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MEDICINAL WILD PLANTS FROM LAHORE-ISLAMABAD MOTORWAY (M-2)

*SHEIKH SAEED AHMAD

Abstract: Wild plant gathering is an ancient tradition that has endured in many rural communities in Pakistan.  In order to understand the pattern and uses of medicinal plants available in the first ever constructed motorway of the country, passing through three major geographical patterns of Punjab, Pakistan, this study was undertaken through literature survey and fieldworks. In the recent times, the practice of herbal medicine is diminishing. Thus in the way of revitalization of traditional herbal medicines, it is an effort to record the valuable ethno-botanical and ethno-medicinal knowledge. Semi-structured interviews were carried out in order to examine the present use of wild medicinal plants growing in and around Lahore-Islamabad motorway. The research process comprises a total of 81 plants belonging 44 families which have been recorded for their medicinal uses like fever, skin diseases, snakebite, jaundice, dysentery etc. Momordica balsamina, Evalvalvulus alsinoides, Salvadora oleoides are vulnerable plants in the area. Azadirecta indica, Fagonia eritica, Pegonia hermala are recommended for further cultivation and propagation in the surrounding area of motorway.

Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan