Exploration of ethnobotanical and ethnomedicinal importance of naturally growing plants of District Neelum from areas of Dawarian to Ratti Gali, Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Background : Ethnobotanical study was continued from old civilization to date. Kashmir covered with 46 % vagatation and out of these many are naturally growing plants. Many areas are still unexplored the plants ethnomedicinal inportanmce of wild plants. In this regard, ethnobotanical survey on the unexplored area of District Anthmaqam, Azad Jummu & Kashmir was conducted for identification of wild plants and their ethnomedical values. Methods : The current research work was carried out by interviewing the local peoples through a questionnaire method. Data analysis was done by different novel statistical tools such as fidelity level (FL), Spearman’s rank correlation (SRC), informant consensus factor (ICF) and direct matrix ranking (DMR) strategies. The ethnobotanical uses of many wild plants were correlated with the plants who already used by societies in some countries of the world. But few plants are used as medicines only indigenous peoples and we reccomented these plants for peoples in other parts of countery as well as throughout the world in future. Results : Peoples used plants in daily life as in form of vegetables, infection and many types of skin diseases. Current study revealed on 103 plants species belonging to 46 plant families from selected area of District Neelum, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. It was observed that Asteraceae with 12 plants species was the the most prominant family occurs in the study area. Out of 103 plants, 75.72% have single-usage, 20.38% have dual-usages and 3.88% have multiple-usage. Among plant partused, leaves having the highest percentage (34 %) that are used by people of the study area for the treatment of different diseases followed by the root 25.2%. Powdered is the dosage form having highest percentage 38% followed by juice and mixture with 29% and 13%, respectively. Some plants used as fodder having highest percentage 37% followed by Food (vegetables and fruits) with 32%. Construction having lowest percentage with 6%. Different statistical tools were applied for more consize results elaboration as mentioned in method section. Data analysis through FL depicted that Allium griffithianum and Adiantum aethiopicum have highest fidelity level of 75% followed by the Mentha longifolia with fedility level of about 72 %. The highest ICF value for recorded for ear-ache and house-thatching (0.91) followed by the construction (0.89) while the lowest ICF value recorded for fodder (0.03) followed by blood purification (0.5). Spearman’s rank correlation test confirmed that the number of uses of plants increases with the increase in the number of species. Conclusions : The present research focused to explore the uses of plants in different purposes by experience of old peoples in the study area. Ethnobotanical research focused to explore the uses of plants in different purposes by experience of old peoples in the study area. Young gereration of the area did not know ethnobotanical importance of wild plants in the area. So, this study will be useful those peoples and researchers in different fields such as ethnopharmacology, agriculture and biotechnology for future work.


Background
The ethnobotany came into being when earliest man observed animal intake various plants, assembled and alarmed for his food and for fixing his lesion. Ethnobotany plays a significant role between biology, social and traditional system [1,2]. It was observed that indigenous plants related knowledge has been continued from one generation to other generation and so on through experience of local peoples. The knowledge of rural areas peoples is best example and key of ethnobotanical study of plants [3]. This study of ethnobotany provides better uses of plants in the field of ethnomedicines as well as it includes use of plants for medicines, food, rituals, social life and others fields of human socities This multi-discipilanary connection between human societies and plants isn't restricted to the utilization of plants for attire, food and asylum yet in addition remembers their utilization for different fields as; strict functions, decorative purposes and medical services [4].
Plants are widely used by every type of community as medicines, whether directly as tribe recipes or medication of different indigenous schemes. There is critical necessity of supporting the medicinal plants that are over collected so that, coming future generations could advantage from these valuable plants that are actual gift of nature for the mankind. The indigenous ethnomedicinal value of plants is helpful to different fields of botany as in the field of Taxonomy, Ecology, Pharmacology and Wildlife in civilizing the prosperity of an area, besides highlightening the traditional uses [5].
The specific plants are used for particular ethnic aims and on particular occasions by cultural groups throughout the existence [6]. It was assessed that 25 % drugs are integrated from restorative plants and right around 80 % people groups of creating nations are still relies upon conventional and local prescriptions to fix ailments as well as fundamental medical services [7].
In our neighbouring country, 27 plant species are used traditionally as ethnomedicinal plants which belong to 18 different taxonomic families for the treatment of different diseases and ailments. The green parts of plants (leaves) are used most frequently and many types of medicines are manufactured in the form of paste and administrative orally [8].
Greater part of therapeutic plants might be utilized as a wash to shower the body with less meds being ingested. Before the advancement of current pipes innovation, clean water was not so much accessible but rather more valuable. In such conditions, it might be favorable for washing to happen less as often as possible yet with the utilization of therapeutic plants. Lab testing of a considerable lot of the therapeutic plants utilized by the Tiwi have discovered them to have against microbial properties. Customarily the utilization of such plants are accepted to have happened regularly in a similar way that food plants were gathered.
All necessary requirements of life from medicine to shelter and food to fibre are gained from forests' vegetation. [10]. If the processing of raw woodland material which produce wood, branches, logs and fibres for creating differnet merchandise that had been useful in every day life for sustainable livelihood [11]. The use of medicinal plants is very important in rural and tribal areas of Pakistan where as it is considered as inicial treatment against different diseases remidies [12].
Some therapeutic plants are financial and utilized in treatment of certain sicknesses. An aggregate of 59 plants species were utilized for fourteen distinct classifications of illnesses, for example, skin ailment. Restorative greenery, for example, Berberis lyceum, Ajuga bracteosa, Aconitum heterophyllum, Bistorta amplexicaule, Saussurea lapa and Jurinea dolomiaea are on the edge of eradication due to over misuse [13].
The ethnomedicinal information were accumulated from various region of Punjab Pakistan through polls and broad individual discoursed with local people including 40 guys 20 females of different age bunches between 50 to 80 years and furthermore dark-striped cats and hakims.
Around 40 plant species having a place with 22 families were explored which are used by local individuals to fix issues and sicknesses, for example, asthma, ulcer, gonorrhea, heaps, stomach agony, and skin illnesses. The outcomes exhibited that the zone is wealthy in vegetation yet remained organically unexplored [14].
The ethnobotanical concentrates on trees of region Kotli, Azad Kashmir uncovered conventional use of 50 tree spp., having a place with 39 genera and 24 families with Moraceae, the most well-known family having 9 species. The regular use of tree was restorative, fuel and grain. The phonological examinations uncovered that 65% of the species bloomed from the period of August forward or in winter season [15].
The ethnobotanical assessment on the restorative plants of Darguti, Tehsil Khuiratta, Azad Jammu and Kashmir was perceived during 2014-2015 by meeting the neighborhood occupants through a poll. A sum of 100 plant species having a place with 47 families were reported. It was noticed that individuals utilize plants as vegetables and grain, fuel just as therapeutic commitments.
Neighborhood individuals use treatment of various ailments like lockjaw, diabetes, looseness of the bowels, asthma, kidney contamination, clogging, gastric ulcer, bronchial illnesses, gonorrhea, scabies, throat aggravation and numerous sorts of skin maladies with nearby plants [16].
The utilization of customary ethnomedicinal by the nearby seniors of Area Mirpur Azad Jammu and Kashmir saw by mehmood and his partners. Ethnomedicinal information was gathered by mean of poll strategy, meets and direct perception. An aggregate of 38 plant species having a place with 22 families were accounted for of hurling ethnomedicinal use. About 13 hakims and 78 local people were visited to collect ethnomedicinal data [2]. The ethnobotanical estimations of the most normally utilized plants of the Neelum Valley AJ&K, investigated and gives an account of the indigenous information on various networks of the examination zone [17].
The State of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) is declared as diverse habitats, variable climatic conditions and appropriate fertile soil with rich nutrients [18][19]. It has variety of natural resources particularly rich in medicinal plant flora [20]. The state of AJK has a wide range of mountainous ecosystems which are affluent in flora and fauna. The area of Azad Kashmir has scrub forest, alpine and grasslands ecosystem as vegetational catogeries.
Anthropogenic and other natural hazerds depicted a high effect on the ecosystems of the areas [21].
The examination zone "Neelum Valley" is arranged North-East of Muzaffarabad at an elevation of 900-6325 meters above ocean level. It lies between 73°-75° E longitude and 32°-35° N scope [22]. It is the biggest vale of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) covering a territory of 3737 Km. Dawarian town is arranged at 110 km north of the capital Muzaffarabad and is around 5299 ft over the ocean level. The atmosphere is calm with freezing winters (normal 0-4 ºC) and moderate summers (normal temperature 20-30 ºC). Normal precipitation is 1650 mm yearly. The territory has different sorts of landforms and little levels. Soil is loamy and sandy topsoil, fit for holding dampness and great development of woodlands. Larger part of the region is secured with thick vegetation and woods trees [23]. The sampling site "Ratti Gali" is situated at 19 km from Dawarian and is about 12130 ft above the sea level. It lies between 74°-76° E longitude and 34°-36° N latitude [22]. Vegetation mainly consist of herbs and shrubs with some tree species. Ratti Gali is famous place because of lake know as Ratti Gali lake which is an alpine glacial lake. The territory has inadequately evolved street and other foundation. Principle crops incorporate corn (Zea mays L.), turnip (Brasica rapa L.), and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in a coordinated framework. A high extent of nearby individuals are related with animals [24].
Many plant species used as ethomedicines in different areas of AJ&K. The older indigenous peoples of Azad Kashmir have more ethnobotanical knowledge of plant species as comparison to younger ones [24]. However, the current research area is rarely reported except few plant species. Many species of the study were unexplored and reported first time in this paper. Therefore, the present research paper was focused on social and geographical characteristics of different study sites. Then all types of plants were collected for identification, preservation and exposed their ethnobotanical uses. To document the indigenous knowledge of wild plant from Dowariyan and Rati Gali. To explore the indeginous use of plants by local communities. Other key medicinal values and differernt perspectives for better livelihood were also observed and highlighted. Floristic composition of various species compiled for further novel and authentic ethnobotanical exploration. All data was analysed by different statistical tools for more accurate and significant assessment of all identified plant species with special reference to ethnomedicinal importance from the selected study area of District Atmokam, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan and their future perspective as for pharmaceutical analysis. The research will also assist in conservation of the precious medicinal flora of the area.

Meterials and methods
The current ethnobotanical analysis was conducted during the year 2019 from Dawarian to Rati Gali sites of District Athmaqam Neelum Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Ethnobotanical information collection
Ethnobotanical informations were gathered from the local peoples of the study area by random visits with help of local guide or translator. The data collected from the local people indicate local name, local uses, recipe, part used, occurrence, characters involved in the collection, marketing and other related information. The plants of Dawarian and Rati Gali District Athmaqam Neelum valley were categorized according to their economic value such as medicinal, fodder, vegetable, thatching and fuel wood etc. through meeting poll from various individuals however inclination was given to neighborhood senior individuals, who had a ton of data about the plants and their customary employments. Survey and observations added more information in literature [24]. Various age bunches were perceived and organized based on 10 years' age contrast. The 60-70 age bunch was more educated therefore close to home understanding.

Data collection by questionnaire method
For obtaining our concerned objectives questionnaire method using open and close-ended interview was applied to extract useful data from the local people and herbalists. About 40 informants were interviewed of both the genders randomly for obtaining ethnobotanical data. Our informants consist of local people. Informants were asked about the plants they used in the treatment of different ailments. The interviewer also briefed us that how a particular plant is used, its dosage form, its part used and also the recipe of plant used for the treatment of certain diseases [25]. In the open-ended interviews, people were allowed to speak openly about the plants used for the treatment of different diseases. The researcher interviewed the people in their local language so as to extract allmost and reliable information from the people following protocol of Thompson [25] with some modifications.

Plant samples collection and identification
The plant examples were gathered from the study zone. They were dried, squeezed and mounted appropriately and submitted in Herbarium, (MUH). MUST, Bhimber Campus, AJ&K with voucher numbers for additional reference. They were related to the assistance of vegetation of Pakistan [19] and properly identified plants were kept for future reference.

Data analysis
Data analysis was conducted by using different qunantitative ethnobotanical tools. The dependability and legitimacy of ethnobotanical research work and data was checked and upheld by calculating informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL) and Family index (FI) and spearman's rank correlation followed by previous botanists [26,27].

Fidelity level (FL)
The fidelity level (FL) is the level of witnesses guaranteeing the utilization of certain plant for a similar object, was determined for the most habitually revealed by usage or ailments as: Where, Np indicated the number of informants that claim a use of plant species used for a particular purpose/ disease, and N is mentioned the number of informants that use the plant as a medicine to treat any given disease. This statistical tool was also applied by Farooq and his group [26].

Informants consensus factor (ICF)
ICF identifies the agreement of the informants on the reported medicines for the group of ailments. It was calculated by the following equation: ICF= nur -nt/nur -1 Where nur = number of used citation in each category and nt = number of specie used. This method is used for further examinations in drug investigation and other exploration ventures [28].

Family index (FL)
Family index is also calculated to check the member of which family is mostly used to cure against different diseases [13].

Direct Matrix Ranking (DMR)
Direct matrix ranking was applied which depicts populace thickness of plant species and their protection status in the investigation territory. DMR depicts highest biotic pressure on the plants which are most commonly used by the local people in the investigated area for the treatment of various ailments [24].

Spearman's correlation test
In spearman's rank correlation, analysis was calculated about indigenous knowledge of male and female to find out the fact that whether male have better knowledge than female or not as well as to explore correlation of number of uses with number of plants. It was proved that the number of uses of plants also increases as the number of plants species increases. It is calculated as: Where 2 is the square of the sum of the ranks and n is the number of informants [29].

Results and discussion
The present ethnobotanical examination persual generated a checklist of plants of Mahmood and his research group [17]. In which 40 plant species having a place with 31 families were discovered to be important for therapeutic, food, grain/scavenge, fuel, lumber, cover and farming purposes. Neighborhood individuals utilized indigenous plants for their basic ailments. e.g., Berberis lycium, Podophyllum hexandrum, Oxyria digyna, Rheum austral, Aconogonon alpinum, Angelica cyclocarpa and Geranium wallichianum were most important plants from the study area.
The Table 1   showed diversity in geographic charateristics [22]. Rati Gali 3,700 This area is located at high altitude. Vegetation mainly consist of herbs or shrubs. There is very low population but area is huge. People migrates here with their domestic animals in summers from different areas.

Plants collection, identification and preservation
The plants were gathered from the selected towns of District Atmakam, AJK. The plants were identified mainly with the help of Flora of Pakistan. The specimens were submitted in Herbarium, Department of Botany, MUST, Bhimber Campus with voucher numbers for further reference. Family-wise inventory of the plants was given in Table 3. Total 103 plants were identified from the study area with their family names, habit observed (herb, shrub or tree) and local name of each plant elaborated in the Table 3. Similar findings were counted by other taxonomists in other countries [30].

Summary of ethnobotanical investigation
To summarize the identified (103 plants) species in pie-chart as; out of which 75.72% were single usage, 20.38% were dual usages and 3.88% were multiple usages. A pie-chart of all plants uses is given in Fig. 2.  [24]. Among plant part utilized, Leaves (30%) and the entire plant (23%) were the most much of the time utilized plant parts followed by roots (14%), bark (11%), seeds (8%), natural products (6%) elevated parts and stem (3%) and blossoms (2%) while the most widely recognized strategies for readiness was decoction (20%), extricate (17%), mixture (15%), powder and squeeze (13% each), glue (11%), poultice (7%), and oil (8%). Comparative tradicional employments of therapeutic plants were additionally investigated by Oliver in 2013 [34]. 33 The plants which are used for multiple purposes, are called multiple-usage, e.g.  (Table 6). While a piechart of all multiple-usage plants is given in (Fig.5)      ------------3 7% Family with highest numner of plant species, number of species contained in each family and family ranking (FR) explored from the study area (Table 9). It was observed that highest FR was shown Asteraceae and lowest FR indicated by Rosaceae. These findings were very closely supported by Maqbool and his colleagues [30]. increases in the number of species. In spearman's correlation, we correlated the indigenous knowledge of males and females to find out the facts that either the females have better knowledge as compared to males or not as well as we also correlated the number of uses with the number of plants (Table 10, 11,12). Similar studies were conducted by Ahmad and his colleages [24] in Kel, Neelum Valley Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Amjad and his colleages were also done work in Toli Peer National Park, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. They were investigated plant species from their respected areas and applied statistical tools such as FL, ICF, DMR and FI [28]. Similar statistical tools were also applied by Maqbool et al., 2019 on ethnobotanical data compiled from district Bhimber, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan [30].        Informant consensus factor (ICF) was used to support the data and to see the degree of agreement on each plant reported by informants (Table 13A). The highest value of ICF is 0.91 for earache who depict prevalence of diseases mostly in children in the area and for construction houses because people in study area only depends on tree for construction their houses. The lowest value is for fodder 0.03 (Table 13B). Similar findings were correlated and strongly supported by

Pinus wallichiana
Farooq and his colleages [26]. Maximum informant consensus factor (0.88) was calculated for digestive and liver disorders (Table 13B). According to diseases vise ICF was also measured by different sciencists in rest of the world [30]. According to Direct matrix ranking (DMR), plant species were also used for other purposes than medicinal values as indicated in Table 14. These results indicated that the plant species P. So, this study will be useful those peoples and researchers in different fields such as ethnopharmacology, agriculture and biotechnology for future work.