{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T09:59:40Z","timestamp":1787911180546,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,14]],"date-time":"2021-05-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1620950400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biology"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Traditional ecological knowledge, linguistic, and sociocultural perspectives are key contributors to environmental sustainability. Therefore, it is essential to identify and preserve this biocultural heritage, especially that of indigenous communities and minorities. We conducted an ethnobotanical survey to document the plant species used by the Balti and Shina communities living in the buffer zone of Deosai National Park (DNP), western Himalayas, Pakistan. A combination of random and purposive sampling techniques was adapted, targeting middle- and old-aged informants. A total of 46 semi-structured interviews were conducted and the gathered data were evaluated using relative frequency of citation (RFC) and through comparison with the ethnomedicinal literature. In total, 47 medicinal plant species belonging to 42 genera and 23 families were recorded. Baltis and Shinas cited 42 and 38 plant species, respectively, that were used to treat various diseases. About 60% of species were common among both communities, but 27.7% and 12.8% were exclusive to Baltis and Shinas, respectively. Considerable heterogeneity was noted in vernacular names, plant part(s) used, preparation, and administration. Ribes alpestre, Aconitum violaceum, Delphinium brunonianum, Thymus linearis, and Swertia petiolata were highly utilized species having RFCs &gt; 50. In addition, 46% of medicinal uses, specifically that of Allardia tomentosa, A. tridactylites, Jurinea dolomiaea, and Gallium boreale, were reported for the first time from the region. Cross-cultural analysis revealed sociocultural gaps between both groups. Relatively, Baltis retained more ethnomedicinal knowledge and their traditional medicinal system is more closely associated with traditional Tibetan medicine. Generally, Balti and Shina communities retain substantial biocultural and ethnological diversity, which has been reflected in the present study. Our findings underline the importance and need for sustainable utilization of natural resources, specifically the plant species of this region. However, an in-depth ethnobotanical investigation may underpin the holistic comparative medical ethnobotany of the entire region.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/biology10050434","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,14]],"date-time":"2021-05-14T03:28:36Z","timestamp":1620962916000},"page":"434","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":28,"title":["Comparative Assessment of Medicinal Plant Utilization among Balti and Shina Communities in the Periphery of Deosai National Park, Pakistan"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Zaheer","family":"Abbas","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Botany, University of Education Lahore, Lahore 54770, Pakistan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shazia","family":"Kousar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5926-771X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Muhammad Abdul","family":"Aziz","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2302-6380","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Pieroni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Gastronomic Sciences, 12042 Pollenzo, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Medical Analysis, Tishk International University, Erbil 44001, Iraq"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9553-1829","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ali Abdullah","family":"Aldosari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Geography Department, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3524-5273","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rainer W.","family":"Bussmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ethnobotany, Institute of Botany, Ilia State University, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ghulam","family":"Raza","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Sciences, University of Baltistan, Skardu 15100, Pakistan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9978-3866","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Arshad Mehmood","family":"Abbasi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,14]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aziz, M.A., Ullah, Z., and Pieroni, A. 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