ETHNOBOTANICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE MEDICINAL FLORA OF KHYBER AGENCY, PAKISTAN

The valley of Khyber Agency is blessed with a diverse and rich flora. This ethnobotanical study in the said area provides the indigenous information for the traditionally used native medicinal plants that are cheaper and locally accessible to the inhabitants of the locality. The present study was carried out to document and preserve the indigenous knowledge of native community about the local flora of Khyber Agency, Pakistan during spring, summer, autumn and winter seasons of 2014-15. Data were collected from the local farmers (both males and fermales) and herbalists with the help of a comprehensive questionnaire. Interviews were conducted from 130 respondents about the ethnobotanical uses of medicinal plants of the locality. A total of 30 local plants were documented to be used by the local people. These plants are distributed in 23 different plant families and were used for various ethnobotanical purposes i.e. medicine, timber wood, construction, fodder and making different tools as well. Among these families, Papilionaceae and Solanaceae were represented by three species (10%) each, followed by Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Rhammaceae (10%), Umbeliferaceae (5%) and Brassicaceae (40%) with two species (6.6%) each while the remaining families i.e. Amaranthaceae, Arecaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Cannabaceae, Capparidaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Convovulaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fumariaceae, Malvaceae, Meliaceae, Mimosaceae, Moraceae, Oxalidaceae and Poaceae by one (3.33%) species. The respondents used different plants parts for a variety of ethonobotianical uses. The plant parts included whole plants (used by 63% of the respondents) followed by leaves (22%), seeds (9%), fruits and roots each used by only 3%of the interviewed community. Highest number of the plant species was used for just the stomach disorders and antipyretics. In conclusion, the target area is solely depended on medicinal plants for the treatment of the ailments. Moreover, this ethnobotanical study was important to preserve the precious indigenous knowledge of the aged people before it is lost for ever.