1
|
Hassan M, Mir TA, Jan M, Amjad MS, Aziz MA, Pieroni A, Vitasović-Kosić I, Bussmann RW. Foraging for the future: traditional culinary uses of wild plants in the Western Himalayas-Kashmir Valley (India). JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2024; 20:66. [PMID: 39003490 PMCID: PMC11245826 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00707-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the intricate tapestry of food security, wild food species stand as pillars, nourishing millions in low-income communities, and reflecting the resilience and adaptability of human societies. Their significance extends beyond mere sustenance, intertwining with cultural traditions and local knowledge systems, underscoring the importance of preserving biodiversity and traditional practices for sustainable livelihoods. METHODS The present study, conducted between February 2022 and August 2023 along the Line of Control in India's Kashmir Valley, employed a rigorous data collection encompassing semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and specific field observations facilitated through a snowball sampling technique. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The comprehensive inventory includes 108 edible plant and fungal species from 48 taxonomic families, with Rosaceae (N = 11) standing out. Young and soft leaves (N = 60) are an important component of various culinary preparations, with vegetables (N = 65) being the main use, followed by fruits (N = 19). This use is seasonal, with collection peaks in March-April and June-August (N = 12). The study also highlights the importance of use value (UV), with Portulaca oleracea standing out as the plant taxon (UV = 0.61), while Asyneuma thomsoni has the lowest use value (UV = 0.15). Many species such as Senecio chrysanthemoides, Asperugo procumbens, Asyneuma thomsoni, and Potentilla nepalensis were classified as new for gastronomic use. Furthermore, the study underlines the great cultural importance of mushrooms such as Morchella esculenta and Geopora arenicola in influencing social hierarchies within the community. However, the transmission of traditional knowledge across generations is declining in the region. At the same time, the conservation of endangered plant species on the IUCN Red List, such as Trillium govanianum, Taxus wallichiana, Saussurea costus, and Podophyllum hexandrum, requires immediate attention. CONCLUSION Conservation measures should be prioritized, and proactive remedial action is needed. Further research into the nutritional value of these edible species could pave the way for their commercial cultivation, which would mean potential economic growth for local communities, make an important contribution to food security in the area under study, and contribute to scientific progress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Musheerul Hassan
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, 0105, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Alpine Institute of Management and Technology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
| | - Tawseef Ahmad Mir
- Centre of Research for Ethnobotany, Government Model Science College, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, 474009, India
- Faculty of Botany and Forestry, BFIT Group of Institutions, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
- IUCN, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Muatasim Jan
- Centre of Research for Ethnobotany, Government Model Science College, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, 474009, India
- Faculty of Botany and Forestry, BFIT Group of Institutions, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248007, India
- IUCN, Gland, Switzerland
| | - Muhammad Shoaib Amjad
- Department of Botany, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bagh, Bagh, 12500, Pakistan.
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Muhammad Abdul Aziz
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, 30172, Venezia, Italy
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042, Pollenzo, Bra, Italy
| | - Andrea Pieroni
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042, Pollenzo, Bra, Italy
- Department of Medical Analysis, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan, 44001, Iraq
| | - Ivana Vitasović-Kosić
- Division of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Rainer W Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, 0105, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Department of Botany, State Museum of Natural History, 76133, Karlsruhe, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Umair M, Altaf M, Ahsan T, Bussmann RW, Abbasi AM, Gatasheh MK, Elrobh M. Study of medicinal plants used in ethnoveterinary medical system in riverine areas of Punjab, Pakistan. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2024; 20:48. [PMID: 38715115 PMCID: PMC11077875 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00686-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of medicinal plants to treat various veterinary illnesses has been practiced for millennia in many civilizations. Punjab is home to a diverse ethnic community, the majority of whom work in dairy farming, agriculture, and allied professions and have indigenous practices of treating animal illnesses using native flora. This study was designed to (1) document and preserve information about the applications of medicinal plant species in ethnoveterinary remedies among inhabitants of Punjab, Pakistan, and (2) identify popular plants for disease treatment by quantitative analysis of the obtained data and to assess the pharmacological relevance of these species. METHODS To collect data from informants (N = 279), questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used. The ethnoveterinary data were analyzed using principal component analysis, relative frequency citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, and rank order priority. RESULTS A total of 114 plant species utilized in the ethnoveterinary medicinal system were found, which were divided into 56 families and used to treat 16 different illnesses. The Poaceae family, with 16 species, was the most common in the region. The most commonly employed growth form in herbal preparation was herb (49%). The most used part in ethnoveterinary remedies was leaves (35%), while powder was the most commonly used way for preparing ethnoveterinary remedies (51 applications). According to principal component analysis, the most typically used species in the research region were grasses. Five grasses (Arundo donax, Desmostachya bipinnata, Eleusine indica, Hordeum vulgare, and Pennisetum glaucum) showed a 100% FL value when used to treat diuretics, helminthiasis, digestive problems, fever, cough, worm infestation, indigestion, galactagogue, oral infections, and genital prolapse. The maximum value of disease cured level (DCL%) was recorded at 87.6% for endo- and ecto-parasitic ailments in the study area. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that medicinal plants play an important part in satisfying farmers' animal healthcare demands, making it a feasible practice. The study also provides a wealth of knowledge regarding ethnoveterinary methods for further planning and application, providing an option for farmers who cannot afford allopathic therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Umair
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China.
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Muhammad Altaf
- Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Management, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, 63100, Pakistan
| | - Taswar Ahsan
- Institute of Plant Protection, Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenyang, 110161, P.R. China
| | - Rainer W Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany and Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden, Ilia State University, 0105, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Staatliches Museum Für Naturkunde, Erbprinzenstrasse 14, 76133, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Arshad Mehmood Abbasi
- Department of Environment Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22044, Pakistan.
| | - Mansour K Gatasheh
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Elrobh
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Khan AM, Altaf M, Hussain T, Hamed MH, Safdar U, Ayub A, Memon ZN, Hafiz A, Ashraf S, Amjad MS, Majeed M, Hassan M, Bussmann RW, Abbasi AM, Al-Yafrsi M, Elansary HO, Mahmoud EA. Ethnopharmacological uses of fauna among the people of central Punjab, Pakistan. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1351693. [PMID: 38681848 PMCID: PMC11045910 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1351693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The utilization of fauna and fauna-based byproducts in ethnomedicinal usages has been a longstanding human activity, practiced across various cultures worldwide. This study focuses on investigating the utilization of animal-based traditional medicine by the people of Pakistan, specifically in the Gujranwala area. Methods Data collection took place from January to September 2019 through interviews with local communities. Ethnomedicinal applications of animal products were analyzed using several indices, including Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Relative Popularity Level (RPL), Folk Use Value (FL), and Relative Occurrence Percentage (ROP). Results The study identified the use of different body parts of 54 species of animals in treating various diseases and health issues. These include but are not limited to skin infections, sexual problems, pain management (e.g., in the backbone and joints), eyesight issues, immunity enhancement, cold, weakness, burns, smallpox, wounds, poisoning, muscular pain, arthritis, diabetes, fever, epilepsy, allergies, asthma, herpes, ear pain, paralysis, cough, swelling, cancer, bronchitis, girls' maturity, and stomach-related problems. Certain species of fauna were noted by informers with high "frequency of citation" (FC), ranging from 1 to 77. For instance, the black cobra was the most frequently cited animal for eyesight issues (FC = 77), followed by the domestic rabbit for burn treatment (FC = 67), and the Indus Valley spiny-tailed ground lizard for sexual problems (FC = 66). Passer domesticus and Gallus gallus were noted to have the highest ROP value of 99. Discussion The findings of this study provide valuable preliminary insights for the conservation of fauna in the Gujranwala region of Punjab, Pakistan. Additionally, screening these animals for medicinally active compounds could potentially lead to the development of novel animal-based medications, contributing to both traditional medicine preservation and modern pharmaceutical advancements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Majid Khan
- Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Altaf
- Institute of Forest Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Tanveer Hussain
- Institute of Forest Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - M. Haroon Hamed
- Department of Zoology Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Umaira Safdar
- Institute of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Amina Ayub
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Zaibun-nisa Memon
- Department of Zoology, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Adnan Hafiz
- Department of Zoology, University of Sialkot, Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Sana Ashraf
- Department of Zoology, University of Lahore, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shoaib Amjad
- Department of Botany, Women University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Bagh, Bagh, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Majeed
- Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Musheerul Hassan
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Alpine Institute of Management and Technology, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Rainer W. Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Staatliches Museum Für Naturkunde, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Arshad Mahmood Abbasi
- Department of Environment Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Mohamed Al-Yafrsi
- Department of Plant Production, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hosam O. Elansary
- Department of Plant Production, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman A. Mahmoud
- Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Damietta, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ahad L, Hassan M, Amjad MS, Mir RA, Vitasović-Kosić I, Bussmann RW, Binish Z. Ethnobotanical Insights into Medicinal and Culinary Plant Use: The Dwindling Traditional Heritage of the Dard Ethnic Group in the Gurez Region of the Kashmir Valley, India. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:3599. [PMID: 37896062 PMCID: PMC10610420 DOI: 10.3390/plants12203599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
This ethnobiological study addresses the complicated relationship between the Dard ethnic group and their natural environment in the Gurez region of the Kashmir Valley. The study documents their traditional knowledge of the use of plant species for medicinal and culinary purposes. A total of 87 plant species from 41 different families were cataloged, with the Asteraceae family (15 species) and the Lamiaceae family (12 species) being the most commonly used. These plants were found to be used to treat 20 different ailments, with menstrual cramps being the most common (12 species). The fidelity values for these plants ranged from 11.10 to 71.42, demonstrating their importance in traditional medicine. In addition, 17 plant species were found to be useful for gastronomic purposes, with Juglans regia being the most valuable (use value of 0.73). The study also evaluated the conservation status of these plants and found that seven of them are considered critically endangered, ten endangered, and four endangered according to the IUCN classification. This study offers insights into the Dard people's deep connection to their natural environment and has significant implications for policy formulation, cultural conservation, and sustainable use of endemic species, as well as potential applications in pharmaceutical research for therapeutic compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laraib Ahad
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Glocal University, Saharanpur 247121, Uttar Pradesh, India; (L.A.); (R.A.M.)
| | - Musheerul Hassan
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia; (M.H.); (R.W.B.)
- Alpine Institute of Management and Technology, Nanda Ki Chowki, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Muhammad Shoaib Amjad
- Department of Botany, Women University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir Bagh, Bagh 12500, Pakistan;
- Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Rayees Afzal Mir
- School of Agricultural Sciences, Glocal University, Saharanpur 247121, Uttar Pradesh, India; (L.A.); (R.A.M.)
| | - Ivana Vitasović-Kosić
- Division of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Rainer W. Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi 0162, Georgia; (M.H.); (R.W.B.)
- Department of Botany, State Museum of Natural History, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Zakia Binish
- Department of Botany, Women University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir Bagh, Bagh 12500, Pakistan;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ali H, Muhammad Z, Majeed M, Aziz R, Khan A, Mangrio WM, Abdo HG, Almohamad H, Al Dughairi AA. Vegetation diversity pattern during spring season in relation to topographic and edaphic variables in sub-tropical zone. BOTANICAL STUDIES 2023; 64:25. [PMID: 37716923 PMCID: PMC10505133 DOI: 10.1186/s40529-023-00398-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present study was conducted to explore the diversity pattern of spring vegetation under the influence of topographic and edaphic variables in sub-tropical zone, District Malakand. In the present vegetation study, 252 species of 80 families were recorded in the study area. It included 39 species of trees, 43 species of shrubs, 167 species of herbs and 3 climber species. As a whole, 12 communities were established on the basis of topographic and edaphic characteristics in 12 different stations. RESULTS The results of the present study revealed that all diversity indices (species diversity, evenness index, species richness index, maturity index) during spring showed that the communities in plains lying at lower altitudes had higher diversity while the communities formed at high altitudes had lower diversity. The results of the similarity index showed that there was low similarity (below 50%) amongst the communities in different stations. CONCLUSIONS It can be concluded that variations in topographic and edaphic factors affect species diversity and communities pattern.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hazrat Ali
- Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Zahir Muhammad
- Department of Botany, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Majeed
- Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat, 50700, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Robina Aziz
- Department of Botany, Government College, Women University Sialkot, Sialkot, 51310, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Adam Khan
- Department of Botany, University of Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Wali Muhammad Mangrio
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, 66111, Sindh, Pakistan
| | - Hazem Ghassan Abdo
- Geography Department, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Tartous University, Tartous, Syria.
| | - Hussein Almohamad
- Department of Geography, College of Arabic Language and Social Studies, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Abdullah Al Dughairi
- Department of Geography, College of Arabic Language and Social Studies, Qassim University, Buraydah, 51452, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bashir SM, Altaf M, Hussain T, Umair M, Majeed M, Mangrio WM, Khan AM, Gulshan AB, Hamed MH, Ashraf S, Amjad MS, Bussmann RW, Abbasi AM, Casini R, Alataway A, Dewidar AZ, Al-Yafrsi M, Amin MH, Elansary HO. Vernacular Taxonomy, Cultural and Ethnopharmacological Applications of Avian and Mammalian Species in the Vicinity of Ayubia National Park, Himalayan Region. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040609. [PMID: 37106809 PMCID: PMC10135773 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Numerous investigations on plant ethnomedicinal applications have been conducted; however, knowledge about the medicinal use of wild animals is still limited. This present study is the second on the medicinal and cultural meaning of avian and mammalian species used by the population in the surrounding area of the Ayubia National Park, KPK, Pakistan. Interviews and meetings were compiled from the participants (N = 182) of the study area. The relative frequency of citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, and rank order priority indices were applied to analyze the information. Overall, 137 species of wild avian and mammalian species were documented. Of these, 18 avian and 14 mammalian species were utilized to treat different diseases. The present research showed noteworthy ethno-ornithological and ethno-mammalogical knowledge of local people and their connection with fauna, which might be useful in the sustainable utilization of the biological diversity of the Ayubia National Park, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Furthermore, in vivo and/or in vitro examination of the pharmacological activities of species with the highest fidelity level (FL%) as well as frequency of mention (FM) might be important for investigations on faunal-based new drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sayda Maria Bashir
- Department of Zoology, Women's University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh 12500, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Altaf
- Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Management, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Tanveer Hussain
- Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Management, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur 63100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Umair
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Muhammad Majeed
- Department of Botany, University of Gujrat, Hafiz Hayat Campus, Gujrat 50700, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Wali Muhammad Mangrio
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur 66111, Pakistan
| | - Arshad Mahmood Khan
- Department of Botany, Government Hashmat Ali Islamia Associate College Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
- Department of Botany, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi 46300, Pakistan
| | | | - M Haroon Hamed
- Department of Zoology, Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Sana Ashraf
- Department of Zoology, University of Lahore, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shoaib Amjad
- Department of Botany, Women's University of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Bagh 12500, Pakistan
| | - Rainer W Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany and Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden, Ilia State University, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia
- Department of Botany, State Museum of Natural History, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Arshad Mehmood Abbasi
- Department of Environment Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan
| | - Ryan Casini
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA
| | - Abed Alataway
- Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Z Dewidar
- Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Al-Yafrsi
- Department of Plant Production, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmed H Amin
- Department of Plant Production, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hosam O Elansary
- Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water Chair, Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water and Desert Research, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Plant Production, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Iqbal KJ, Umair M, Altaf M, Hussain T, Ahmad RM, Abdeen SMZU, Pieroni A, Abbasi AM, Ali S, Ashraf S, Amjad N, Khan AM, Bussmann RW. Cross-cultural diversity analysis: traditional knowledge and uses of freshwater fish species by indigenous peoples of southern Punjab, Pakistan. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2023; 19:4. [PMID: 36624457 PMCID: PMC9827695 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-022-00573-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fisheries have tremendous cultural and educational importance in human societies. The world is undergoing fast environmental and cultural changes, and local knowledge is being lost. Understanding how people interpret environmental change and develop practices in response to such change is essential to comprehend human resource use. This study was planned with the intent to document and conserve the knowledge about the uses of the freshwater fish fauna among the residents in South Punjab, Pakistan. METHODS Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were conducted to collect data from informers (N = 88). Principal component analysis, relative frequency citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, rank-order priority, and similarity index were used to analyze the fish data. RESULTS Overall, a total of 43 species of fishes were utilized in the study region, but only 26 species were utilized ethnomedicinally to treat a variety of illnesses such as asthma, body weakness, burn, chicken pox, cold, cough, eyesight, hepatitis, impotence, joint pain, night blindness, skin burn, spleen treatment, stomach infection, and weakness. The uses of fishes were analyzed employing various indices. The highest use value (UV) of 0.86 was calculated for spotted snakehead (Channa punctata), whereas the lowest UV of 0.05 was attained by karail fish (Securicula gora). Moreover, Channa punctata, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita, Oreochromis niloticus, Wallago attu, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Rita rita, Sperata seenghala, Notopterus notopterus, Labeo dyocheilus, Systomus sarana, Puntius punjabensis, Securicula gora, Ompok bimaculatus, and Ompok pabda were the most popular species with RPL = 1.0. Out of the total, 20 species had a "zero" similarity index, while the ethnomedicinal use of 12 species (i.e., Labeo dyocheilus, Labeo boggut, Systomus sarana, Puntius punjabensis, Aspidoparia morar, Securicula gora, Crossocheilus diplochilus, Mastacembelus armatus, Ompok bimaculatus, Ompok pabda, Labeo gonius, and Sperata seenghala) was documented for the first time for a variety of diseases (i.e., body weakness, stomach infection, skin burn, joint pain, impotence, asthma, spleen treatment, and chicken pox). CONCLUSION Our findings showed that the local people of the study area hold noteworthy traditional knowledge about the medicinal and cultural uses of fish species. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of active chemicals and in vivo and/or in vitro activities of chemicals derived from ichthyofauna with the highest FC as well as UVs could be interesting for research on new drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khalid Javed Iqbal
- Department of Zoology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Umair
- College of Life Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China.
| | - Muhammad Altaf
- Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Management, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
| | - Tanveer Hussain
- Department of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Management, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Bahawalpur, Pakistan
| | | | | | - Andrea Pieroni
- University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, 12042, Pollenzo, Italy
- Department of Medical Analysis, Tishk International University, Erbil, 4401, Iraq
| | - Arshad Mahmood Abbasi
- Department of Environment Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, 22060, Pakistan
| | - Shahzad Ali
- College of Life Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, China
| | - Sana Ashraf
- Department of Zoology, University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | - Naila Amjad
- Department of Zoology, University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Sargodha, Pakistan
| | - Abdul Majid Khan
- Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Rainer W Bussmann
- Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany and Bakuriani Alpine Botanical Garden, Ilia State University, 0105, Tbilisi, Georgia
- Staatliches Museum Für Naturkunde, Erbprinzenstrasse 14, 76133, Karlsruhe, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Traditional Use of Wild and Domestic Fauna among Different Ethnic Groups in the Western Himalayas—A Cross Cultural Analysis. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12172276. [PMID: 36077997 PMCID: PMC9454963 DOI: 10.3390/ani12172276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In traditional medicinal systems, animals play an essential role in treating health issues (zoo therapy) as different body parts are used to treat different diseases. Meanwhile, local traditional knowledge (TK) is an important aspect of cultural legacy that can depict the relationship between communities and nature. Recently ethnobiologists have focused on cross-cultural research in order to document and measure the processes that govern the evolution of traditional knowledge within a culture, as well as to use it in the future. In the present study, we documented ethnozoological knowledge across eight ethnic groups in the Jammu and Kashmir Himalayas. Comparative analysis indicated that Balti and Brokapa were more closely related groups due to high overlap (N = 7) of the use of medicinal species. A total of thirteen idiosyncratic species were recorded for the Kashmiri ethnic group, followed by two idiosyncratic species (Anser indicus, Perdix hodgsoniae) for Balti and two idiosyncratic species (Capra aegagrus hircus, Cuon alpinus) for Changapa. The Pearson correlation coefficient supported the strength and direction of a link between ethnic groups and regions. Cluster analyses revealed two primary clusters of the 79 animal species recorded for eight ethnozoological uses based on fauna similarity. Furthermore, all ethnic groups primarily used the fauna for medicinal and food purposes. Chest infections were frequently treated by the maximum number of species (N = 9), followed by paralysis by seven species. The current ethnozoological study provides needed information such as cross-cultural traditional knowledge of medicine, food, and religious value; combining ethnic knowledge with a scientific approach can make a significant contribution to the long-term development of native communities. Abstract Animal-derived products have an important role in treating many health conditions and have widely been used across cultures. In South Asia, ethnozoological research has been conducted only by a small number of researchers. Therefore, this area of research needs further exploration in order to preserve the eroding ethnozoological knowledge of medicinal animals severely affected by ongoing social change. This study was conducted in the region of Jammu and Kashmir from February 2019 to August 2021. The study was carried out among eight different ethnic groups living in the region. A total of 374 informants were selected and data were collected through semi-structured interviews and verified through group discussions. Data was analyzed using different statistical tools, including R 4.0.0. The cross-cultural data were compared through Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Genomics software and later subjected to further analysis, applying Pearson correlation and ordination techniques (Principal Component Analysis). We recorded a total of 79 animal species being used by the eight studied ethnic groups in the region. Wild animal species were mainly used for therapeutic purposes. Chest infections, sexual problems, and paralysis were frequently treated diseases. Flesh was the most commonly part used. The cross-cultural comparison showed a remarkable heterogeneity in the use of the animals among the different groups, which could be an effect to the historical sociocultural stratifications, as well as different religious affiliation of certain groups preventing them to forage or hunt certain animals. Some groups however showed prominent overlap of uses of some recorded species. For instance, Lerwalerwa and Bubalus bubalis were commonly used by both Gujjar and Pahari, which could be referred to the fact that they have gone through significant socio-cultural contact, and they are exogamous to each other. The Pearson correlation coefficient supported the strength and direction of an association between ethnic groups and regions. The study makes an important contribution to the field of ethnozoology in the Himalayas by providing insights to understand the historical human and nature relationships and supplying a baseline for developing future conservation efforts in the region to protect the wild fauna
Collapse
|