal body are generally designated as “Medicinal Plants”. Although there are no apparent morphological characteristics in the medicinal plants growing with them, yet they possess some special qualities or virtues that make them medicinally important.

Plants have been a source of medicine and a major resource for health care since ancient times, with some traditional herbal medicines in use for more than 2,000 years. The modern pharmaceutical industry is paying more attention to plants as scientists re-discover that plant life is an almost infinite resource for medicine development. 

One-fourth of modern medicines available on prescription today owe their origins of raw material to higher plants of tropical forests. Out of these, seventy-four per cent are derived from plants that have some use in traditional herbal medicine.

 Increasing emphasis on the use of medicinal plants in searching for new drugs is undoubtedly a productive strategy.

The majority of the developing countries depend on traditional medicinal plants for their healthcare. This global utilization of medicinal plants has considerably increased in the last two decades.

 In developing countries leaning to and favouring traditional medicinal plants are mainly due to inaccessibility of the modern medical system, economic and cultural factors.

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbology and phytotherapy. 

Traditional use of medicines is recognized as a way to learn about potential future medicines. In 2001, researchers identified 122 compounds used in mainstream medicine which were derived from “ethnomedical” plant sources; eighty per cent of these compounds where used in the same or related manner as the traditional ethnomedical use.

Many plants synthesize substances that are useful to the maintenance of health in humans and other animals. These include aromatic substances, most of which are phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives such as tannins.

 Many of the herbs and spices used by humans to season food yield are useful medicinal compounds. Similarly, to prescription drugs, a number of herbs are thought to be likely to cause adverse effects. Furthermore, “adulteration, inappropriate formulation or lack of understanding of plant and drug interactions have led to adverse reactions that are sometimes life-threatening or lethal.

 In addition to the use in the developing world, herbal medicine is used in industrialized nations by alternative medicine practitioners such as naturopaths. A survey of herbalists in the UK found that many of the herbs recommended by them were used traditionally but had not been evaluated in clinical trials.

 The use of, and search for, drugs and dietary supplements derived from plants have accelerated in recent years.

The data collected through interviews with local peoples indicate that these species are mostly used in fever, cough, asthma, stomach and abdominal disorders, Malaria, Cancer, Heart disease and blood pressure etc.

 It is interesting to note that most of these plants were Dicots while Monocots and Gymnosperms constitute only a minor fraction of them. The most important family was Compositae containing 3 species. 

This was followed by Labiatae and Apiaceae with 2 species then remaining families consist of one species each. The listed plants are grouped under Gymnosperms, Monocots and Dicots.

 Families and species within them are arranged alphabetically. Local names and uses are provided for each species.

There was little evidence of this knowledge being transmitted to successive generations except to specific individuals interested in preserving their traditions. Knowledge of the uses of these plants probably will continue to dwindle because of the availability of modern medicines and other facilities.

 Despite the availability of wild medicinal plants, there is a significant reduction in their use. Of these herbaceous plants identified as having some medicinal uses, about fifty per cent are not used nowadays.

Recent journal on Herbal medicine 

Medicinal plant impact on human health
Medicinal plant impact on human health 
The medicinal plant, human health and biodiversity 

These plants are mostly medicinal and edible for which modern substitutes are now available. In short, it would appear that the people have a concept of wild plant species with active constituents that are useful for medicinal and edible purposes but prefer to depend upon few cultivated species.

1: Family Name:                    Cuprassaceae        

Botanical Name:                     Juniperus excelsa

Local Name:                           Gal

Common Name:                      Juniper

Part Used:                               Seeds
Medicinal Uses:
Used to avoid backache and as a tonic. Also used as antiseptic.

2: Family Name:                    Ephedraceae

Botanical Name:                     Ephedra gerardiana

Local Name:                           Sopating

Common Name:                      Asmani buti

Part Used:                               Whole plant is used

Medicinal Uses:

Plant is used to cure lumbago, edema, as a skin whitening agent and also used in toothache. It is highly beneficial in the treatment of asthma.

3: Family Name:            Alliaceae

Botanical Name:              Allium sativum

Local Name:                   Oojno              

Common Name:            Lehsan

Habitat:                         Cultivated          

Part Used:                 Bulbs are used

Medicinal Uses:

Used as antibacterial and antiviral. It is used to prevent heart diseases, high blood pressure and cancer. It has also some beneficial properties, such as preventing and fighting the common cold.

4: Family Name:                    Alliaceae

Botanical Name:                     Allium victorealis

Local Nam:                             Khasht             

Habitat:                                   Herb

Part Used:                               Aerial parts are used

Medicinal Uses:

Used in joints pain, to relieve backache and in stomach disorders.

5: Family Name:                   Apiaceae

Botanical Name:                     Carum carvi

Local Name:                           Hojoj

Common Name:                      Zeera/Carum

Part Used:                               Seeds

Medicinal Uses:

Used in abdominal pain, dyspepsia, indigestion and also a flavouring agent.

 6: Family Name:                    Apiaceae

Botanical Name:                     Coriandrum sativum (L.)

Local Name:                           Thawon

Common Name:                      Coriander/ Dhanya

Part Used:                               Leaves and fruits are used

Medicinal Uses:

Generally used in gastro-intestinal complains such as dyspepsia and vomiting. Also used as a flavouring agent, condiment and for removal of placenta after delivery.

7: Family Name:                    Boraginaceae

Botanical Name:                     Onosma hispada

Local Name:                           Paisuk

Part Used:                               Root

Medicinal Uses:

It is used to cure a headache. By bringing it in powder form it is mixed with hair oil for hair growth. It is also used in typhoid and pneumonia.

8: Family Name:                      Capparidaceae

Botanical Name:                         Capaparis spinosa

Local Name:                               Chopur

Common Name:                         Caper-bush

Part Used:                                  Unexpended floral buds and fruits are used.

Medicinal Uses:

Unexpended floral buds and fruits (chantique) are used in typhoid, Malaria, to lower the blood pressure and as a Vegetable.

9: Family Name:                   Compositae

Botanical Name:                     Artemisia brevifoilum

Local Name:                          Muing

Part Used:                               Whole plant is used

Medicinal Uses:  

It prevents abdominal pain. Also used as a germicide.

10: Family Name:                  Compositae

Botanical Name:                     Artemisia gmelnii

Local Name:                           Qaqashu

Part used:                                Aerial parts and seeds are used

Medicinal uses:

Used in Asthma, cough and stomach pain. It is also believed that its seeds can increase memory.

11: Family Name:                  Compositeae

Botanical Name:                     Carthamus tinctotis (L.)

Local Name:                           Pong`

Common Name:                      Pong

Part Used:                               Seeds

Medicinal Uses:

Used for flu, coughing, fever, joint pain and for worms treatment.

 12: Family Name:                     Elaeagnaceae

Botanical Name:                         Hippophae rhamnoides (L)

Local Name:                                Buroo

Common Name:                         sea-buckthorn

Part Used:                                    Fruits are used.

Medicinal Uses:

Oil is extracted from the fruits of sea buckthorn and used in the treatment of cardiac disorders, Irritated eyes and to cure certain types of cancer.

13: Family Name:                  Labiatae

Botanical Name:                     Ocimum basilicum

Local Name:                           Gass malli

Part Used:                               Seeds are used

Medicinal Uses:

Seed are used for eyes and in powder form used as a skin whitening agent, also used as

 flavouring agent.

14: Family Name:                  Labiatae

Botanical Name:                     Thymus linearis (L.)

Local Name:                           Tumur

Part Used:                               Leaves and Branches

Medicinal Uses:  

Use to treat scabies and influenza, also used to lose weight or to control obesity.

15: Family Name:                Papilionaceae

Botanical Name:                    Medicago Sativa

Local Name:                           Ishpiting

Common Name:                     Alfa Alfa

Part Used:                                Aerial parts are used.

Medicinal Uses:

Used against constipation and also as a vegetable.

16: Family Name:                  Saxifragaceae

Botanical Name:                     Bergenia stracheyi (Eng.)

Local Name:                           Ghisapur

Part Used:                               Roots

Medicinal Uses:

Used in wheals, muscular pain, toothache and also in certain eye diseases.

17: Family Name:                  Solanaceae

Botanical Name:                     Hyoscymus nigram (L.)

Local Name:                           Bang-e-Diwana

Common Name:                      Ajowan Khurasani

Part Used:                               Leaves and seeds are used.

Medicinal Uses:
Leaves are antiseptic, sedative narcotic, mydriatic, employed in irritable conditions and nervous affections. Seeds are used in asthma and whooping cough.

18: Family Name:                  Zygophylaceae

Botanical Name:                     Peganum hermala (L.)

Local Name:                           Ispandur

Common Name:                      Wild rue, Syrian rue

Part Used:                               Whole plant is used

Medicinal Uses: Main use is to cure abdominal worms. The smoke of the plant is commonly used in the area as a disinfectant & is believed to keep off flies and mosquitoes. The plant is also considered as devil repellant and against evil eyes