The region selected for the present study is in the northern Punjab province of Pakistan, Wazirabad district Gujranwala that is just in the east of the Chenab River. The Chenab River is spanned opposite to Wazirabad by the Alexandra railway bridge. It is located about 108 km (or 174 km) south-east of Islamabad, that is a capital town of the country. Detailed location is shown in in the map Figure 1.

Figure 1: Map of Wazirabad Pakistan.

The world discipline is situated at 31.45 latitude and 74.12 longitudes and at elevation of 235 meters above sea level. Climate of Wazirabad’s is a desert one because there is virtually no rainfall during the year, in Wazirabad. Annually recorded precipitation fall is about 105 mm that is greatest in July with an average of 22 mm and the lowest in October with an average of 2 mm. Difference of precipitation between the driest and wettest months is recorded as 20 mm. The average recorded annual temperature is 27.1°C that rises up to maximum average temperature of 36.1°C in hottest month of June in a year, and falls around 15.2°C in January. The variation in temperatures throughout the year is 20.9°C.

Under sub-humid climate Wazirabad and Pindorian series are formed in these sediments [1]. This thick deposit extends to more than 100 meter depth and forms the unconfined aquifer of the Indus Plain [2].

Wazirabad city is at the border of district Silakot and Gujranwala and known as city of cutlery and surgical instruments. The origin of Wazirabad cutlery industry can be traced back to the invasion of India by Alexander the Great.

Wazirabad was came into being later in 1636 upon construction of first ever residential building of the city namely Musaman Burj or Saman Burj on the bank of Palkhu Nala by a minister of Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan named Hakim Ilm-ud-din, however evidences of settling are also found in 1542 but actually the reign of another. Major dominating families of plants are Apiaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Moraceae and Solanaceae here. Apiaceae family is family of flowering plants consisting of 434 genera including 3780 species [3]. It potential source of natural agrochemicals as well as their biological activities such as radical scavenging, diuretic, gastrointestinal, anti-obesity, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties [4]. Apiaceae extracts contains polyphenolic compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, and phenolic acids [5]. Phenolic compounds can reduce the causes and effects of skin aging, skin diseases and damage such as wounds and burns [6]. In order to validate the ethno-medicinal claims of plants of Apiaceae family many experimental and biological investigations have been made. Chemical composition and the biological activities of essential oils and different extracts of some Apiaceae species, illustrates their potential for the development of pharmaceutical, cosmetic products and other industrial uses also [7].

Moraceae, the mulberry family of the rose order (Rosales), with about 37 genera and some 1,100 species of deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs, distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. Plants of the family contain a milky latex and have alternate or opposite leaves and small, petal less male or female flowers. The fruits of many species are multiple because fruits from different flowers become joined together [8].

The Fabaceae is the most common family consisting of approximately 730 genera and 19.400 species [9] found in tropical rainforests and in dry forests [10]. The Fabaceae or Leguminosae commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, are a large and economically important family of flowering plants. It includes trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants perennials or annuals, which are easily recognized by their fruits (legume) and their compound, stipulated leaves. The group is widely distributed and is the third-largest land plant family in terms of number of species, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species [11-16].

Present survey has been conducted during month of April 2018. During this course of ethno botanical survey random sampling of several local medicine men with major contribution of Hakeem Shakil ur Rehman and Hakeem Muhammad Bashir, the well-known medicine men of the area have been interviewed unstructurally with open ended questions for developing a detailed profile of traditional uses of ethnomedicinal plants species from the test areas. The collected plants numbered properly and identified by consulting literature.

Detailed profile was collected by field work by collecting views of people getting treatment from both these medicine men. Different categories of people including family heads, Charvahas, Gujars, hakims, old experienced and knowledgeable informants were also interviewed repeatedly for sketching the better image of local beliefs, habits and uses of plant.

The Traditional information of 31 plants species are tabulated in terms of their local or primitive names mentioned by local medicine men. Traditional names reported by these individuals were investigated for their English names from search engine named Google Urdu and were identified with given facts and figures in literature. Botanical names were anticipated by consulting experts of Botany available in locality of university as well as from data available in different types of literatures and reviews. Applications of available ethnomedicinal herbarium have been reported by respective spokes of correspondents regarding the use of medicinal plants by the local peoples.

Reported data of this ethnomedicinal study of 31 plants of 21 families among which 15 are used in treatments of different types of stomach disorders, 4 are considered analgesic, 4 in case of different types of ulcers, 6 in various types of cardiovascular issues as well as different diseases like cancer, Insomnia and diabetes. This result has been drawn by reports of significant local medicine men as well as patients availing the expertise of these people. Almost all parts of these enlisted plants in Table 1 are used for local remedies but flowes and fruits are found to be the most useful in this regard. Out of 31 plants 36% plants have significant flowers and fruits in remedial treatment, and 16% use stems as well as 16% use whole plants, 13% use seeds, 10% use leaves, and 6% use roots according to Figure 2.

Ethnomedicinal Plants in Wazirabad Distt Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan

Table 1: Detailed data of ethnomedicinal plants of Wazirabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

Figure 2: Pie chart of various parts of plants in ethnomedicinal applications.

Apiaceae, Fabaceae, Moraceae, Solanaceae and Rhamnaceae families are found the abundant families of the area with considerable % ages. Seeds of family Apiaceae are reported often effective in diarrhoea, fever, menstrual pains, stomach disorders and obesity, roots for breast enlargement and cancer treatment and stem for Insomnia and anti-diabetic. Literature supports some of views about medical significance of these plants too [4]. All the major ethnomedicinal families of Wazirabad, District Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan are shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Percentage profile of major ethnomedicinal families of Wazirabad Dist, Gujranwala, Punjab, Pakistan.

Modern work also supports work of this family for anti-tumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, radical scavenging, diuretic, gastrointestinal and anti-obesity issues. Fruits and flowers of Fabaceae family is found applicable in cases of loss of viscosity of semen, regulation of blood sugar, diarrhoea, control of hair fall, dental disorders, ulcers, chest infections and digestion problems [17]. Seeds, root and fruits of Apiaceae are used in menstrual pains, diarrhoea, fever, insomnia, diabetes, breast enlargement, cancer treatment, stomach disorders and cough.

According to Table 1 Solanaceae family is found useful for mouth ulcer, urinary tract infections and liver complains [18,19]. Ethnomedicinal plants are found effective in a lot of medical issues based over traditional beliefs.

The information generated from the study regarding the medicinal plants used by the local peoples need a through phytochemical and pharmacological analysis, which may be a step ahead towards the new drug development.

Comparison of remedial data of these ethnomedicinal plants with recent studies have provided some supporting evidences of medicinal powers also. Data of few families is provided as supporting material.

The collected information of ethnomedicinal plants of Wazirabad of particular families and genera provide valuable information about medicinal applications of plants. Ethno-botanical names along with details of their common names, botanical names and families could be helpful in new roots of drug development. These botanical facts have significant role in life. Further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations about the medicinal use of the plant may be a footstep in new drug development. The collected data will be helpful for the researchers that will work over that particular fields in order to collect these plants in appropriate time and survey about common plants that will be useful in such type of atmospheric and climate conditions. This is an open invitation for phytochemists and ethnobotanists to discover new mysteries in Wazirabad, Punjab, Pakistan. Medicines developed by studied are expected to be eco-friendly and free from side effects.