First Report of ethnobotanical studies of tehsil Noorpur Thal, District Khushab, Punjab, Pakistan

The study is based on gathering of information by interviewing villagers, herbalists, hakims and farmers, following a preset list of questions followed by analysis of the data collected. Plant samples were gathered and their morphological characteristics described. Their various uses including medicinal uses, where reported were gathered. The present work is a significant contribution to the existing knowledge because ethno botany as a interdisciplinary science understanding of local social dynamics, institutions and different values attributed to resources. These values may be symbolic, religious or political for a given society, while same plant resources may represent only an economic value for our social group. Fuel wood needs are also met by collecting dried fodder branches, by products of crops and dried animal dung. It is recommended that botanical ganders of medicinal plants should be established. Data was analyzed at P(0.05 -5%). Keywords— Interviewing Villagers, Medicinal Uses, Ethno botany, Plant Samples, Conservational Reserves, Botanical Garden, Products of Crops and Animal Dung.


Study Area
The very word Khushab, derived from two Persian words Khush" and "Aab" meaning good or peasant potable water. District Khushab is one of the four districts of Sargodha Division. The district lies between north latitude 31-33 to 32-43 degree and east longitude 71-35 to 72-37 degrees. The average length of the District from north to south is about 116 Kilometers: while its breadth from east to west is about 56 kilometer. The District comprises an area of 1,627,688 acres or 6,511 sq. Kilometer.
The few trees to be found in the dry and sandy that are chiefly Jund, (Prosopis cineraria (L) Druce), which is found in graves protected by the reputation of some departed scunt: stunted kikar, rarely found the round ponds and a grave of beri (ZizyphusnummulariaBurm.f.) trees found the town ofNurpur, which are specially protected by a clause in the village administration paper. The characteristic bushes of the region are the lana (salaola), akk (Calotropis pro cera R. Br.) and harmal (paganumharmala 1.) which have alteady been described and the phoy (Calligounmpolygonoidea Linn.) a good fodder plant, little found except in RakhNurpur, but (Pauderia pilosa) a low whitish plant with flower heads like catkins, khipp, (Crotalaria burhia) some time used for making ropes for temporary use and summa and karturnma (Citrulus colosynthis (L.) Shrad.) with its trailing stems and beautiful green and yellow orange likes fruit scattered in the profusion over the sandy hills. Their taste is very bitter, but goats eat them and medicine for horses is prepared from them to prevent indigestion.
In the past only cultivation consisted of small patches of cheap millets and pulses, or very inferior watermelons. But it has since been discovered that excellent grass of crops can be raised in an ordinary winter and year by year larger areas are devoted to raising them, the change from pasture to agriculture as the principal means of livelihood is going on apace. The resulting development of land is, of course, over-shadowed by the brilliant success of the lower Jhelum Canal, but is nonetheless remarkable.
In the flooded lands along the rivers lei or pilchi (Tamarix dioica Roxb. Ex Royh) springs up considerable thickets and is used for wattling, baskets and roofs.The akk (Calotropis procera R. Br.) is very common in sandy soil. It is also useful for snakebite (Ajibade et al., 2005).

II.
METHODOLOGY The survey was conducted from March, 2003 to February 2006. The methodology was based on interviews using checklist and questionnaire of information (Martin, 1995). The interviewees in the villages were chosen at random. Total No of interviewees conducted are 750 consists of 400 males and 350 females. The interviewees were landholders (zamindars), Agriculturists, pansars, Hakims and Farmers, and most of them were mainly graduates and Government employee. In the first step, detailed knowledge about the local and indigenous people was collected. A regional study on the epidemiology tradition medicines and ecology of the people and their environment was prepared. In order to prioritize plant collectors, a number of international data basis were searched to obtain all the relevant ethno-medical, biological and chemical information on the plant known to be used in that region. Following parameters were adopted for the study: . Average annual sale (quantity) .     20  400  25  625  20  400  25  625  10  100  15  225  10  100  15  225  2  4  4  16  1  1  2  4  1  1  2  4  2  4  4  16  10  100  15  225  10  100  15  225  10  100  15  225  10  100  15  225  60  3600  15  225  60  3600  15  225  60  3600  15 225 At 5% Significant  At 5% Significant

DISCUSSION Species Used For Different Aliments
There are about 24 plant species, which are used for different aliments. Ak (calatropis procera) R. Br. is used against skin diseases, eczema, toothache, abdominal pain and asthema (jadhev, 2008a). Harmal (pognum hermella) is used as narcotic, emetic anodyne, hypnotic, anti-lice and fumigated by ladies during small-pox. Dried pulp of bitter fruit of Tumma (citrullus colocynthus) (L.) Shrad. is effective in constipation (Usmanghani, et al., 1997). Fruit of Thumma (citrullus colocynthus) (L.) is useful for the stomach ailments and immunity for Rani Khet diseases and has cold effects against sun-stroke (Heat).