Ethnoveterinary study of the medicinal plants of Khar, Dheri, Julagram, Tari, and Totakan Villages of Tehsil Batkhela, Malakand, Northern Pakistan

Abstract

Background: The current study was conducted to document the medicinal plants used commonly for the treatment of veterinary diseases in the study area.

Methods: The snowball sampling method was used for the selection of informants and the informants were interviewed through a semi-structured questionnaire. The documented data was quantified by indices UV (use value) and RFC (Relative Frequency of Citation).

Results: During fieldwork, about 51 plant species belonging to the 35 families were collected and ethnoveterinary data was documented for these plants. The most dominant family was Apiaceae and Solanaceae (5 Species each).  The most dominant life form was herb (34 Species). The most commonly used plant part was the leaf (16 Species). The most common method of drug preparation was decoction (28 Species). The highest RFC value was calculated for Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (0.245) and the highest UV value was calculated for Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague (0.28). The most commonly treated group of diseases was digestive system disorders.

Conclusion: Traditional communities still use medicinal plants for the treatment of various diseases of animals. But the knowledge of ethnoveterinary is at risk because the younger generations have no interest. Furthermore, due to deforestation and urbanization, the local medicinal flora is also at risk.

Keywords: Ethnoveterinary; Medicinal plants; Traditional knowledge; Local people perception