Traditional Therapeutic Uses of Medicinal Plants among the People of Rustam Region, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Traditional medicinal Uses of Plants of Rustam, Mardan

Abstract

The present study documents the indigenous knowledge of plant resources in Qamarabad, Rustam, District Mardan. A total of 64 plant species, belonging to 38 families, are recorded, including 40 herbs, 3 shrubs, 21 trees, and 4 climbers. The utilized plant parts varied from leaves, roots, stems, tubers, fruits, seeds, bulbs, gum, and the whole plant. The most represented families are Mimosaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, and Solanaceae, among others. These plants are traditionally used to treat various health conditions such as diarrhea, diabetes, jaundice, backache, stomach problems, cough, asthma, and skin diseases. In addition to their medicinal uses, many plants served as sources of fuel, fodder, timber, and furniture. The economic significance of these medicinal plants is also highlighted.