Ethnopharmacological Uses of Fauna Among the People of Central Punjab, Pakistan

Overview

Journal Front Vet Sci

Specialty Veterinary Medicine

Date 2024 Apr 29

PMID 38681848

Authors

Abdul Majid Khan

Muhammad Altaf

Tanveer Hussain

M Haroon Hamed

Umaira Safdar

Amina Ayub

Zaibun-Nisa Memon

Adnan Hafiz

Sana Ashraf

Muhammad Shoaib Amjad

Muhammad Majeed

Musheerul Hassan

Rainer W Bussmann

Arshad Mahmood Abbasi

Mohamed Al-Yafrsi

Hosam O Elansary

Eman A Mahmoud

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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 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.

Citing Articles

Zootherapeutic uses of animals and their parts: An important element of the traditional knowledge of the Safi province, Morocco.

Lemhadri A, Benali T, Tekalign W, Wendimu A Heliyon. 2024; 10(22):e40435.

PMID: 39641052 PMC: 11617919. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40435.

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