Ethnomedicinal profile and conservation status of plant biodiversity in Alexander the Great Valley, District Shangla, Pakistan

Abstract

A comprehensive study was carried out to elaborate ethno-medicinal profile and conservation status of Plant biodiversity in Alexander the great Valley, District Shangla, Pakistan. It is one of the world's most interesting and historical areas, not only for its natural resources and medicinal plant diversity but also for old relics or ruins of Alexander the Great that is attracting national and global interest. The valley is named as Alexander the great Valley due to stay of Alexander the great, and its old relics or ruins are still found in the Pir Sar area. The study revealed 32 medicinal plants belonging to 26 families consisting of 19 taxa of annual herbs followed by 6 taxa of trees, 4 taxa of shrubs, 2 taxa of climbers and 1 taxon of saprophyte. For documenting the ethno-medicinal and socio economic profile of the study area, a simple questionnaire was developed and filled through interview from representative of various ethnic groups. The botanical name, followed by local name, family, part used and ethno- medicinal uses in different folk was recorded. The main aim of the study was to document and explore the indigenous knowledge of local people belonging to different ethnic and socio economic backgrounds of the study area about medicinal plants. Key words: Medicinal plants, conervation, Alexander Valley, Shangla, Pakistan.