ETHNOMEDICINAL USES OF PLANTS BY THE PEOPLE OF KADHI AREAS OF KHUSHAB, PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

The present research work was designed to gather indigenous knowledge of medicinal plant species, which are being utilized by the local inhabitants of arid (Kadhi) areas of Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan. A total of 48 plant species belonging to 45 genera and 32 families have been recorded which are being used for treating 45 different diseases/ailments during February-March, 2010. Most of the species (10 spp., 6.71%) were used for treating digestive ailments i.e. constipation and flatulence, followed by jaundice (9 spp., 6.04%), abdominal worms & blood purifier (7 spp., 4.70% each), whereas, 6 species were used as antilice, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and tonic, 5 species were used for treating acidity, flue and skin allergy. Fruits of plants were highly employed for the preparation of indigenous recipes (24.04%), followed by leaves (23.08%), seeds (11.54%), whole plant (10.85%) and roots (8.65%), while remaining nine parts were occasionally used.