Abstract

Background: The objectives of the present study were to document the medicinal plant resources of Skuru watershed in Karakoram Wildlife Sanctuary and their uses in traditional medicines system (Amchi) of Ladakh. Amchi system of medicines is a complementary medicines system in Ladakh. The medicinal plants were collected in the summer season of 2015 and 2016. These medicinal plants were identified at H.N.B. Garhwal University Herbarium and from some published literature. During these surveys, 73 plant species belonging to 31 families were recorded. It was also found that maximum plant species were being in use for ailments related to digestive system, followed by musculoskeletal, respiratory system, skin, cardiovascular system and blood, and nervous system. Among the plant parts used, leaves were in maximum use for herbal medicines preparations followed by whole plants, flowers, shoot, roots, stem, seeds, fruits, bulbs, bark, rhizomes and tuber.

Keywords

amchi, leh ladakh, medicinal plants, traditional knowledge, ayurveda, siddha, unani and sowa-rigpa, Daucus carota, Cucurbita spp. Spinacia spp