CONSERVATION ISSUES OF MEDICINAL PLANTS OF ZEWAR VALLEY UPPER CHITRAL, HINDUKUSH RANGE PAKISTAN

Local knowledge regarding 42 medicinal species belonging to 26 families and 38 genera were documented, among them 38 species were angiosperm and 2 were gymnosperm. Asteraceae with 6 species was leading, followed by Chenopodiaceae with five (5) and Rosaceae with four (4) species. The study revealed that 85 various ailments are cured by using indigenous knowledge regarding these 42 species. It is noted that stomach diseases are cured by 11 species, skin diseases are cured by 10 and 6 species are used as blood purifier. Some species have multiple uses i.e. Ferula narthex is used for asthma, as cardio tonic, in cough, diarrhea, gastric troubles, malaria and tooth ache. Capparis spinosa is used as sun block, stomachache, in abdominal pain, typhoid, malaria, in jaundice, as face pack and in joint diseases. In majority of cases decoction is used and roots are also used for preparation of remedies. The stem, leaves, bark, latex and rhizome of various species are also used for this purpose. The plants in the entire valley are under severe threat due to anthropogenic activities, deforestation, medicinal uses, over exploitation, over grazing, over harvesting, soil erosion and unscientific collection. Significant decrease in number of medicinal plants has been noticed in the recent past and it is feared that this will ultimately lead to loss of many important medicinal plants and will destabilize ecosystem, which will ultimately leads to genetic erosion. All these species are growing in the wild except Populus nigra and Salix iliensis. The present study is designed to provide base line information for further research, conservation and sustainable utilization of the plants growing in the valley and remedies practiced by the local inhabitants in the isolated region of the country for improvement of their livelihood.