Ethnomedicinal uses of plants for blood purification in disitrict Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

The present study represents the first ethnobotanical study to record the indigenous
knowledge of district Swabi about the use of sixty-six medicinal plants for blood purification.
ABSTRACT Medicinal plants act as a very important and accessible source of blood purification in the rural
communities of district Swabi, Pakistan. Current study represents the first ethnobotanical study of district
Swabi to keep the record of medicinal plants to be used as blood purification. Approximately, 190 informants
including local people (88.95%) and local health practitioners (LHPs) (11.5%) were interviewed for ethnomedicinal data documentations using semi structured interviews. Quantitative ethno botanical indices like
frequency citation (FC), relative frequency citation and family importance value (FIV) were used to analyze
the data. Total 66 medicinal plants belonging to 41 families and 63 different genera have been reported as
blood purifying plants. Results indicated that Zygophyllaceae, Asteraceae and Solanaceae are families with
more number of species (each have 4 sub-species), herbs were documented as dominant life form (71%).
Relative frequency citation value ranges from 0.11- 0.95 in the current study. Azadirachta indica A. Juss.,
Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley, Cuscuta reflexa Roxb, Mimosa pudica Mill. and Melia azedarach are the
mostly cited blood purifying plant species. Approximately 50 plant species were reported as blood purifying
plant in district Swabi. The ethnobotanical information demonstrated in this study to be useful for a high level
of diversity of medicinal plants. The study disclosed the popular knowledge of medicinal plants and their use
for blood purification which is still alive in the study area. New medicinal plants reported will provide new
research topics for chemical and activity studies.