Medicinal Plants of Cholistan Desert for the Management of Inflammatory Disorders: A Review

Abstract

Introduction: As Cholistan is located in the desert area of Pakistan, there is less availability of allopathic medicines and also a limited number of healthcare providers even for conditions like inflammatory diseases. Local people of Cholistan use plant-based medicines for the management of inflammatory diseases.
Objectives of the study: This literature survey was carried out to highlight the potential of plant-based medicines used in the management of inflammation and related disorders in the Cholistan region of Pakistan.
Material and Methods: Literature from electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed, and Scopus, and publications from 1986 up to 2020 on medicinal plants of Cholistan desert used to treat inflammation and related disorders, were searched to compile all the relevant data.
Results: There are 152 plants indigenous to Cholistan desert, which belong to 38 families and are mainly used by the local healers for inflammatory conditions. The anti-inflammatory potential of 152 plants was reviewed; out of which the use of 83 plants, in this review, is backed by in-vivo and in-vitro experimental studies. Roots, barks, tubers, leaves and fruits are important parts while whole plants are also used. The variation in the effects could be due to the difference in the amount of active ingredients in the mixtures and the amount ingested by the patients.
Conclusion: This review provides help to recognize plant species and assessment of the plant profile used as remedy to treat inflammatory conditions traditionally in Cholistan desert region of Pakistan. These proven benefits of medications extracted from plants are widely used in conventional prescriptions which are less expensive and easily available in healthcare system. A lot of beneficial specifications are compared with the standard pharmacopoeial monographs to assure the reproducibility of their helpful impact. We are confident that the capability of these restorative plants is best fitted towards a potential reconciliation into the medical care network.