DIVERSITY, DISTRIBUTION AND INDIGENOUS USES OF THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF DISTRICT KARAK, KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

The present research work deals with the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plant species utilized by the local inhabitants of district Karak Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. A total of 50 genera and 52 species belonging to 33 families have been recorded during March, 2010 through April, 2011. The local peoples of the area use medicinal plants to treat gastro-intestinal disorders such as dysentery, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, stomach-ache, ulcer and skeleto-muscular complaints like backache, rheumatism and muscular pain. Some species are used to treat respiratory disorders such as asthma, bronchitis and cough. While some other species are used as antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hepatic, expectorant and as tonic. Few are used for skin diseases, wound healings, swelling, inflammation and curing of snake bite and scorpion stings. Aims of the present study were to document the medicinal plant resources and their patterns of usage.