Identification and Documentation of Medicinal Flora of Pabbi Hills Adjacent to River Jhelum, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Plants have played a crucial role in human life by providing for a 
variety of needs. In addition to providing humans with food, fuel, shelter, and fodder, also be used to make herbal remedies for a variety of illnesses. 
Objective: The aim of this study was to document the medicinal uses of plants in Pabbi Hills Punjab Province, Pakistan. Ethnobotanists investigate the interactions between humans and plants. 
Methodology: For the first time in the region, the ethnobotanical results include quantitative data on the variety of therapeutic plants. Semi-structured interviews, in-person interviews, open-ended questionnaires, and firsthand observations were used to gather the data. Quantitative indicators of information consent factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), usage value (UV), frequency citation (FC), and relative frequency citation (RFC) were used to examine the results.
Result: There have been reports of 60 plant species from 37 families being used medicinally. With seven species, the Fabaceae family was shown to be the most prevalent in the region. The most commonly utilized portions were found to be the whole plant and its leaves (31%). The most popular form of preparation was decoction (20.9% with 31 species). The categories of vomiting, flatulence, and mouth freshing had the highest ICF value (1). Twelve plant species, including Mentha longifolia (L.) L., Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague, Foeniculum vulgare Mill, Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Acacia nilotica Willd., Punica granatum L., Euclyptus globulens L., Cannabis sativa L., Ficus benghalensis L., Brassica campestris L., Ficus religiosa L., and Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken, were found to have 100% fidelity level. Mentha longifolia was reported to have the greatest usage value (1.09), while its RFC value (0.94) was the highest. Menthalongifolia (L.) L. Trachyspermum ammi (L.) Sprague was determined to have the highest utilization report. 
Conclusion: There are many therapeutic plants in the region, and people still frequently use these plants in their daily life. However, the younger generation is gradually losing their traditional understanding of these plants. The foundation for the preservation of the native flora and its usage as food and medicine is provided by this study. Additionally, it offers a range of socioeconomic aspects related to the average person.