Purpose The documentation of medicinal plants of a region is vital for the preservation of its traditional knowledge, cultural identity, sustainable resource management and scientific validation. This study elaborates on the findings of ethnomedicinal surveys conducted in the Trans-Himalayan region of Baltistan. Methods Field surveys were carried out and data was collected from the 14 different valleys of the region through semi-structured and open-ended interviews. Both snowball and random sampling techniques were employed for the selection of respondents. The data was analysed qualitatively utilising techniques obtained through the analysis of existing literature such as relative frequency of citations (RFCs). Results A total of 455 interviews revealed the utilization of 191 medicinal plants in 58 families and 136 genera that were used to treat 183 ailments. Asteraceae (15 genera, 25 species) was the most widely utilized plant family. Regarding their sources, 89% of the documented species were harvested from the wild, while 11% were cultivated. Habit-wise, 77% of the reported plants were herbs, 13% were shrubs, and 10% were trees. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part accounting for 25% of the total reported plant-based therapies. The roots, aerial parts, flowers, fruits, underground stems, branches and bark were reportedly used for their medicinal properties. Based on a comprehensive literature review for the reported status of therapeutic uses, 119 (62%) species including Aconitum heterophyllum, Allium carolinianum, Berberis lyceum, Pulsatilla wallichiana and Cuscuta reflexa were already reported from the region with similar uses, 26 species like Biebersteinia odora, Ferula jaeschkeana and Taraxacum officinale with dissimilar uses, while 46 species were newly documented, including Achillea millefolium, Bukiniczia cabulica, Lagotis kunawurensis, Populus alba and Trifolium resupinatum. The highest RFCs (0.95) was calculated for Swertia cordata, Tribulus terrestris, Hippophae rhamnoides and Capparis spinosa indicating widespread knowledge regarding these species. Conclusion These findings highlight the region as a hotspot of medicinally valuable plants. The communities and biodiversity of this region face pressures from both climate change, and socio-cultural degradation. The meticulous pharmacognosy of these plant-based medicines is recommended for possible development of effective drugs and therapeutic compounds. It also urges that urgent and inclusive measures be implemented to safeguard this ethnomedicinal heritage.

Traditional plant-based therapies in the Trans-Himalayan Cold deserts of Baltistan, Northern Pakistan

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发表日期：

2026年5月19日

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Zaheer Abbas,
Shazia Kousar,
Muhammad Uzair,
Samuel Kelly Rees,
Arshia Zia

摘要

Purpose

The documentation of medicinal plants of a region is vital for the preservation of its traditional knowledge, cultural identity, sustainable resource management and scientific validation. This study elaborates on the findings of ethnomedicinal surveys conducted in the Trans-Himalayan region of Baltistan.

Methods

Field surveys were carried out and data was collected from the 14 different valleys of the region through semi-structured and open-ended interviews. Both snowball and random sampling techniques were employed for the selection of respondents. The data was analysed qualitatively utilising techniques obtained through the analysis of existing literature such as relative frequency of citations (RFCs).

Results

A total of 455 interviews revealed the utilization of 191 medicinal plants in 58 families and 136 genera that were used to treat 183 ailments. Asteraceae (15 genera, 25 species) was the most widely utilized plant family. Regarding their sources, 89% of the documented species were harvested from the wild, while 11% were cultivated. Habit-wise, 77% of the reported plants were herbs, 13% were shrubs, and 10% were trees. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part accounting for 25% of the total reported plant-based therapies. The roots, aerial parts, flowers, fruits, underground stems, branches and bark were reportedly used for their medicinal properties. Based on a comprehensive literature review for the reported status of therapeutic uses, 119 (62%) species including Aconitum heterophyllum, Allium carolinianum, Berberis lyceum, Pulsatilla wallichiana and Cuscuta reflexa were already reported from the region with similar uses, 26 species like Biebersteinia odora, Ferula jaeschkeana and Taraxacum officinale with dissimilar uses, while 46 species were newly documented, including Achillea millefolium, Bukiniczia cabulica, Lagotis kunawurensis, Populus alba and Trifolium resupinatum. The highest RFCs (0.95) was calculated for Swertia cordata, Tribulus terrestris, Hippophae rhamnoides and Capparis spinosa indicating widespread knowledge regarding these species.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the region as a hotspot of medicinally valuable plants. The communities and biodiversity of this region face pressures from both climate change, and socio-cultural degradation. The meticulous pharmacognosy of these plant-based medicines is recommended for possible development of effective drugs and therapeutic compounds. It also urges that urgent and inclusive measures be implemented to safeguard this ethnomedicinal heritage.