Report examines the use of medicinal plants to treat women’s diseases in rural communities in Pakistan

In a recent Heliyon In this study, researchers reviewed the use and benefits of traditional medicinal plants in the treatment of gynecological complications and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in Pakistan.

Study: Folk use of medicinal plants for the treatment of gynecological diseases in Pakistan – a reviewPhoto credit: Santhosh Varghese / Shutterstock.com

Medicinal plants in Pakistan

Gynecological complications and sexually transmitted diseases continue to threaten the health of women around the world, especially in developing countries. The main challenges in these countries include limited access to modern medical facilities, poor infrastructure, socioeconomic disadvantage and long-established cultural norms.

Medicinal plants have long been used as home remedies and basic medicines in rural areas of developing countries. In fact, current estimates suggest that about 80% of people in rural areas continue to rely on herbal medicines.

Pakistan has a rich flora comprising 1,572 genera and 5,521 species, most of which are restricted to the Hindu Kush, Himalayan and Karakoram regions. In addition, there are 28 herbal processing units in Pakistan that produce various formulations from medicinal plants, including 75 large-scale raw herbal products.

A significant proportion of women in rural communities in Pakistan use herbal medicines to treat their illnesses. These women often suffer from gynecological problems due to poverty, unhygienic living conditions and hard physical labour.

Medicinal plants used in Pakistan

Existing evidence suggests that rural Pakistani population uses 217 plant species from 89 families for various health purposes. The most well-known plant family is Umbelliferaewhich includes 19 types of medicine, followed by Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, SolanaceaeAnd Amaranthaceae families.

Herbs and trees constitute 58% and 23% of all medicinal plants used in Pakistan, followed by 17% shrubs and 2% subshrubs. Most of these plants are used to treat female diseases. Leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots, bark and stems constitute 29%, 22%, 14%, 14%, 13%, 7% and 5% of all plant parts used, respectively.

Studies examining the medicinal value of different parts of the plant have found that leaves are used to treat menstrual cramps and menopausal symptoms. In contrast, flowers are used to relieve menstrual cramps and regulate the menstrual cycle.

The seeds are often used to treat fertility problems and hormonal imbalances, while the fruits are used to improve the well-being of women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The roots are also used to treat uterine problems, while the bark and stems are used to treat various gynecological complications.

Herbal bioactive compounds in gynecological complications

The available literature suggests that the plant families predominantly used in rural areas of Pakistan contain a wide spectrum of bioactive compounds with different biological and therapeutic properties.

The main bioactive compounds in medicinal herbs include steroids, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, saponins, glycosides, terpenoids and anthraquinones. These compounds have shown therapeutic efficacy against various gynecological disorders, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility, pubertal changes, menopausal symptoms, postmenopausal syndrome and low breast milk production.

Many of these compounds have been shown to alleviate complications related to blood flow and promote blood circulation. Therefore, these compounds have unique properties that make them suitable for treating gynecological problems characterized by blood stasis syndromes, such as primary dysmenorrhea due to qi stagnation and blood stasis (QSBS).

Bioactive compounds in the Fabaceae Plant family have shown therapeutic efficacy in Treatment of PCOS, a common gynecological complication that affects one in ten women worldwide. Fabaceae-derived compounds can significantly reduce the ratio of luteinizing hormone (LH) to follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in PCOS patients.

Umbelliferae Plants effectively regulate menstrual flow, relieve hot flashes during menopause, and relieve uterine infections. The bioactive compounds in these plants are also used to promote the excretion of “dead blood” and vaginal discharge after delivery and to relieve postnatal discomfort.

Asteraceae Plants are commonly used to maintain menstrual cycles, relieve menstrual pain, prevent menopausal hot flashes, and treat various menstrual problems. Other indications for these plants include sexual insufficiency, preventing miscarriages, reducing breast swelling and pain, and increasing milk flow.

Bioactive compounds in the Lamiaceae Plant family can relieve amenorrhea, menstrual cramps, postpartum pain and labor, as well as remove “dead blood” and vaginal discharge after childbirth.

Nightshade family Plants are widely used to treat sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, stop excessive bleeding after childbirth, and relieve breast inflammation. The bioactive compounds present in these plants are also effective in treating female impotence and sexual weakness.

Amaranthaceae Plants are used to treat various menstrual problems such as pain, abnormal vaginal discharge and absence of menstruation. These bioactive compounds can also relieve postpartum discomfort and increase milk production in breastfeeding women.

Diploma

The results of the study provide important information that may facilitate the identification of new bioactive compounds for the future development of natural medicines against gynecological complications. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to investigate the biological and pharmacological activities and safety profiles of these plants.