Evalua&ng the conserva&on value and medicinal poten&al of wild herbaceous flora in the Sanghar Mountains of District Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Pakistan (original) (raw)

Background: The current research aimed to explore the conservaMon status, ethnobotanical and tradiMonal ethnomedicinal uses of wild flora in the Sanghar mountains of District Bhimber, Pakistan, with a focus on discovering novelty and potenMal drugs. Methods: This study was conducted in 2018-19 and involved interacMons with indigenous communiMes, with informants ranging in age from 40 to 100 years. Open-ended and closed-ended interview protocols were employed to gather informaMon. ConservaMon status was determined using a semi-structured quesMonnaire covering anthropology. Results: Among the 248 plant species studied, 47 were trees, 42 were shrubs, and 159 were herbs, all of which were uMlized in tradiMonal ecological medicines and ethnobotany. Out of the 248 plant species, 120 (48.38%) were annual, 6 (2.44%) were biennial, and 122 (49.18%) were perennial plants. Poaceae and Asteraceae stood out as the most prevalent families in the region, with 33 and 14 plant species respecMvely. These plants served various purposes, with 30% uMlized as fodder, 24% as fuel sources, and smaller percentages employed for ethnoveterinary medicines, home construcMon, cosmeMcs, and honeybee culMvaMon. The tradiMonal applicaMons of these plants encompassed the treatment of a wide range of ailments, including fever, cough, jaundice, skin diseases, diabetes, snake bites, and dental issues. Among the 248 plant species studied, 4.64% were dominant, 5.24% endangered, 43.54% vulnerable, 38.70% rarely distributed, and 6.85% infrequent, indicaMng the urgent need for focused conservaMon efforts. Ethnobotany Research and Applications 2 Conclusion: The research underscores the potenMal for drug discovery within tradiMonal ethnomedicinal pracMces, emphasizing the conservaMon of the flora from the study area.