Ethnopharmacological Uses of Plants among Tribal and Rural Folks of Shopian Forest Area of Kashmir

Shopian has been an ancient town of Kashmir which among other factors in the past has historical importance, since it is situated in the ancient imperial road commonly known -Mughal Road- which connects Kashmir valley with Rajouri and Poonch districts. Indigenous knowledge system are culturally valued and scientifically important. the indigenous knowledge of plants resource has deep roots, in the life style of local in mountain population of Kashmir Himalaya. Preference is given to herbal remedies because of having no alternative choices, poverty and trust in the effectiveness of folklore herbal remedies. Field observation was carried out in district shopian Kashmir focusing on ethnobotany, ethnomedicine and diversity of medicinal plants. A total 32 species belong to 24 families was collected from study area. The present study revealed that 32 herb up to about 65 % of the plants collected from the study as medicinal values Asteraceae, Pinaceae and Polygonaceae. Result revealed that most of the plants species had multiple uses in the treatment of disease. Strengthening the use and conservation of indigenous knowledge of useful plants may benefit and improve the public health and living standard of local people.