Ethnomedicinal documentation of plants used for gastrointestinal disorders in Sahiwal District Pakistan

Abstract The gastrointestinal tract is regarded as vulnerable due to frequent exposure to a variety of foods. Diarrhea, ulcers, constipation, and parasitic infections are considered to be the most prevalent disorders worldwide. The present study was conducted in the District Sahiwal to appraise the...

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Main Authors: Nidaa Harun, Muhammad Waheed, Syeda Sitwat Rubab, Madeeha Arshad, Shiekh Marifatul Haq, Fahim Arshad, Syeda Maryam Hussain, Imrana Bukhari, Muhammad Shoaib, Kaneez Fatima, Rainer W. Bussmann, Abeer Hashem, Adel M. Al-Saif, Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15632-2
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author Nidaa Harun
Muhammad Waheed
Syeda Sitwat Rubab
Madeeha Arshad
Shiekh Marifatul Haq
Fahim Arshad
Syeda Maryam Hussain
Imrana Bukhari
Muhammad Shoaib
Kaneez Fatima
Rainer W. Bussmann
Abeer Hashem
Adel M. Al-Saif
Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah
author_facet Nidaa Harun
Muhammad Waheed
Syeda Sitwat Rubab
Madeeha Arshad
Shiekh Marifatul Haq
Fahim Arshad
Syeda Maryam Hussain
Imrana Bukhari
Muhammad Shoaib
Kaneez Fatima
Rainer W. Bussmann
Abeer Hashem
Adel M. Al-Saif
Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah
author_sort Nidaa Harun
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The gastrointestinal tract is regarded as vulnerable due to frequent exposure to a variety of foods. Diarrhea, ulcers, constipation, and parasitic infections are considered to be the most prevalent disorders worldwide. The present study was conducted in the District Sahiwal to appraise the local flora for the treatment of a diverse range of gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) for the first time. The interviews of 125 respondents were conducted during August 2021–January 2022 via a semi-structured questionnaire. Floristic analysis yielded a total of 73 plant species in 65 genera and 35 families. Fabaceae (n = 9), Cucurbitaceae (n = 5), Apiaceae (n = 5), Malvaceae (n = 5), and Moraceae (n = 5) were observed as the most prominent ethnomedicinal families. The gastrointestinal disorders were categorized into diarrhea, dysentery, stomach burn, abdominal pain, constipation, ulcer, intestinal problems, indigestion and stomachache. The maximum times reported gastrointestinal category was indigestion and stomachache (Informant Consensus Factor = 0.69.). Most of the plants were herbs (50%) and wildly (52%) available in this region. Local people prefer to use their leaves (43%) in the form of decoction or powder (37%). Quantitative data analysis reported Cymbopogon citrates and Musa paradisiaca most utilized medicinal taxa (Used value = 2.25). Furthermore, the study documented two new medicinal species i.e. Alstonia scholaris and Gardenia jasminoides, that were never been identified GID ethnopharmacology. These medicinal plants play a vital role in the development of our pharmaceutical industry for the better livelihoods of future generations. Documenting medicinal flora that was used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in district Sahiwal would be helpful in the development of low-cost, effective, safe, and appropriate medications against gastrointestinal disorders.
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spelling doaj-art-bb3e0d7c9dd641258aeceaa497f20b392025-08-24T11:23:01ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111610.1038/s41598-025-15632-2Ethnomedicinal documentation of plants used for gastrointestinal disorders in Sahiwal District PakistanNidaa Harun0Muhammad Waheed1Syeda Sitwat Rubab2Madeeha Arshad3Shiekh Marifatul Haq4Fahim Arshad5Syeda Maryam Hussain6Imrana Bukhari7Muhammad Shoaib8Kaneez Fatima9Rainer W. Bussmann10Abeer Hashem11Adel M. Al-Saif12Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah13Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of OkaraDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of OkaraDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of OkaraDepartment of Zoology, University of Education Lahore, Faisalabad CampusDepartment of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State UniversityDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of OkaraDepartment of Livestock Management and Production, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pir Mehr Ali Shah, Arid Agriculture UniversityDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of OkaraDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of OkaraDepartment of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of OkaraDepartment of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State UniversityDepartment of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Plant Production, College of Food Science and Agriculture, King Saud UniversityDepartment of Plant Production, College of Food Science and Agriculture, King Saud UniversityAbstract The gastrointestinal tract is regarded as vulnerable due to frequent exposure to a variety of foods. Diarrhea, ulcers, constipation, and parasitic infections are considered to be the most prevalent disorders worldwide. The present study was conducted in the District Sahiwal to appraise the local flora for the treatment of a diverse range of gastrointestinal disorders (GIDs) for the first time. The interviews of 125 respondents were conducted during August 2021–January 2022 via a semi-structured questionnaire. Floristic analysis yielded a total of 73 plant species in 65 genera and 35 families. Fabaceae (n = 9), Cucurbitaceae (n = 5), Apiaceae (n = 5), Malvaceae (n = 5), and Moraceae (n = 5) were observed as the most prominent ethnomedicinal families. The gastrointestinal disorders were categorized into diarrhea, dysentery, stomach burn, abdominal pain, constipation, ulcer, intestinal problems, indigestion and stomachache. The maximum times reported gastrointestinal category was indigestion and stomachache (Informant Consensus Factor = 0.69.). Most of the plants were herbs (50%) and wildly (52%) available in this region. Local people prefer to use their leaves (43%) in the form of decoction or powder (37%). Quantitative data analysis reported Cymbopogon citrates and Musa paradisiaca most utilized medicinal taxa (Used value = 2.25). Furthermore, the study documented two new medicinal species i.e. Alstonia scholaris and Gardenia jasminoides, that were never been identified GID ethnopharmacology. These medicinal plants play a vital role in the development of our pharmaceutical industry for the better livelihoods of future generations. Documenting medicinal flora that was used in the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders in district Sahiwal would be helpful in the development of low-cost, effective, safe, and appropriate medications against gastrointestinal disorders.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15632-2Gastrointestinal disordersMedicinal plantsSahiwal districtRelative importanceUsed valueInformant consensus factor
spellingShingle Nidaa Harun
Muhammad Waheed
Syeda Sitwat Rubab
Madeeha Arshad
Shiekh Marifatul Haq
Fahim Arshad
Syeda Maryam Hussain
Imrana Bukhari
Muhammad Shoaib
Kaneez Fatima
Rainer W. Bussmann
Abeer Hashem
Adel M. Al-Saif
Elsayed Fathi Abd-Allah
Ethnomedicinal documentation of plants used for gastrointestinal disorders in Sahiwal District Pakistan
Scientific Reports
Gastrointestinal disorders
Medicinal plants
Sahiwal district
Relative importance
Used value
Informant consensus factor
title Ethnomedicinal documentation of plants used for gastrointestinal disorders in Sahiwal District Pakistan
title_full Ethnomedicinal documentation of plants used for gastrointestinal disorders in Sahiwal District Pakistan
title_fullStr Ethnomedicinal documentation of plants used for gastrointestinal disorders in Sahiwal District Pakistan
title_full_unstemmed Ethnomedicinal documentation of plants used for gastrointestinal disorders in Sahiwal District Pakistan
title_short Ethnomedicinal documentation of plants used for gastrointestinal disorders in Sahiwal District Pakistan
title_sort ethnomedicinal documentation of plants used for gastrointestinal disorders in sahiwal district pakistan
topic Gastrointestinal disorders
Medicinal plants
Sahiwal district
Relative importance
Used value
Informant consensus factor
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15632-2
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