TAXO-ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITIES OF SELECTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF DIR KOHISTAN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA PAKISTAN

Abstract

The study was carried out in Dir Kohistan Valley; district Dir Upper of the Province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, to explore the flora of Taxo-ethnobotanical potential and estimation of Antimicrobial activities of selected medicinal plants of the area. It is the first attempt to document the Taxo-ethnobotanical survey in the selected area. About 458 angiosperm species were recorded, which consists of 98 families and 291 genera. The study was also extended to the flora of Gymnosperm which is represented by 3 families with 11 species of 8 genera, among them 9 species is indigenous and 2 species were exotic in the study area. A total of 469 species of both Angiosperms and Gymnosperms were collected. The ethnobotanical study identified that these species are for 46 different uses. The major uses of 144 plant species were calculated. Among them 94 plants were used as medicine; 50 fodder; 35 fuel wood, wild fruits and hay fodder, 20 species each, 19 pot herb; 18 fence, furniture and utensils, 11 species each, shade tree, ornamental, hedge plant and agricultural tools, 10 species each, 9 soil binder, construction, packing/ roping and poison, 7 species each, wind break, spice/flavoring agent, 6 species each, dye and fish poison 4 species each, bee attractants, smoking medicine, stick/handles, cushion plant, miswak, green pesticide, graveyard things, Incense/perfume and beverage 3 species each, wood carving, fishing checks, snuff ash, dry fruits, timber, soil reclamation and soil fertilizer 2 species each, torch wood, Ink, paper, granary/basketry, beads, resin, root stock, charcoal and brooms 01 species each of herbs, shrubs and trees in nature. The part used data shows that mostly the whole plant, leaves, fruit, roots and stem were in common use. After the extensive ethnobotanical survey, 25 plants were selected for anti-bacterial investigation, due to the reason that the local people commonly used these plants for various ailments. Out of 25 selected plants 13 showed anti-bacterial activity, while the remaining 12 were inactiveX against bacteria. There are some high valued medicinal plants species like Taxus wallichiana, Aconitum heterophyllum, Pinus gerardiana, Betula utilis and some other ethnobotanically important plants species which are near to extinction, because of various types of risk. It is required to conserve their germplasm in the area, to protect these valuable plants.