ISSN 2617-8001 (Print), ISSN 2664-5297 (Online)
ETHNOBOTANICAL INSIGHTS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS: TRADITIONAL THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS
Aleena Gul, Muhammad Zafar, Salman Majeed, Muhammad Rizwan Khan, Barkat Ali Rajper Rahmat Ali

Medicinal plants are regarded as crucial ancient form of medication that are used in traditional medicine in many countries not only in rural areas but also in urban areas for thousands of years. The current study reported the comprehensive overview of the ethnobotanical review of a selected 50 species belonging to 31 families to document their therapeutic applications and traditional preparation approaches. The data were systematically compiled from published ethnobotanical literature and scientific databases, focusing on the mode of administration and the therapeutic relevance of taxa. This review revealed a diverse range of pharmacological activities, with the most frequent therapeutic targets being gastrointestinal, skin disorders and wound healing, documented in 15-20 studied taxa. Specific ailments including diabetes, respiratory infections and fever were also prominently addressed across multiple taxa. The analysis of administration methods confirmed a primary reliance on oral decoctions, followed by topical leaf paste and infusions, emphasizing a preference for simple water-based extraction approach. These overviews value the conservation of traditional knowledge and offer a scientific foundation for further phytochemical as well as pharmacological research of the medicinal plants.

Keywords: decoction, disorders, ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, medicinal plants
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