ETHNOPHYTOMEDICINES FOR TREATMENT OF VARIOUS DIEASES IN D. I. KHAN DISTRICT

This paper is based on the results of an ethnomedicinal research work conducted in Dera Ismail Khan (D.I.Khan) district, NWFP, Province (Pakistan) during May 2005 - March 2006. The study was focused for documentation of traditional knowledge of local people about use of native medicinal plants as ethnomedicines. The method followed for documentation of indigenous knowledge was based on questionnaire. The interviews were held in local community, to investigate local people and knowledgeable persons, who are the main user of medicinal plants. The ethnomedicinal data of 35 plant species, belonging to 29 genera of 23 Angiospermic families, were recorded during field trips of the area. Among them the 4 families belong to monocot and 19 families are of dicot. These indigenous plants were used as traditional phytotherapies for the control and treatment of various diseases. About 51 traditional phytotherapies were investigated from the inhabitants of the area. Information regarding their botanical name, vernacular name, family, local distribution, parts used, method of use and used for, are listed in the Table. Plant specimens were collected, identified, preserved, mounted and vouchers were deposited in the Department of Botany, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad for future references