21. Ethnoecological appraisal, mineral and phytochemical analysis of five species of Myrtaceae in University Campus, Peshawar, Pakistan
Abstract
The current work was carried out to inspect the ecological features, ethnobotanical importance, elemental and phytochemical integrants of Callistemon lanceolatus, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Myrtus communis, Psidium guajava and Syzygium cumini of Myrtaceae from district Peshawar. Ethnobotanical profile showed that (80%) plants were used in medicines, (60%) as fuel and (40%) as each lumber, fruits and decorative. Leaf size classification showed that Mesophylls were dominant (40%) while Microphyll, Nanophyll and Macrophyll were each (20%). Life form spectrum were dominated by Mesophanerophytes and Megaphanerophytes each (40%) and Nanophanerophytes (20%). (60%) species were at pre-reproductive while (40%) in reproductive stage. 13 elements (Carbon (C), Nitrogen (N), Oxygen (O), Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), Phosphorus (P), Sulphur (S), Calcium (Ca), Aluminum (Al), Silicon (Si), Iron (Fe), Chlorine (Cl) and Sodium (Na) were analyzed which were quantitatively different from taxa to taxa. Phytochemical constituents like anthraquinones, flavonoid, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, phlobatannins and steroids were screened out in the Ethanolic extract of leaves. The secondry metababolies were unequally dispersed among the five species. The current study is an attempt to assess mineral and phytochemical ingredients of five species of Myrtaceae collected from Peshawar, University campus.
Keywords: Ethnoecology; Ethnobotany; Minerals; Peshawar campus; Phytochemicals
