An Insight into Indigenous Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants from Kashmir Himalayan Region

Authors

  • Syed Waseem Gillani Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Mushtaq Ahmad Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Mushtaq Ahmad Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Mushtaq Ahmad Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Zafar Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Sheikh Marifatul Haq Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
  • Muhammad Waheed Department of Botany, University of Okara, Okara 56300, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Manzoor Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, 13100, Pakistan
  • Hamayun Shaheen Department of Botany, University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan, 13100
  • Shazia Sultana Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Fazal Ur Rehman Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • Trobjon Makhkamov Department of Forestry and landscape design, Tashkent State Agrarian University, 2 A., Universitet Str., Kibray district, 100700, Tashkent region, Uzbekistan

Abstract

Background: Documenting traditional knowledge of medicinal plants has enabled researchers to obtain a good understanding of the consumption patterns of plants for basic healthcare purposes. This study highlighted the ethnobotanical significance of medicinal and aromatic plants in the biodiversity hotspot landscape of the western Himalayan region of Kashmir.

Methods: Extensive field visits were made to collect traditional ethnobotanical knowledge from the study area through group discussions in the local language using the questionnaire method. The acquired data was then analyzed using quantitative ethnobotanical measures such as Use Value (UV) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC).

Results: Our findings revealed 72 plant species belonging to 51 genera and 16 families. The dominant families recorded were Lamiaceae and Apiaceae followed by Polygonaceae. Among plant parts, leaves were the most frequently used, followed by roots. The majority of the studied plants were herbaceous, accounting for 90.3% of the area flora. Based on the medicinal plant use category, 72 plant species with medicinal uses were identified.  According to the Use Value and Relative Frequency Citation, Saussurea costus and Angelica cyclocarpa had remarkably high values of 1.38 and 0.68, respectively.

Conclusions: These findings complement the considerable plant knowledge of the local population, confirming the traditional usage of plants in indigenous healing. People in Muzaffarabad continue to have vital information about native flora, even though younger individuals are losing it as a consequence of socioeconomic changes. There is a need to raise awareness among local populations about the sustainable use and conservation of medicinal flora.

Keywords: Medicinal plants, Kashmir Himalayas, Field survey, Ethnobotanical knowledge, Aromatic plants

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Published

2024-01-01

How to Cite

Gillani, S. W., Ahmad, M., Ahmad, M., Ahmad, M., Zafar, M., Haq, S. M. ., Waheed, M. ., Muhammad Manzoor, Shaheen, H. ., Sultana, S. ., Rehman, F. U., & Makhkamov, T. . (2024). An Insight into Indigenous Ethnobotanical Knowledge of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants from Kashmir Himalayan Region . Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 28, 1–21. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/5660

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Section

Research