Results and discussion
The importance of gender is being increasingly recognized in EVM. One of the first studies to document gender was conducted by Diana Davis, who noted a difference in knowledge of EVM of Afghan Pashtun nomads that paralleled the gender-based division in the society. Davis found that women know more about healthcare for newborns and very sick animals that are taken care of near the home (Davis
2000). Since women prepare the carcass for consumption, they know twice as many types of internal parasites as men. Women also help with dystocias and the manual removal of ectoparasites. In the present study, most of the information pertaining to the usages of herbal drugs was given by women, who are more knowledgeable about healthcare for sick animals that are taken care of near the home.
In a research conducted in Trinidad, it was noted that male farmers were using the reproductive knowledge of their female relatives to assist in the health care of their ruminants. Female farmers were using the same plants for their animals that they used for themselves (Lans et al.
2006).
It was found that in total, 22 plants were being used in the treatment of dog disorders (Table
1). Some of the plants in this study were poisonous. These are shown in Table
2. Recognizing the components of each plant in all regions of a country can aid in our understanding of renewable natural resources and contribute effectively, in line with the characteristics and uses of medicinal plants and their uses (Ghasemi Pirbalouti
2009; Ghasemi Pirbalouti et al.
2009). In the present study, some plants which are used for dog disorders such as
Delphinium orientalis (Gay) Schrod,
Artemisia herba-alba,
Nicotina tabacum,
Echium strigosa Labill,
Saturiya khuzistanica Jamzed,
Aloe vera,
Scrophularia deserti Del, and
Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schard have some new effects which have not previously been mentioned, but other plants which are used in the treatment of dog disorders such as
A. vera and
E. strigosa in new herbal medicine are mentioned (Amouzgar et al.
2008; Jahanara and Haerizadeh
2001; Rojhan
2001; Samsam Shariat and Moatar
1975; Zargari
1994).
Table 2
Additional information about poisonous plants
P. harmala
| Zygophyllaceae | Norharman, harman, … |
A. arabica
| Rosaceae | Amygdalin |
Q. brantii
| Fagaceae | Gallotannin |
A. herba-alba
| Astraceae | Artemisinin |
C. album
| Cheopodiaceae | Oxalate, cyanogenic glycosides and nitrate |
S. rigida
| Solanaceae | Oxalate |
Echium spp. | Boraginaceae | Pyrrolizidine alkaloids |
S. luteum
| Solanaceae | Solanine |
N. tabacum
| Solanaceae | Nicotine |
Euphurbia graminifolius, Salsola rigida, Amygdalus arabica Olivier, and A. herba-alba have been widely used for elimination of intestinal worms, and in most areas, these plants are used for the same purpose in other animals as well. A. vera, Chenopodium album L., D. orientalis (Gay) Schrod were used as a laxative in constipation, and can be lucrative for treatment of accumulation of rumen, reticulum, and omasum in ruminant rather than chemical drugs. The use of Pistacia atlantica Desf, Pistacia khinjuk Stocks, and Quercus brantii Lindl. var. persica (Jaub & Spach) Zohary by farmers for the treatment and alleviation of coughing in dogs can be useful in the introduction of a new generation of herbal drugs for human and domestic animals.
A. herba-alba is good fodder for grazing animals, mainly sheep and cattle. This species of sagebrush is widely used in folk and traditional medicine for its antiseptic and antispasmodic properties.
A. herba-alba is reported as a traditional remedy of enteritis, and various intestinal disturbances. The essential oil from Satureja khuzestanica Jamzad (SKEO), an endemic plant from Iran, was evaluated for its activity against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). SKEO was examined on the experimental mouse model of IBD, which is acetic acid-induced colitis.
Peganum harmala is used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent, as well as in the treatment of depression. It has antibacterial activity against drug-resistant bacteria and is used in the treatment of syphilis in India, fever in North Africa, hysteria, neuralgia, Parkinson’s disease, prolapsed uterus, rheumatism, asthma, and eye irritation.
P. harmala is an abortifacient and is effective against protozoa including malaria (Al-Sharma et al.
1981; Ahmad et al.
1992; El-Rifaie
1980).
Zargari reported that
E. graminifolius is used to treat dysentery. Its extracts in healing stomach ulcers and liver disorders are useful. Additionally, Zachariah recommended this plant for disposal of pesticides (Zargari
1994). Scientific evidence for the cosmetic and therapeutic effectiveness of
A. vera is limited.
A. vera juice is used for consumption and relief of digestive issues such as heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome, although it bears significant potential to be toxic when taken orally. Other uses for extracts of
A. vera include the dilution of semen for the artificial fertilization of sheep, use as a fresh food preservative, and is used for water conservation in small farms. Therapeutic effects of
A. vera include treatment of arthritis, asthma, candidiasis, treatment of chronic fatigue, indigestion and intestinal disorders (colitis and ulcerative colitis), skin disorders (psoriasis, acne, burns, infections, foot fungus, skin damage caused by cold), sports injuries, and wounds. Internal and external uses of
A. vera have a long association with herbal medicine, although it is not known when its medical applications were first suspected.
A. vera may be effective in treatment of wounds. Some studies have shown that
A. vera promotes the rates of healing. In addition to topical use in wound or burn healing, internal intake of
A. vera has been linked in preliminary research with improved blood glucose levels in diabetics and with lower blood lipids in hyperlipidemic patients, as well as with acute hepatitis (liver disease). In other diseases, preliminary studies have suggested oral
A. vera gel may reduce symptoms and inflammation in patients with ulcerative colitis. In the present study, internal intake of
A. vera in dogs caused reduced constipation and is introduced as a laxative.
Compounds extracted from A. vera have been used as an immune stimulant that aids in fighting cancers in cats and dogs; however, this treatment has not been scientifically tested in humans. Topical application of A. vera may be effective for genital herpes and psoriasis. However, it is not effective for the prevention of radiation-induced injuries. And although anecdotally useful, it has not been proven to offer protection from sunburn.
A. vera extracts might have antibacterial and antifungal activities, which could possibly help treat minor skin infections such as boils and benign skin cysts, and may inhibit growth of fungi causing tinea. Inner leaf gel from
A. vera was shown to inhibit the growth of
Streptococcus and
Shigella species in vitro (Chow et al.
2005).
C. colocynthis (L.) Schard has been linked in preliminary research with improved blood glucose levels in diabetics and digestive disorders, and the laxative effects of this plant have been proven (Asfi
1994; Tavakol Afshari et al.
2005). In Iranian traditional medicine,
lemon was used for alleviating headache (Naseri et al.
2008), dizziness, and stomach inflammation, while almond was used to relieve acute urination and disorders of saliva.
Other usages of medical plants in ancient and traditional medicine included antimastitis effect of
harmal, treatment of constipation, chronic wound healing, and treatment of infections of
P. atlantica Desf and
P. khinjuk Stocks.
Scrophularia scopolii was used for relief of pulmonary disorders, gangrenous wounds, and back pain, but in the present study,
S. deserti Del was used to disinfect wounds in skin and eyes (Ardakani Yazdi
2006).
In a study by Bahmani et al. (
2011a,
b), 35 plants were recognized for treatment of small ruminants’ disorders. In this study, the
peanut plant was used for treatment of accumulation of rumen,
Q. brantii Lindl. var.
persica Zohary for treatment of diarrhea, cough, and mouth ulcers;
D. orientalis (Gay) Schrod, Coralinaceae, and
A. vera as a laxative (Jeremy et al.
2005; Ki et al.
1999);
P. atlantica Desf for treatment of
Oestrus ovis larva; and
N. tabacum as an antileech drug.
E. strigosa Labill and
Q. brantii Lindl. var.
persica (Jaub & Spach) Zohary was used for treatment of mastitis (Bahmani et al.
2011a,
b).
Bahmani et al. (
2011a,
b) and Ghasemi Pirbalouti (
2009) demonstrated the anticandidiasis effect of
S. deserti and
Scrophularia striata. In another study, Bahmani et al. (
2010,
2011a,
b) revealed the antileech effects of the
tobacco plant.
The present study confirmed the traditional medical effects of some plants, while revealing the unique medical effects of other plants .Recognizing such plants and their effects can aid in the creation of new ideas for increasing knowledge in the modern pharmaceutical industry. Since very few clinical trials have been conducted on plants that are native to Ilam province, it is vital that more research be done to ensure the introduction of labeled and standardized products for human consumption.
This ethnobotanical survey results revealed the wealth of indigenous knowledge and usage customs of traditional plants associated with the rural people of the southern regions of Ilam. Despite their use in traditional medicines, plant species renowned in the present fieldwork have been extensively used for improving the health of sheepdogs. There was no written certificate of traditional healing knowledge, and the transfer of such knowledge to the future generation takes place only through oral communication. More detailed ethnopharmacological investigations need to be conducted in this area, particularly concerning conservation strategies and sustainable use of medicinal plants.