Documentation of ethnomedicinal plants in Kullu, Himachal Pradesh: A district-wide survey
Manoj Raturi, Hardeep Singh, Deepshikha Arya, Shiddamallayya Nagayya, Bandi VenkateshwarluAbstract
BACKGROUND:
Himachal Pradesh harbors nearly 37% of the medicinal plants of the Indian Himalayan Region. Although several ethnomedicinal studies have been conducted in Kullu district, most are locality-specific. This study aimed to document ethnomedicinal plant diversity across the district.
METHODS:
Medico-ethnobotanical surveys were conducted across different forest regions of Kullu district following Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) guidelines. Collected specimens were identified using regional floras.
RESULTS:
A total of 171 medicinal plant species belonging to 137 genera and 62 families were documented. Asteraceae was dominant (20 species), while 31 families had a single species. Herbs were the predominant life form (70.2%), and leaves were the most used plant part (25%). Cross-verification identified 19 species listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India (API) and 13 in the threatened plant list of Himachal Pradesh.
CONCLUSION:
This study highlights Kullu district’s rich ethnomedicinal plant diversity. Threatened species and unsustainable harvesting emphasize the need for