Ethnobotanical importance and conservation status of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad in division Mirpur, Kashmir Himalaya.

Authors

  • Mubsher Mazher Mirpur University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4536-5364
  • Muhammad Ishtiaq Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), Mirpur-10250 (AJK) Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2468-1413
  • Bilqeesa Hamid Department of chemistry, University of Kashmir Srinagar, Srinagar 190006, India
  • Shiekh Marifatul Haq Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Mussaddaq Mazhar Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), Mirpur-10250 (AJK) Pakistan.
  • Faiza Bashir Mirpur University of Science & Technology (MUST), Mirpur-10250 (AJK) Pakistan. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7704-4915
  • Rainer W. Bussmann Department of Botany, State Museum of Natural History, Karlsruhe, Germany and Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3524-5273

Abstract

Background: Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad has been used traditionally for curing ailments in humans and animals in different parts of the world. The current study was conducted to determine the ethnobotanical importance of C. colocynthis in division Mirpur, Kashmir Himalaya.

Methods: Twelve well-planned ethnobotanical surveys of the study area were arranged. A total of 118 respondents of varying educational backgrounds, professional affiliations, and age groups were interviewed. Visual appraisal assessment (VAA) and rapid rural appraisal (RRA) methods were used to collect the qualitative and quantitative data.

Results: The plant part value (PPV) indicated that fruit as a whole (PPV=90) and its parts, i.e., rind (PPV=83.33), pulp (PPV=80), and seeds (PPV=90) are mostly used for ethnomedicinal purposes. C. colocynthis was found to be most commonly used to treat microbial infections (FL=0.91), diabetes (FL=0.86) and obesity (FL=0.84). The informant agreement ratio (IAR) values indicate that C. colocynthis has antidiabetic (IAR=0.96), antilipidemic (IAR=0.91), and antimicrobial (IAR=0.88) potential. The conservation status was calculated to be 1.82, and it was stated that C. colocynthis is vulnerable in the study area.

Conclusion: It can be concluded that C. colocynthis has been an important ethnomedicinal plant in the study area. It is still in use by farmers, herbalists, nomadic people, and rural people for the treatment of microbial infections, obesity, constipation, and blood purification. Due to its unchecked utilization, there is severe pressure on its survival, and its conservation is needed immediately.

Keywords: Traditional Ethnomedicines, Mirpur, Conservation Status, Citrullus colocynthis

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Published

2023-03-02

How to Cite

Mazher, M., Ishtiaq, M., Hamid, B., Marifatul Haq, S., Mazhar, M., Bashir, F., & Bussmann, R. W. (2023). Ethnobotanical importance and conservation status of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad in division Mirpur, Kashmir Himalaya. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, 1–14. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/4575

Issue

Vol. 25 (2023)

Section

Research

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