Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
An account of the botanical anthelmintics used in traditional veterinary practices in Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan.
- Journal:
- Journal of ethnopharmacology
- Year:
- 2008
- Authors:
- Hussain, Altaf et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology
Plain-English summary
This study looked at the use of plants to treat worm infections in animals by traditional healers in the Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan. Researchers interviewed 331 traditional veterinary healers over two years and found 49 different recipes using 41 plant species. The most commonly used plants were Brassica campestris and Mallotus philippinensis, with leaves being the most frequently used part of the plants. Interestingly, nearly half of the plants listed were reported for the first time as traditional worm treatments in Pakistan. The findings suggest that these plants could be promising candidates for further research into their effectiveness as worm treatments in animals.
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was aimed at documentation of botanical anthelmintics used in the traditional veterinary practices in Sahiwal district of Punjab, Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In rapid rural appraisal, 331 traditional veterinary healers (TVH) were identified as key respondents in the study area followed by participatory rural appraisal for data collection using a well-structured questionnaire. Information was collected through interviews, focused group discussions and field visits over a period of 2 years. RESULTS: A total of 49 traditional recipes, with 41 plant species representing 39 genera and 27 families, were recorded for the treatment of helminthosis in animals. Most frequently used plants (> or = 5 times) were Brassica campestris L. and Mallotus philippinensis (Lam.) Muell.-Arg. and most frequently used families (> or = 5 times) were Brassicaceae, Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae. Most frequently used part of the plant was leaves (n=10) followed in order by seeds (n=9), whole fruit (n=5), aerial parts and whole plant (n=4), fruit (n=3), bulb (n=2) and bark, rhizome, stem, stem plus root and twigs (n=1). Five recipes out of 49 (10.2%) contained more than one plant species and rest 44 (89.8%) contained single plant species. CONCLUSIONS: Twenty out of 41 plants (48.78%) are reported for the first time for their traditional use as anthelmintics in Pakistan. Further studies on pharmacokinetics using scientific procedures may prove these plants as promising candidates for their future use as anthelmintics.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18657602/