A Cross-Cultural Ethnobotanical Knowledge Comparison About Local Plants Among Pashto, Punjabi, and Saraiki Communities Living in Southwest Pakistan
May 2022
in “
Ethnobotany research and applications
”
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Studysummary This study documented the indigenous uses of 68 medicinal plant species for food and beverages across three ethnic communities in Southwest Pakistan, with implications for sustainable development and cross-cultural understanding.
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The study documented the indigenous uses of 68 medicinal plant species across Pashto, Punjabi, and Saraiki communities in Southwest Pakistan, involving 93 informants from 21 villages. The plants, used for food, herbal tea, and herbal drinks, were quantified using use value (UV) and cultural importance (CI) indices. Limonium cabulicum was the most important species based on use reports, Phyllanthus emblica had the highest UV (0.31), and Zingiber officinale had the highest CI (0.28). The findings highlight the ongoing use of traditional medicinal plants and suggest their potential for sustainable local development and fostering inter-ethnic relationships.
