Ethno-medicinal plants of indigenous people: A case study in Khatling valley of Western Himalaya, India

Background: Khatling valley is an unexplored and remote region located in the Uttarakhand state of Indian Himalaya, area possesses rich medicinal flora, local inhabitants using these plants since generations. The majority primary health care depends upon traditional medicine due to unavailability a modern facility, however, identity limited healers or elder people thus documentation such important knowledge dire need for sustainable use. Methods: An ethnomedicinal survey was carried out this from 2018 2020. Ethnomedicinal data were collected 82 informants through semi-structured questionnaires group conversations. To check popular frequently used species URs Informant consensus factor (ICF) calculated data. Results: present study recorded 68 63 genera 35 families utilized treating various disorders. dominant Asteraceae (7) Rosaceae (6) followed by Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Ranunculaceae, Polygonaceae, Zingiberiaceae (4 each). useful herbaceous (78%) trees (12%), shrubs (9%), climbers least number (1%). Most plant parts leaves roots 25% each, rhizome, aerial part tuber (9% each), seeds, fruits, whole (5% bark (4%) while, stem, flower, resin, bulb has less proportion (1% Five drug formulations which paste most common (32%) powder (31%), decoction (19%), raw juice (6%). Some based on use reports (URs) Valeriana jatamansi Jones (300 5 uses), Aconitum lethale Griff. (275 Nardostachys (D. Don) DC (250 4 Solanum nigrum (L.) (234 Paeonia emodi Royle (230 uses). ICF values ranged between 0.96 1. highest value (1) mental disorders (ICD code F) epilepsy G) while minimum blood problems I). Conclusion: having high can be good source novel phytoconstituents discoveries, apart will helpful new generation, researchers, policymakers species. Keywords: Ethnomedicine; Indigenous knowledge; Medicinal plants; Remote