An Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used for Primary Health Care from Patan Sher Khan and Surrounding Areas of District Sudhnoti, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan

Life on mountains is difficult and people depend on medicinal plants for primary health care. Many of mountain areas of Azad Kashmir are unexplored from taxonomic and ethnobotanical point of view. This study was conducted to document the indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants of village Patan Sher Khan and allied areas of District Sudhnuti Azad Kashmir Pakistan. Field surveys were conducted during March 2020 to March 2021 for collection of medicinal plants knowledge following standard ethnobotanical methods. A total of 120 key informants were interviewed by using semi-structured questioners. The data were analyzed through ethnobotanical indices i.e., Relative frequency of citation (RFC), Use value (UV), Informant consensus factor (ICF) and Fidelity level (FL). A total of 37 medicinal plant species belonging to 32 genera and 25 families were recorded during the study. Dominant ethnomedicinal families were Fabaceae with 4 species followed by Moraceae and Rosaceae with 3 species each. Leaves were the most frequently used parts (36 %) and decoction was preferred medicinal preparation (19 use reports).  Highest relative frequency of citation was recorded for Ficus palmata (0.15) followed by Melia azedarchta (0.14) and highest use value was found for Dodonaea viscosa (0.58). The most valuable plant species of the study area are Ficus carica with 8 use reports and 48 use citations, Bauhinia variegata with 7 use reports and 45 use citations. The maximum value of FL was recorded for Berberis lyceum (100 %) and Plantago lanceolate, (100%). Based on documented data the reported ailments were grouped into 9 categories, The ICF values ranges between 0. 33 (sexual) to 0.90 (teeth and urinary). Medicinal plant knowledge is still alive and large papulation of area still depend on medicinal plants for primary healthcare. But medicinal plant knowledge is declining especially among younger people. Hence, there is an urgent need to document such precious knowledge by continuous ethnobotanical studies.