Vet Res Commun. 2017 Apr 12. doi: 10.1007/s11259-017-9683-z. [Epub ahead of print]
- 1
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius.
- 2
- Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid- i- Azam University, Islamabad, 45320, Pakistan.
- 3
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Fatima Jinnah Women University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
- 4
- Institue of Industrial Biotechnology, Government College University, Lahore, 54000, Pakistan.
- 5
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Réduit, Mauritius. f.mahomoodally@uom.ac.mu.
Abstract
Animal
rearing is the major occupation of most population of South Asian
countries. Due to lack of resources and limited approach to modern
medicine, most of the livestock raisers prefer to use plant-based
traditional medicine also referred to as ethnoveterinary
medicine (EVM). Indeed, the use of medicinal plants in South Asia dates
back to several centuries with documented evidences. However, there is
currently a dearth of documentation and compilation of use of medicinal
plants for animal diseases in this part of the world. This review aims
to provide an up-to-date compilation of common medicinal plants used for
the treatment and/or management of common animal diseases in South
Asian countries. Extensive literature search was conducted online and
relevant data was retrieved from well-known scientific databases. A
total of 276 plants belonging to 95 families have been documented to be
in common use for managing 14 different categories of animal diseases.
Solanaceae, Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, and Leguminosae were most common plant
families in terms of their plant species used for EVM. Gastric diseases
were commonly reported and accounted for 72 species of plants used for
its treatment followed by the miscellaneous disorders category and skin
diseases comprising of 65 and 39 plant species respectively. Herbs
accounted for 46% of the total plant species, followed by trees (33%),
and shrubs (18%). The EVM were applied through different routes of
administration; oral administration accounted for 72% followed by
topical application 27%, while burning of plant parts to create smoke
around animals to repel insects was less common (1%). It is anticipated
that the present review will stimulate further ethnoveterinary research among livestock disease management practices in South Asia.
KEYWORDS:
Animal diseases; Ethnoveterinary; Livestock healthcare; Medicinal plants; South Asia
