title: Ethnopharmacological documentation of medicinal plants used for hypertension among the local communities of DIR Lower, Pakistan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Local communities of the Dir Lower district in Northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan rely on botanical anti-hypertensive preparations. Insights into the traditional uses of local flora can direct investigation into phytochemical screening.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This ethnobotanical study aims to identify plant species and recipes used by the local people for the treatment of hypertension in the district of Dir Lower.
  
  
  METHODS
  Inquiries and interviews were carried out from November 2012 to December 2013 from local herbalist and indigenous communities including village elders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 46 plant species (43 genera and 29 botanical families) used by local people of study area to treat hypertension. Family Lamiaceae dominated with the highest percentage 15.21% (7 species). With respect to growth form, herbs constituted (63.05%), shrubs (30.43%) and trees (6.52%). Leaves (37.25%) were the most frequently used part in herbal preparations. The major mode of preparation was decoction (46.66%) and almost all recipes were orally administered. Use values (UV) revealed that the most preferred species for the treatment of hypertension by the indigenous community are Paeonia emodi Wall. ex Royle., followed by Sarcococca saligna (D. Don) Muell. Arg., Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley and Teucrium stocksianum Boiss. Amongst the 46 medicinal plants, antihypertensive activity of 16 plants included Artemisia vulgiris L., Artemisia annua L., Sisymbrium brassiciforme C. A. Mey., T. stocksianum Boiss, Cichorium intybus L., Rosa brunonii Lindl., Chenopodium botrys L., Olea ferruginea Royle, Cotoneaster acuminatus Lindl, S. saligna (D. Don) Muell. Arg., Viola canescens Wall. ex Roxb, P. emodi Wall. ex Royle, Asparagus gracilis Royle, Maytenus royleanus (Wall. ex Lawson), Allium jacquemontii Kunth and Onosma hispidum Wall has not been reported previously in the scientific literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dir lower is a rich and biodiverse area of medicinal plant. The large number of plant species used for hypertension in this area shows the importance of herbal medicine in the primary health care of this remote area. In future studies, the plant should be further screened for phytochemical and new medicinal properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan. Electronic address: latifkhan1989@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Latif
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Ezcurra Lab, University of California, Riverside 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, United States.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Semotiuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zafar
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mushtaq
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Shazia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
authors.forename: Quan-Ru
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Pukhtoon
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Zada
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sheikh Zain
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Ul Abidin
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ghulam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yaseen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Dir lower; Ethnopharmacology; Hypertension; Medicinal plants; Survey