Abstract This paper presents the first comprehensive report on traditional uses of medicinal shrubs of Rawalakot city, district Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. Ethobotanical data obtained from 120 informants were analyzed by relative frequency citation, use value, family use value, informant consensus factor, fidelity level and Jaccard index. In total, 41 shrubs belonging to 24 families and 34 genera were documented. Rosaceae was reported the most dominant family in the area (six species) and Berberidaceae showed maximum family use value (0.68). Leaves (35%) and fruits (33%) were the most commonly used plant parts and most of the medicines were prepared in the form of decoction. The high informant consensus factor value (0.94) was recorded for diabetic disease category. Medicinal plants with high fidelity level values (100% each) were Berberis lycium, Cydonia oblanga, Ricinus communis, Ziziphus jujuba and Nerium oleander. Berberis lycium was the most significant shrub in the area with highest use value (0.68). Relative frequency citation value was maximum for Rubus ellipticus (0.30), Nerium oleander and Indigofera heterantha (0.10 each). Percentage of similar plant uses ranged from 21.05 to 0.62% and dissimilarity percentage ranged from 32.50 to 0.66%. Out of the 41 shrub species, six were reported with new therapeutic uses and may represent new bioresources. These were Debregeasia salicifolia (diabetes), Desmodium elegans (anti-cancerous), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (jaundice), Hypericum oblongifolium (arthritis), Sarcococca saligna (tuberculosis), Rubus niveus (chronic cough) and Otostegia limbata (renal disorders). We suggest that species reported with high use value should be involved in cultivation and agricultural practices for their sustainable use and those reported with new therapeutic uses should be employed in further biotechnological, pharmacological and clinical studies in order to validate their traditional uses.

Abstract: Background: Soil salinity is a major menace to plants. Salt tolerant plants have developed different morphological, structural and physiological characteristics, which enable them to survive and reproduce under high salt concentrations. Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that differently adapted ecotypes of T. domingensis may have different structural and biochemical response to various levels of salt stress. Studied species/Data description: Six ecotypes of Typha domingensis Pers. were evaluated for anatomical and biochemical response and to find out the mechanism of adaptation under salt stress. Methods: All the ecotypes of Typha domingensis were acclimatized for a period of six months. Four levels of salinity viz. 0, 100, 200 and 300 mM NaCl were maintained. The plants were carefully collected from the medium to study various anatomical and biochemical characteristics. Results: The most promising anatomical modifications were; reduced leaf thickness in Sheikhupura, Gatwala and Treemu ecotype, increased cell vacuolar volume in Sahianwala and Knotti ecotype, larger metaxylem vessel in Sheikhupura and Gatwala ecotype, aerenchyma formation in all ecotypes and high sclerification in Sahianwala and Knotti ecotype. Accumulation of osmolytes mainly proline and glycinebetaine in Treemu, Sahianwala, Jahlar and Knotti ecotype under different levels of salt stress may be defense mechanism of T. domingensis to prevent severe loss in turgor. Conclusions: The results demonstrate that genetic potential of T. domingensis to grow under salt stress could be used for the purpose of phytoremediation and reclamation of soil salinity.

Resumen: Antecedentes: La salinidad del suelo puede llegar a ser una amenaza para las plantas. Sin embargo, las plantas tolerantes a la salinidad han desarrollado diferentes características morfológicas, estructurales y fisiológicas, las cuales les permiten sobrevivir y reproducirse en altas concentraciones de sal. Hipótesis: Los ecotipos adaptados de Typha dominguensis pueden tener diferentes respuestas tanto estructurales como bioquímicas a varias concentraciones de estrés salino. Especies estudiadas/Descripción de los datos: Seis ecotipos of Typha dominguensis Pers fueron evaluados en base a sus respuestas anatómicas y bioquímicas para determinar el mecanismo de adaptación bajo la influencia de estrés salino. Métodos: Todos los ecotipos de T. dominguensis fueron aclimatados por un período de seis meses. Y fueron mantenidos en cuatro niveles de salinidad: 0, 100, 200, 300 mM NaCl. Posteriormente, las plantas fueron colectadas cuidadosamente del medio para el análisis de las características bioquímicas y anatómicas. Resultados: Las más interesantes modificaciones anatómicas encontradas fueron: reducción del grosor de las hojas en los ecotipos pertenecientes a Sheikhupura, Gatwala and Treemu; incremento en el volumen de las vacuolas en la célula en los ecotipos correspondientes a Sahianwala and Knotti; incremento en el tamaño de los vasos del metaxilema en Sheikhupura y Gatwala; formación parénquimaima de todos los ecotipos y alta esclerificación en los ecotipos de Sahianwala y Knotti. Acumulación de osmolitos principalmente prolina y glicinabetaína en los ecotipos Treemu, Sahianwala, Jahlar y Knotti bajo diferentes niveles de estrés salino. Este puede ser un mecanismo de defensa de T. domingensis para prevenir la pérdida severa de turgencia. Conclusiones: Los resultados demuestran el potencial genético de T. domingensis para crecer bajo condiciones de estrés salino que puede ser usado para el propósito de fitoremediación y determinación de salinidad edáfica.