REVIEW/EXCERPT: Nature’s glory

HOW can potato, one of most celeb-rated edible tubers in the world, be categorised among poisonous plants, one may ask. This authoritative scientific work, based on a quarter century of research, explains that the green components of a potato — leaves, roots, fruits and flowers — contain poisonous glycoalkaloids which are common to all Solanaceae, or the plants of the Deadly Nightshade Family, and potato is one of them. Even the tuber itself, when green, has a harmful quantity of the poisonous chemical. The fruits of the Solenaceae family are very attractive and incidents of serious poisoning are common among children. A deadly plant, Aconitum chasmanthum, found in the forests of Kaghan and Naran valleys, is so lethal that one milligram can kill an adult. Even plants producing delicious fruits such as apples, peaches, pears, plums and cherries contain the deadly hydrocyanic acid. From Abrus precatorius, popularly known as the "ghungchi", and Acacia melanoxylon called the "Abnoos" or blackwood, to Withania somnifera termed "Asgand", to Solanum tuberosum, the common potato, this voluminous work on poisonous plants in Pakistan contains description of 158 herbal species. The author, S. H. Abid Askari, a well-known scientist has over 35 years of research and development experience in Economic Botany. He is a much published research writer and is a member of the Linnean Society of London and the Horticultural Society of Pakistan. He retired as Principal Scientific Officer at the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories. The descriptive and detailed illustrations in Poisonous Plants of Pakistan as well as in his earlier book, Cultivated Trees, Shrubs and Climbers of Gardens of Pakistan have been drawn by the author himself. Each plant description is followed by a mention of flowering period, mode of propagation, occurrence, poisonous parts, adverse effects, post-mortem, therapeutic use, first aid, important chemical constituents, notes and references. As many as 158 plants descriptions are followed by a glossary of botanical terms, a glossary of medical terms, an index of botanical terms and scientific as well as common names in English and the local languages. This makes the work more educative and informative. Professor S. I. Ali mentions in his brief foreword that this work is the first one on the topic. He underlines the utility of this book to "plant lovers, foresters, medical practitioners, hakims, veterinarians, farmers, agriculturists, etc." To this list can be added trekkers, tourists and members of paramilitary and armed forces who traverse the areas where these innocent-looking and attractive plants are found in abundance. Director, H. E. J. Research Institute of Chemistry at the University of Karachi, Professor M. Iqbal Choudhary says that Askari's "valuable database can be of great help" in using the plants in therapeutic extracts "for the benefit of people in a sustainable manner." For the past many years, emphasis is being put on natural foods and herbal cures. Besides being a boon to the scientific community this work is also a blessing to those who prefer to consume natural and home-grown plant produce and avoid genetically modified food. It will allow them to recognise the edible parts of a plant and avoid the poisonous ones. The narrative is simple and appeals even to the common reader. Poisonous Plants of Pakistan (BOTANY) By S. H. Abid Askari Oxford University Press, Karachi ISBN 978-0-19-59778-9 512pp. Rs4,500