Linking ethnobotanical knowledge with phytochemical diversity: an integrated assessment of medicinal plants in the Boysun Botanical-Geographical Region (Southern Uzbekistan)

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants play a fundamental role in traditional healthcare systems, particularly in regions with high floristic diversity such as Central Asia. However, their ethnobotanical importance is often evaluated using fragmented or single-parameter approaches, which do not fully capture their multifunctional and ecological significance. Therefore, integrated assessment frameworks are required to provide a more comprehensive evaluation of medicinal plant resources.

Methods: Floristic data were collected through field studies conducted in the Boysun Botanical-Geographical Region during 2011–2016 and supplemented by herbarium and literature sources, whereas ethnobotanical data were obtained through semi-structured interviews conducted in Machay and Qizilnaur villages during 2021–2024. A total of 265 medicinal plant species were identified, of which 78 species were selected for detailed ethnobotanical evaluation. An integrated Ethnobotanical Value Index (EVI) was applied, incorporating five parameters: use diversity, phytochemical richness, diversity of utilized plant parts, diversity of preparation and application methods, and additional functional value. The five EVI components were evaluated using predefined scoring criteria, and the phytochemical component was quantified according to the number of documented major phytochemical classes reported in the scientific literature.

Results: The recalculated EVI values revealed clear variation in ethnobotanical importance among species. Of the 78 species evaluated, 16 (20.5%) were classified as having low ethnobotanical value, 32 (41.0%) as having medium value, and 30 (38.5%) as having high value. High-EVI species were characterized by diverse medicinal uses, documented phytochemical richness, multiple utilized plant parts, varied preparation methods, and additional functional values. All 30 species classified as having high ethnobotanical value (EVI ≥ 3.0) were retained for detailed presentation and represent priority candidates for further pharmacological and phytochemical investigation.

Conclusions: The integrated EVI approach enabled comparative assessment of the ethnobotanical importance of medicinal plants in the Boysun region. The findings identify species of high ethnobotanical value that warrant further pharmacological and phytochemical investigation and, when considered together with existing national conservation assessments, may contribute to future strategies for the sustainable use and conservation of medicinal plant resources.

Keywords: medicinal plants; ethnobotany; Ethnobotanical Value Index (EVI); integrated assessment; Boysun region; biodiversity; traditional medicine