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Pak. J. Bot., 47(SI): 187-192, 2015.

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PHARMACOGNOSTIC AND ETHNOMEDICINAL STUDIES ON

TRILLIUM GOVANIANUM

SHAFIQ UR RAHMAN^{1, 2*}, MUHAMMAD ISMAIL², MUHAMMAD KHURRAM¹ AND INAM UL HAQ³

¹Department of Pharmacy, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sheringal, Dir (U), Pakistan

²Department of Pharmacy, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

³Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan

^*Corresponding author’s e-mail: shafiq_pharma01@yahoo.com

Abstract: Trillium govanianum belongs to the family Trilliaceae and is mainly distributed in Asia, from Pakistan to Bhutan. In traditional system of medicine, T. govanianum rhizome is used in conditions like dysentery, wound healing, menstrual and sexual disorders. In this research work the pharmacognostic evaluation i.e macroscopic, microscopic and physicochemical characteristics of the T. govanianum rhizome is presented. Moreover ethnomedicinal study through questionnaire was carried out in four districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in order to explore the availability and potential traditional uses of this valuable medicinal plant. The microscopic examination confirmed the presence of cortex cells, carinal canal, starch grains, trichomes, sclerids and abundant calcium oxalate crystals. Total ash and acid soluble ash determined was 12.5% and 2.4 % w/w respectively. Extractive values decreased in percent (w/w) from polar to non-polar solvents. Ethnomedicinal studies showed that the rhizome was abundantly available in District Dir and Swat Kohistan as compared to Shangla and Buner. Furthermore majority of the informants of these districts were unaware of the medicinal use, though a small percent of the informants (Hakims and local elderly people) confirmed the use of rhizome in cancer, sexual disorder, infectious diseases, and kidney problems. These pharmacognostic findings are particularly helpful in establishing parameters for standardization, recognition of adulteration and identification of T. govanianum rhizome. To best of our knowledge, the pharmacognostic profile and some of the ethnomedicinal uses of this plant specie is herein reported for the first time.

Keywords: Pharmacognostic, T. govanianum, Microscopy, Ethnomedicinal