Ethnobotanical Insights into Medicinal and Culinary Plant Use: The Dwindling Traditional Heritage of the Dard Ethnic Group in the Gurez Region of the Kashmir Valley, India

This ethnobiological study addresses the complicated relationship between the Dard ethnic group and their natural environment in the Gurez region of the Kashmir Valley. The study documents their traditional knowledge of the use of plant species for medicinal and culinary purposes. A total of 87 plant species from 41 different families were cataloged, with the Asteraceae family (15 species) and the Lamiaceae family (12 species) being the most commonly used. These plants were found to be used to treat 20 different ailments, with menstrual cramps being the most common (12 species). The fidelity values for these plants ranged from 11.10 to 71.42, demonstrating their importance in traditional medicine. In addition, 17 plant species were found to be useful for gastronomic purposes, with Juglans regia being the most valuable (use value of 0.73). The study also evaluated the conservation status of these plants and found that seven of them are considered critically endangered, ten endangered, and four endangered according to the IUCN classification. This study offers insights into the Dard people’s deep connection to their natural environment and has significant implications for policy formulation, cultural conservation, and sustainable use of endemic species, as well as potential applications in pharmaceutical research for therapeutic compounds.


Introduction
Humans have known of the therapeutic properties of plants since the beginning of their evolutionary history, as reflected in their prehistoric and later cultural heritage [1][2][3].In all ethnic communities, conventional medicine is considered the sum of knowledge.Human talents and cultural practices of a society based on its beliefs, experiences, and theories are used to treat or improve health [4].Modern medicines produced by chemical synthesis are far more accessible in developed countries, although in many cases they are based on a molecule of natural origin (plant or animal) [5].Nevertheless, developed countries increasingly value the direct use of herbs in conjunction with modern medical treatments, especially herbs with a scientific basis for treating minor illnesses [6].Developing countries continue to rely on the use of medicinal herbs, and this is despite the fact that traditional knowledge is being lost in many Plants 2023, 12, 3599 2 of 27 societies [7].Traditional medicine systems are extremely effective in treating various common seasonal diseases [8].However, this traditional knowledge gathered in traditional medicine and ethnopharmacology is declining and has been severely threatened in recent decades.Numerous ethnobiologists believe that this valuable knowledge could be extinguished by the end of time [9].Plants as traditional remedies are a real option for health care in developing countries, especially for rural communities [10].
About 2.5 million years ago, the human lineage transitioned from a predominantly vegetarian lifestyle [11].The Himalayan region, known for its ecological richness, hosts more than half of India's biodiversity and is characterized by a large number of rare and endemic species that are an important source of food [12].Ethnobiology has evolved considerably in recent decades, moving from mere documentation to practical application and sustainable management of traditional knowledge systems.This evolution is in line with Article 8 (j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which explicitly recognizes traditional knowledge (TK) as a cornerstone for the sustainable development of food systems in a given geographic context [13].Traditional plant gathering is critical to the creation of new local gastronomies and the sustainability of food systems in remote tribal communities [14,15].Food scouting, the identification, classification, and exchange of a range of food resources within indigenous communities, is enabled by ethnobiological studies [15,16].According to such studies, indigenous peoples have a great treasure of lost plant and ecological knowledge that needs to be documented in a timely manner to build sustainable food and healthcare systems [17][18][19].
Ethnopharmacology is defined as the interdisciplinary scientific study of traditionally used indigenous drugs and biologically active agents [20][21][22].A first step is to present the use of extracts in a particular disease without investigating a possible causal relationship with the contained ingredients/active ingredients [22].To date, ethnopharmacology has contributed significantly to the study of indigenous and traditional medicinal knowledge and the biodiversity component with which this knowledge is associated [3].Ethnomedicine is a traditional ethnic approach to treating health problems using plants or other natural sources [23,24].In the Kashmir Valley, a spectrum of ethnic communities has been ethnobotanically studied, although the use of plants for medicinal and dietary purposes by the "Dard" ethnic group remains relatively unexplored.Several factors could explain the limited research efforts in this population group.These include their residence in remote, high-altitude areas with inadequate road infrastructure, cultural constraints that discourage women from participating in studies, and diminished confidence due to regional geopolitical challenges.Against this background, this study was designed to systematically document ethnomedical knowledge in the Gurez (Kashmir Valley) of India.The objectives of the study were as follows: (A) to document the plant species used to control various ailments and (B) to record the plant species consumed as preferred foods at different stages of pregnancy.This research will help collect baseline data from the Gurez region of the Kashmir Valley for pharmaceutical companies to identify new compounds with significant therapeutic properties.

Ethnobotanical Inventory
In the present study, a total of n = 87 species were recorded, divided into n = 41 families.Asteraceae was the dominant family with n = 15 species, followed by Lamiaceae (n = 12), Fabaceae, Rosaceae (n = 4 each), Amaranthaceae, and Malvaceae (n = 3 each) (Figure 1).The dominance of Asteraceae can be attributed to their rapid acclimation and adaptation to dry sites due to their large ecological amplitude [25].Based on growth habit, species were classified into trees, herbs, and shrubs, with herbs (n = 76) taking potential precedence, followed by trees (n = 7) and shrubs (n = 4) (Table 1).The predominance of herbs can be attributed to their frequent distribution, ease of collection, and rich phytochemistry [26].The present study is the first comprehensive investigation of ethnobotanical findings on the use of plant species for medicinal and dietary purposes within the Dard ethnic group.The data obtained in the study are shown in Table 1, and some pictures of the species are shown in Figure 2.

Ethnopharmacological Profile
The use of plant taxa for a variety of ailments is common in different cultures around the world.In the present study, we documented n = 20 diseases treated with the documented species (Figure 3a).Most (n = 12) of the species (Artemisia absinthium, Cannabis sativa, Dioscorea deltoidea, Fumaria indica, Juglans regia, Notholirion thomsonianum Aucklandia costus, Saussurea simpsoniana, Trifolium pratense, Erigeron canadensis, Cynodon dactylon, Podophyllum hexandrum) were used for menstrual disorders, followed by delivery problems (n = 7; i.e., Asparagus filicinusa, Geranium wallichianum, Hemerocallis fulva, Achyranthes aspera) and labor pain (n = 7; Salvia sclarea, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Dyspania botrys, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ocimum basilicum, Bidens pilosa, Persicaria hydropiper) (Figure 3a).The use of the above species against the selected diseases can be attributed to the strong belief in traditional knowledge.The local Dards believe that sources from nature have healing properties because they are blessed with divine stature that mankind cannot even think of.The results are in line with many other studies [23,27,28] from the nearby Himalayan region, which show that plant taxa still play an important role (health care) even in modern times.It is important to mention that poor medical facilities in the region and being cut off from the other parts of the state due to heavy snowfall make people invest their minds in nature to maintain their health.Table 1 provides a detailed overview of the use of the documented taxa against a variety of diseases.The Pearson correlation coefficient highlights the strength and direction of the relationship between the diseases and the documented species; p-values are shown below (Figure 3b).

Ethnopharmacological Profile
The use of plant taxa for a variety of ailments is common in different cultures around the world.In the present study, we documented n = 20 diseases treated with the documented species (Figure 3a).Most (n = 12) of the species (Artemisia absinthium, Cannabis sativa, Dioscorea deltoidea, Fumaria indica, Juglans regia, Notholirion thomsonianum Aucklandia costus, Saussurea simpsoniana, Trifolium pratense, Erigeron canadensis, Cynodon dactylon, Podophyllum hexandrum) were used for menstrual disorders, followed by delivery problems (n = 7; i.e., Asparagus filicinusa, Geranium wallichianum, Hemerocallis fulva, Achyranthes aspera) and labor pain (n = 7; Salvia sclarea, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Dyspania botrys, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ocimum basilicum, Bidens pilosa, Persicaria hydropiper) (Figure 3a).The use of the above species against the selected diseases can be attributed to the strong belief in traditional knowledge.The local Dards believe that sources from nature have healing properties because they are blessed with divine stature that mankind cannot even think of.The results are in line with many other studies [23,27,28] from the nearby Himalayan region, which show that plant taxa still play an important role (health care) even in modern times.It is important to mention that poor medical facilities in the region and being cut off from the other parts of the state due to heavy snowfall make people invest their minds in nature to maintain their health.Table 1 provides a detailed overview of the use of the documented taxa against a variety of diseases.The Pearson correlation coefficient highlights the strength and direction of the relationship between the diseases and the documented species; p-values are shown below (Figure 3b).  1.

Fidelity Level (FL)
In the present study, the species most preferred for the treatment of specific ailments were identified by calculating FL.According to Farooq et al. [29], the species that are most commonly used medicinally in certain areas have a maximum FL.In calculating FL for our results, it was found to be 11.10 to 71.42 (Table 2).The highest value was calculated for Taraxacum officinale (71.42) for easy delivery, followed by Allium sativum (62.5) for conception problems, Juglans regia (53.84) for fertility problems, and Cydonia oblonga (44.43) for constipation.The lowest value was calculated for Trifolium pretense (11.10) for irregular menstruation.In the Kashmir Himalayas (in most ethnic groups such as Kashmiri, Gujjar, Pahari), Taraxacum officinale is considered an important traditional medicine given to woman for easy childbirth and other gynecological problems [15].The phytochemistry of Taraxacum officinale also confirms the presence of various essential chemical constituents such as sesquiterpenes, lactones, fatty acids, carotenoids, tannins, carbohydrates, phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols, sugars, triterpenes, calcium, proteins, and minerals which are important for the new woman or new mothers [30].

Part Used
The use of the different parts of the plant for ethnomedicinal purposes showed statistically significant differences (χ 2 = 90.587,df = 7, p < 0.001) in the respective applications.Leaves were the most commonly used, accounting for 30% of the total use.Notable species associated with this preference were Artemisia absinthium, Centaurea iberica, Cichorium intybus, Dipsacus inermis, Dryopteris juxtaposita, Sonchus oleraceus, Taraxacum officinale, and Trifolium pretense.After that, the whole plant accounted for 25% of use with species such as Arnebia benthamii, Asplenium falcatum, Adiantum venustum, Fumaria indica, Hemerocallis fulva, Origanum vulgare, Prunella vulgaris, and Saussurea simpsoniana.The roots of the "whole plant" followed with a usage rate of 17%, with species such as Arnebia benthamii, Colchicum leteum, Fumaria indica, Geranium wallichianum, Jurimea dolomiaea, Aucklandia costus, Aconitum laeve, Achyranthes aspera, Astragalus confertus, Aquilegia fragrans, Cynoglossum wallichii, and Ocimum basilicum being important in this context.Principal component analysis (PCA) [Figure 4] also confirmed the distinction between the "whole plant", leaves, and roots, while the remaining plant parts were grouped together.The predominant use of leaves can be attributed to their ease of collection and the belief in the presence of various phytocomponents [31].In addition, leaves are commonly used in traditional medicine to alleviate a variety of ailments [32].

Fidelity Level (FL)
In the present study, the species most preferred for the treatment of specific ailments were identified by calculating FL.According to Farooq et al. [29], the species that are most commonly used medicinally in certain areas have a maximum FL.In calculating FL for our results, it was found to be 11.10 to 71.42 (Table 2).The highest value was calculated for Taraxacum officinale (71.42) for easy delivery, followed by Allium sativum (62.5) for conception problems, Juglans regia (53.84) for fertility problems, and Cydonia oblonga (44.43) for constipation.The lowest value was calculated for Trifolium pretense (11.10) for irregular menstruation.In the Kashmir Himalayas (in most ethnic groups such as Kashmiri, Gujjar, Pahari), Taraxacum officinale is considered an important traditional medicine given to woman for easy childbirth and other gynecological problems [15].The phytochemistry of Taraxacum officinale also confirms the presence of various essential chemical constituents such as sesquiterpenes, lactones, fatty acids, carotenoids, tannins, carbohydrates, phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols, sugars, triterpenes, calcium, proteins, and minerals which are important for the new woman or new mothers [30].

Part Used
The use of the different parts of the plant for ethnomedicinal purposes showed statistically significant differences (χ 2 = 90.587,df = 7, p < 0.001) in the respective applications.Leaves were the most commonly used, accounting for 30% of the total use.Notable species associated with this preference were Artemisia absinthium, Centaurea iberica, Cichorium intybus, Dipsacus inermis, Dryopteris juxtaposita, Sonchus oleraceus, Taraxacum officinale, and Trifolium pretense.After that, the whole plant accounted for 25% of use with species such as Arnebia benthamii, Asplenium falcatum, Adiantum venustum, Fumaria indica, Hemerocallis fulva, Origanum vulgare, Prunella vulgaris, and Saussurea simpsoniana.The roots of the "whole plant" followed with a usage rate of 17%, with species such as Arnebia benthamii, Colchicum leteum, Fumaria indica, Geranium wallichianum, Jurimea dolomiaea, Aucklandia costus, Aconitum laeve, Achyranthes aspera, Astragalus confertus, Aquilegia fragrans, Cynoglossum wallichii, and Ocimum basilicum being important in this context.Principal component analysis (PCA) [Figure 4] also confirmed the distinction between the "whole plant", leaves, and roots, while the remaining plant parts were grouped together.The predominant use of leaves can be attributed to their ease of collection and the belief in the presence of various phytocomponents [31].In addition, leaves are commonly used in traditional medicine to alleviate a variety of ailments [32].

Gastronomic Usage
Indigenous communities living in the Himalayan region have traditional cultural practices for using local edible plant species [33].From the documented species, only n = 17 (herbs n = 13; trees n = 4) were recorded for gastronomic use, belonging to n = 14 families, representing 56.6% of the total documented species.Asteraceae (17%) was the dominant family, followed by Lamiaceae (11%) (Figure 5a).The above species are further divided into wild and cultivated species.The wild species (n = 13) outweighed the cultivated ones (n = 4) (Table 2).This clearly shows the importance of wild species in the region.Haq et al. [15] studied the importance of wild foods in the Kashmir-Himalayan region shared by India, Pakistan, and China and found that wild foods are a boon in the rural areas of the region and people there are very attached to them due to their proximity to nature and lack of urbanization.Leaves (n = 7) were the most commonly consumed, followed by young shoots, roots (n = 3 each), seeds, and fruits (n = 2 each).Azhar et al. [34] reported the predominance of the leaves in traditional medicine from southern Punjab, Pakistan.Similar results were reported by Mir et al. [35] from the Himalayan region of Kashmir. Figure 5b shows the parts with gastronomic uses and the corresponding species.A complete list can be found in Table 2.

Gastronomic Usage
Indigenous communities living in the Himalayan region have traditional cultural practices for using local edible plant species [33].From the documented species, only n = 17 (herbs n = 13; trees n = 4) were recorded for gastronomic use, belonging to n = 14 families, representing 56.6% of the total documented species.Asteraceae (17%) was the dominant family, followed by Lamiaceae (11%) (Figure 5a).The above species are further divided into wild and cultivated species.The wild species (n = 13) outweighed the cultivated ones (n = 4) (Table 2).This clearly shows the importance of wild species in the region.Haq et al. [15] studied the importance of wild foods in the Kashmir-Himalayan region shared by India, Pakistan, and China and found that wild foods are a boon in the rural areas of the region and people there are very attached to them due to their proximity to nature and lack of urbanization.Leaves (n = 7) were the most commonly consumed, followed by young shoots, roots (n = 3 each), seeds, and fruits (n = 2 each).Azhar et al. [34] reported the predominance of the leaves in traditional medicine from southern Punjab, Pakistan.Similar results were reported by Mir et al. [35] from the Himalayan region of Kashmir. Figure 5b shows the parts with gastronomic uses and the corresponding species.A complete list can be found in Table 2.The seeds are extracted and used to make chutney, but they are also air-dried and eaten raw.In addition, they are also used in kawa (a traditional tea) mixed with various recipes to enhance the flavor.It is also a possible source of cooking oil.

Use Value (UV)
When analyzing the results documented for species consumed as food before pregnancy (after marriage), during pregnancy, and after pregnancy, the UV ranged from 0.10 to 0.73 (Figure 6).The highest value was calculated for Juglans regia (0.73), followed by Allium sativum (0.67), Prunella vulgaris (0.54) and Taraxacum officinale (0.53).Species with the highest use values (UVs) had the highest level of awareness, while species with lower UVs had a correspondingly lower level of awareness.Juglans regia has many uses in cooking.It is often mixed with other species such as mint to make chutney.It also plays an important role in the preparation of a traditional hot beverage known as "kawa".Many people extract oil from it, which in turn is used in cooking for special recipes such as yaja (made from rice flour), as shown in Figure 2b.In addition, the seeds are often incorporated into various dishes such as biryani and salt tea to give them a better flavor profile.
people extract oil from it, which in turn is used in cooking for special recipes such as yaja (made from rice flour), as shown in Figure 2b.In addition, the seeds are often incorporated into various dishes such as biryani and salt tea to give them a better flavor profile.
They are also a possible source of cooking oil.Allium sativum is also consumed as a spice, especially in combination with a variety of vegetables to enhance flavor.It is believed to nourish the gastrointestinal tract, and due to its aromatic nature, locals prefer to consume garlic because they believe it has the potential to warm the body in the cold, long winter.According to [36], Allium sativum has been successfully used as food and medicine in human societies since ancient times.Prunella vulgaris is mainly consumed as soup and is said to restore strength after childbirth, with some olive oil added to the soup to lubricate the digestive tract for good absorption.Taraxacum officinale is also considered a nutrient-rich food, as it contains a variety of components that are vital for pregnant women.The presence of chemical constituents such as carbohydrates, calcium, proteins, and minerals makes the species a potent gastronomic candidate [30].
In the present study, we analyzed the use of plant species based on the preference (during, after, and before pregnancy) and seasonal availability for gastronomic use.The results (Table 2) show that n = 3 species (Pinus roxburghii, Dipsacus inermis, Origanum vulgare) were the only ones preferred "after pregnancy usage" followed by n = 2 species (Notholirion thomsonianum, Dioscorea deltoidea) "before pregnancy", and only n = 1 (Geranium wallichianum) "during pregnancy".When the frequently consumed (during, after, and before pregnancy) were examined, a total of n = 6 species (Ficus carica, Trifolium pratense, Hemerocallis fulva, Asparagus filicinus, Juglans regia, and Taraxacum officinale) were detected.3.
They are also a possible source of cooking oil.Allium sativum is also consumed as a spice, especially in combination with a variety of vegetables to enhance flavor.It is believed to nourish the gastrointestinal tract, and due to its aromatic nature, locals prefer to consume garlic because they believe it has the potential to warm the body in the cold, long winter.According to [36], Allium sativum has been successfully used as food and medicine in human societies since ancient times.Prunella vulgaris is mainly consumed as soup and is said to restore strength after childbirth, with some olive oil added to the soup to lubricate the digestive tract for good absorption.Taraxacum officinale is also considered a nutrient-rich food, as it contains a variety of components that are vital for pregnant women.The presence of chemical constituents such as carbohydrates, calcium, proteins, and minerals makes the species a potent gastronomic candidate [30].
In the present study, we analyzed the use of plant species based on the preference (during, after, and before pregnancy) and seasonal availability for gastronomic use.The results (Table 2) show that n = 3 species (Pinus roxburghii, Dipsacus inermis, Origanum vulgare) were the only ones preferred "after pregnancy usage" followed by n = 2 species (Notholirion thomsonianum, Dioscorea deltoidea) "before pregnancy", and only n = 1 (Geranium wallichianum) "during pregnancy".When the frequently consumed (during, after, and before pregnancy) were examined, a total of n = 6 species (Ficus carica, Trifolium pratense, Hemerocallis fulva, Asparagus filicinus, Juglans regia, and Taraxacum officinale) were detected.

Novelty of the Study
By comparing our research results with previous studies conducted in the nearby region [8,18,19,26,31,33], we discovered new applications in the field of ethnomedicine.For example, we found that the seeds of Asparagus filicinus are used to relieve physical ailments caused by postpartum weakness.Similarly, the roots and stems of Geranium wallichianum are used to treat preterm labor and breastfeeding.In addition, Alcea rosea shows effectiveness in treating skin irritation, while Arnebia benthami (used in its entirety) is known for its usefulness for breastfeeding problems of new mothers.It is worth noting that certain pious people, referred to as Pir and Baba, get enchanted with Arnebia benthamii before using it to treat breastfeeding problems.It is also important to note that only one previous study [26] reported the use of plant species in the Dard community.The Jaccard similarity index is 11.49, but no similarity was found between the species used in the present study.In addition, the sample size of the previous study is very small (n = 35) compared to that of the present study (n = 82), and the study area is different.

Effective Use and Livelihood
In the Kashmir Valley, agriculture and related sectors are the main source of livelihood for the majority of the population [7].Our research efforts have led to the identification of a variety of plant species, including Prunus persica, Allium sativum, Ficus carica, Juglans regia, Mentha arvensis, and Ocimum basilicum, all of which have a significant impact on the local economy due to their substantial contribution to food habits.Juglans regia, for example, is known for its high economic value and has led to a thriving cottage industry in which numerous individuals extract the tree's seeds and export them to various regions of the country, resulting in significant economic gains.Allium sativum is considered an indispensable spice in the region's culinary repertoire and remains readily available in local markets.Prunus persica is mainly dried and exported to other parts of the country.Ocimum basilicum is highly valued in the region, mainly because it facilitates fast-breaking, and its availability in the market contributes significantly to the local economy.In addition, the systematic processing of Mentha arvensis plays a central role in the production of various local spices and dips, which brings significant economic benefits to the region.

Conservation Status
In the IUCN conservation assessment of the documented species, n = 7 species (Aquilegia fragrans, Arnebia benthamii, Cynoglossum wallichii, Geranium wallichianum, Aucklandia costus, Saussurea simpsoniana, and Thymus linearis) are classified as critically endangered (CR), n = 10 species (Adiantum venustum, Artemisia absinthium, Aconitum leave, Dioscorea deltoidei, Dactylorhiza hatagirea, Fumaria indica, Fritillaria cirrhosa, Jurinea dolomiaea, Malva cachemiriana, and Podophyllum hexandrum) as endangered (EN), and n = 4 species (Asplenium falcatum, Ajuga parviflora, Cannabis sativa, and Plantago lanceolata) as part of the vulnerable category (VU) (Table 1).Many species with medicinal importance are threatened on a large scale due to the extensive use of their required parts.Because of their medicinal importance, these species have developed an economic value for which many people over-collect, which has promoted the decline of species throughout the Himalayan region [37].At the same time, the global phenomenon of urbanization is driving development initiatives that include road expansion and building construction, increasing the influx of people and consequently creating the potential for new threats.
Gopi et al. [38] reported that nearly 15,000 plant species used in traditional medicine worldwide fall into the category of endangered species and therefore require immediate conservation and mitigation measures to ensure their survival.Many ethnic groups have potential ecological knowledge that, if used scientifically, can contribute to the sustainable use of biological species, which in turn will contribute to the conservation of eroding green wealth.Currently, there is more and more discussion around the world about community-based conservation that incorporates not only includes the species, but also the concerns (local values, local beliefs) of local people.

Study Area
Gurez, also known as Gurais (Figure 7), is located in the Himalayan region, about 123 km north of Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir, India).The valley is located near the Pakistan Line of Control and is at an elevation of about 2438 m above sea level.The area is cut off from the outside world for almost six months of the year due to heavy winter snowfall (2 m).Nearly 30,000 people live in the area, distributed among fifteen communities.The Kishanganga River flows through the area and provides irrigation.The different physical characteristics provide many habitats and microhabitats where a variety of plant species thrive, while oak, Betula, Cedrus, and Pinus are also important species in the forests, whose vegetation begins in late summer [19].The Gurez Valley is characterized by a rugged mountainous landscape.Climatic conditions in the valley follow a temperate pattern influenced by a variety of topographic features that result in relatively mild summers and severe winters.The warmest and coldest seasons in this region are July and December, respectively.In addition, the valley records its highest rainfall during the months of March and April [7].use of biological species, which in turn will contribute to the conservation of eroding green wealth.Currently, there is more and more discussion around the world about communitybased conservation that incorporates not only includes the species, but also the concerns (local values, local beliefs) of local people.

Study Area
Gurez, also known as Gurais (Figure 7), is located in the Himalayan region, about 123 km north of Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir, India).The valley is located near the Pakistan Line of Control and is at an elevation of about 2438 m above sea level.The area is cut off from the outside world for almost six months of the year due to heavy winter snowfall (2 m).Nearly 30,000 people live in the area, distributed among fifteen communities.The Kishanganga River flows through the area and provides irrigation.The different physical characteristics provide many habitats and microhabitats where a variety of plant species thrive, while oak, Betula, Cedrus, and Pinus are also important species in the forests, whose vegetation begins in late summer [19].The Gurez Valley is characterized by a rugged mountainous landscape.Climatic conditions in the valley follow a temperate pattern influenced by a variety of topographic features that result in relatively mild summers and severe winters.The warmest and coldest seasons in this region are July and December, respectively.In addition, the valley records its highest rainfall during the months of March and April [7].
According to the last census, most of the people are Muslims (83.98%), followed by Hinduism (14.24%),Sikhism (1.16%), Christianity (0.36%), and Buddhism (0.05%) [39].Ethnic tribes currently living there include Gujjar, Bakarwal, and Kashmiri.Also living in the valley houses are the Dards, who are cut off from their mainland Astore, Gilgit, and Chilas by the Line of Control.According to the last census, most of the people are Muslims (83.98%), followed by Hinduism (14.24%),Sikhism (1.16%), Christianity (0.36%), and Buddhism (0.05%) [39].Ethnic tribes currently living there include Gujjar, Bakarwal, and Kashmiri.Also living in the valley houses are the Dards, who are cut off from their mainland Astore, Gilgit, and Chilas by the Line of Control.

Socio-Economic Background of Dard
Dards are the earliest coterie, believed to be the most ancient people of the Aryans who arrived in the Indian subcontinent nearly two thousand years ago.Kalhana, a Kashmiri historian (1145 AD) who wrote the "Rajatarangini", also describes them as the descendants of the Aryan race [40].They spread across the Himalayas, usually choosing to settle in the Hindu Kush mountains until they spread to the lower areas of the Himalayas.Herodotus, a famous Greek poet, mentioned the Dard-Shins in 430 BC, confirming the presence of the Dards in the Himalayan region.In Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), the majority of this community currently lives in the Gurez sub-district of Bandipora (administrative district of Jammu and Kashmir) [41].The spoken language is Shina, and other languages include Urdu and Kashmiri.The area (Gurez) is economically backward and has few modern facilities.The people (Dard) depend largely on natural resources such as forests for food and firewood; they also engage in livestock rearing, cottage industries, and trade.In the social ranking, the community is divided into four categories (Renue: ruling class, Shins: religious group, Yashkun: farmers/peasants, Dum: lower group).

Demography of Informants
A total of 82 people were selected for the interview, 63 of whom were men and 19 of whom were women.The predominance of men over women was due to cultural constraints.Prior to recording, frequent visits were made to the study to ensure the participation of local people.Documented species of medicinal and gastronomic importance were collected from March to October 2022; a complete summary of the collection is provided in Table 3. Documentation followed the method (snowball technique) used by Haq et al. [23].Prior to each interview, verbal consent was obtained and the code of ethics was followed (International Society of Ethnobiology, Code of Ethics, 2006) [42].Interviews were conducted in the native language with the assistance of a translator.The ethnicity of the informant and language information were not disclosed, as required by the Nagoya Protocol.We conducted the interviews with informants of all ages, genders, and occupations.Semi-structured questions were used to capture traditional knowledge [24].The most knowledgeable people were elderly, and the bulk of respondents (45.12%) were illiterate (Table 3).At least one qualified informant helped to verify the samples and helped with preparing the herbarium at each research site.Flora POWO 2023 was used to authenticate plant names [43].

Data Analysis
We used a matrix plot employing Paste 4.03 to show the distribution of species among the families.A balloon plot was utilized to represent the species used against different diseases.A cladogram showing the Pearson correlation between plant species and diseases was used (https://www.bioinformatics.com.cn/en?p=5, accessed on 2 October 2022).A chord diagram with a pie chart was used to evaluate the number of plant parts with gastronomic uses by using the circle package in R studio.The same tool was used to show the relationship between UR and UV [24].Paste software (4.03) was used for principal component analysis (PCA) to show the frequently used plant parts of the documented species against a variety of diseases.

Fidelity Level (FL)
FL was used to calculate the percentage of respondents who reported similar use of the species [24].We calculated it using the following formula.
Np is the number of informants reporting the use of a species to treat a particular disease, and Fc (frequency of mentions) is the number of informants reporting the use of a species to treat a particular disease.

Use Value (UV)
To evaluate the proportional value of species use, we used use value indices using the following formula [24].
"Ur" represents the number of use reports of the use of a particular species, and "N" represents the total number of respondents.

Conclusions
The current study attempted to acquire information about a little-studied ethnic community (Dard) for the use of plant taxa to treat health disorders and to identify species consumed (before, during, and after pregnancy) as primary food.Living in harsh climatic conditions, the said ethnic community has gained the knowledge of how to use the flora for their primary needs (medicine and food).Unfortunately, traditional knowledge (TK) is primarily limited to the elderly due to the lack of interest among the younger generation.This lack of interest is due to urbanization forcing the people to change their mode of living, i.e., young people migrate to Srinagar (capital city) for education, many for labor, and many have invested in small-scale shops.Hence, the inheritance of TK has been met with a potential pause in the ethnic group.In this regard, it is imperative to document the eroding traditional knowledge before it is completely lost.Many plant species used are on the IUCN's list of critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable species; in this regard, local people require proper education to aid in conservation and long-term sustainability.Furthermore, species new to the ethnomedicinal literature should be considered for bioprospecting for the possible discovery of some potent novel molecules with strong medical implications.The current study gives a baseline for understanding the importance of native plant species in the daily lives of the Dard community, which will benefit the local government in developing strategies to help the community's development.In addition, this study gathers basic information from the Kashmir-Himalayan region that hopefully can be used by pharmaceutical companies to discover new compounds with remarkable therapeutic properties.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Matrix plot showing the species family relationship of the documented species in Kashmir Himalaya.Figure 1. Matrix plot showing the species family relationship of the documented species in Kashmir Himalaya.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Matrix plot showing the species family relationship of the documented species in Kashmir Himalaya.Figure 1. Matrix plot showing the species family relationship of the documented species in Kashmir Himalaya.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. (a) Balloon plot showing species used against different diseases; (b) Cladogram showing Pearson correlation between plant species and ailments.The full names of the species are given in Table1.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. (a) Balloon plot showing species used against different diseases; (b) Cladogram showing Pearson correlation between plant species and ailments.The full names of the species are given in Table1.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Principal component analysis (PCA) biplot of the different parts of the plant used.

Figure 4 .
Figure 4. Principal component analysis (PCA) biplot of the different parts of the plant used.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. (a) Percentage of families with gastronomic assignment.(b) Chord diagram showing the different parts of the documented species for gastronomic use.Figure 5. (a) Percentage of families with gastronomic assignment.(b) Chord diagram showing the different parts of the documented species for gastronomic use.

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. (a) Percentage of families with gastronomic assignment.(b) Chord diagram showing the different parts of the documented species for gastronomic use.Figure 5. (a) Percentage of families with gastronomic assignment.(b) Chord diagram showing the different parts of the documented species for gastronomic use.

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Association between use value (UV) and use reports for the species with gastronomic assignment.The full name of the species is given in Table3.

Table 1 .
1. Taxonomic inventory and ethnomedicinal use of documented species of the ethnic community (Dard) in Kashmir Himalaya.

Table 2 .
Plant species consumed by the Dard community in the Kashmir Valley with respect to pregnancy.

Table 3 .
Demographic status of the respondents from study area.