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<p>This study presents a comprehensive ethnobotanical survey of Lajbouk Valley, a high-altitude and ecologically rich area in District Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is the first documentation of its kind in this Himalayan foothill region. A total of 321 plant species belonging to 97 families and 246 genera were collected and taxonomically identified. The ethnobotanical data were gathered through structured interviews with 50 local informants aged 25–75, including traditional healers, herbalists, and farmers. Out of the documented species, 219 (68.22%) were used for ethnomedicinal purposes, primarily in treating fever, respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal issues, and skin diseases. Additionally, 202 species (62.92%) were used as fodder, while 105 species (32.71%) served as fuelwood. Other uses included ornamental (56 species), vegetables (25 species), fruits (31 species), condiments (12 species), and timber (19 species). The highest&#xa0;Informant Consensus Factor ( ICF) values were recorded for Gastrointestinal diseases (0.82) followed Analgesic (0.80) and Skin diseases (0.77) respectively. The most important and extensively used species were <i>Hyoscyamus niger</i> L. with an Fidelity Level (FL) of&#xa0;100% followed by, <i>Phoenix dactylifera</i> L. (95.65%) and <i>Plantago ovata</i> forssk. (90%), respectively. These findings reflect the significant reliance of the local community on plant resources for healthcare, subsistence, and cultural practices. This ethnobotanical richness highlights the urgent need for biodiversity conservation and the preservation of traditional plant knowledge. With increasing threats from climate change, overharvesting, and habitat degradation, sustainable strategies are crucial to protect both plant diversity and cultural heritage. The medicinal plants documented in the Lajbouk Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan may contribute to modern medicine by providing novel leads for drug discovery, validating traditional uses, and offering potential treatments for various diseases, thereby supporting the development of evidence-based phytomedicines.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Ethnobotanical inventory and threat assessment of medicinal plants in Lajbouk Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年9月21日

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  • Shaha Buddin,
  • Syed Mukaram Shah,
  • Muhammad Ibrahim,
  • Mohsin Ullah,
  • Waseem Ahmed Khattak,
  • Muhammad Anas,
  • Asif Kamal

摘要

This study presents a comprehensive ethnobotanical survey of Lajbouk Valley, a high-altitude and ecologically rich area in District Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It is the first documentation of its kind in this Himalayan foothill region. A total of 321 plant species belonging to 97 families and 246 genera were collected and taxonomically identified. The ethnobotanical data were gathered through structured interviews with 50 local informants aged 25–75, including traditional healers, herbalists, and farmers. Out of the documented species, 219 (68.22%) were used for ethnomedicinal purposes, primarily in treating fever, respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal issues, and skin diseases. Additionally, 202 species (62.92%) were used as fodder, while 105 species (32.71%) served as fuelwood. Other uses included ornamental (56 species), vegetables (25 species), fruits (31 species), condiments (12 species), and timber (19 species). The highest Informant Consensus Factor ( ICF) values were recorded for Gastrointestinal diseases (0.82) followed Analgesic (0.80) and Skin diseases (0.77) respectively. The most important and extensively used species were Hyoscyamus niger L. with an Fidelity Level (FL) of 100% followed by, Phoenix dactylifera L. (95.65%) and Plantago ovata forssk. (90%), respectively. These findings reflect the significant reliance of the local community on plant resources for healthcare, subsistence, and cultural practices. This ethnobotanical richness highlights the urgent need for biodiversity conservation and the preservation of traditional plant knowledge. With increasing threats from climate change, overharvesting, and habitat degradation, sustainable strategies are crucial to protect both plant diversity and cultural heritage. The medicinal plants documented in the Lajbouk Valley, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan may contribute to modern medicine by providing novel leads for drug discovery, validating traditional uses, and offering potential treatments for various diseases, thereby supporting the development of evidence-based phytomedicines.

Graphical abstract