Journal of
Medicinal Plants Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Med. Plants Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0875
  • DOI: 10.5897/JMPR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 3834

Full Length Research Paper

Artemisia L. species recognized by the local community of the northern areas of Pakistan as folk therapeutic plants

Muhammad Ashraf1, Muhammad Qasim Hayat2, Shazia Jabeen3, Nighat Shaheen2, Mir Ajab Khan2 and Ghazalah Yasmin2
1NUST Center of Virology and Immunology, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. 2Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan. 3National Center of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 25 November 2009
  •  Published: 18 January 2010

Abstract

Due to exclusive ecological conditions, northern areas of Pakistan hosts many species of the genus Artemisia L. (Asteraceae) of great medicinal importance. In this paper we describe ethnobotanical details concerning with the folk medicinal uses of Artemisia in northern areas of Pakistan. The indigenous knowledge was obtained through questionnaires and meetings, with the local herbalists and rural community. Eight Artemisia species are isolated which are popularly used among local inhabitants as folk therapeutics. These species include A. absinthiumA. brevifoliaA. dubiaA. japonica, A. maritimaA. moorcroftianaA. roxburghiana and A. vulgaris.

 

Key words: Artemisia, ethnobotany, northern areas of Pakistan, medicinal plants.