ETHNOBOTANICAL INSIGHTS INTO MEDICINAL PLANT-BASED THERAPIES FOR SKIN CANCER IN QUETTA DISTRICT, BALOCHISTAN

Abstract

Cancer remains a life-threatening disease worldwide, with skin cancer constituting a major public health concern. Despite advances in pharmaceutical research, medicinal plants continue to play a pivotal role in developing safer and more effective therapeutic options. The flora of Quetta District, Balochistan, is of particular ethnomedicinal importance, as local communities rely on these resources for generations in their primary healthcare practices. However, to date, no comprehensive documentation focused on medicinal plants traditionally used for skin cancer. This study represents the first systematic ethnobotanical documentation of medicinal plants employed against skin cancer in Quetta. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires, free-listing techniques, and personal observations from 106 informants (66% female, 33% male). Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including Use Value Citation (UVC) and Disease Consensus Index (DCI) were applied to assess the cultural importance and reliability of reported species. A total of 50 medicinal plants, belonging to 45 genera and 34 families, were recorded for their use in skin cancer treatment. The family Solanaceae was dominant, representing five species. Growth forms comprised herbs (53%), shrubs (30%) and trees (14%). Oral administration was the most common route (60%), followed by topical applications in the form of pastes (10%). Powder preparations were the most frequently reported method of herbal drug formulation (40%). Among the species, Azadirachta indica exhibited the highest UVC value (0.33), while Solanum nigrum had the lowest (0.01). Similarly, Silybum marianum demonstrated the highest DCI (0.19), whereas Ziziphus jujuba recorded the lowest (0.01). These findings underscore the critical need to preserve this indigenous knowledge, which is at risk of erosion due to cultural and environmental changes. Furthermore, the documented species should be subjected to detailed pharmacological, phytochemical and toxicological investigations to scientifically validate their therapeutic potential. This study will not only ensure efficacy and safety but will also provide pharmaco-gnostic data that is essential for the correct identification and standardization of medicinal plants. Ultimately, this study highlights the ethno-therapeutic significance of Quetta’s flora and offers a foundation for future drug discovery targeting skin cancer.