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KTMU researchers introduce traditional herbal treatment knowledge of the Kara-Koy Valley to the International Scientific Community.

While modern medicine continues to develop new pharmaceutical drugs, the remote mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan have preserved unique knowledge of the healing properties of medicinal plants for centuries. Traditional therapeutic practices, passed down orally from generation to generation, have now been scientifically documented and preserved for future generations.

In line with the university's research-oriented vision, a study supported by the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University Scientific Research Projects scientifically documented the traditional herbal treatment practices of the people living in the Kara-Koy Valley in the south of the country. Published in the European Journal of Integrative Medicine, a respected European scientific journal, the research brought Kyrgyzstan’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage to the attention of the international scientific world.

A Scientific Journey that Began With a Cup of Herbal Tea

The study was inspired by a remarkable experience in the field. In 2018, an unexpected event during a field practice by KTMU Department of Biology students opened the door to a scientific discovery. One evening a faculty member experiencing high blood pressure was offered tea prepared from a wild plant by the local people. The rapid improvement in their health caught the researchers' attention.

This experience inspired the idea of systematically researching the traditional medical knowledge possessed by the people living in the Kara-Koy Valley. Delayed for a few years due to the pandemic, the project was restarted in 2021–2022, tevolving into a comprehensive ethnobotanical study.

160 plant Species, 117 Different Health Problems
For two years, researchers conducted detailed interviews with 58 knowledge holders living in the Kara-Koy Valley. The study documented 160 different medicinal plant species, 123 genera, 47 plant families, 117 different diseases and health problems and thousands of records of traditional plant use. The research thoroughly documented which plants were used for which ailments, which parts of the plants were preferred, how they were prepared, and the methods of application.

Nature's Pharmacy for the Digestive System
Analyses revealed that the people of Kara-Koy share a common knowledge, particularly regarding digestive disorders. While herbal treatments were determined to be used most intensively for digestive ailments, skin diseases, musculoskeletal issues, and infectious diseases also ranked among the most frequently applied areas of traditional treatment.

Researchers state that this high level of consensus indicates that the effectiveness of specific plants has been verified and confirmed by the community through generations of practical experience.

Little-Known Species  Draw Scientific Attention
One of the most notable results of the study was the identification of numerous plants that have been studied to a very limited extent or not yet thoroughly researched in international literature. The medicinal use of 44 species among the documented plants was introduced to scientific literature for the first time.

Although the pharmacological properties of some documented plant species have not yet been scientifically validated, it was determined that they have been safely used by the local people for many years. This finding suggests that these species are among natural resources that can make significant contributions to future new drug development studies, phytochemical analyses, and pharmacological research.

The Greatest Bearers of Knowledge: Older Generations
The research also revealed that traditional knowledge held by local people is concentrated among the older generations, and this accumulated knowledge carries the risk of disappearing over time. Due to urbanization, changing lifestyles, and younger generations moving away from traditional practices, it is emphasized that recording this rich heritage, tpassed down through oral tradition, is of great importance.

According to scientists, ethnobotanical research holds strategic value not only for documenting the past, but also for the preservation of biodiversity, sustainable natural resource management, and the discovery of novel molecules that could contribute to future healthcare technologies.

KTMU Researchers Contribute to the International Scientific Literature
The research was carried out by Faculty of Science, Department of Biology faculty members Prof. Dr. Nurbek Aldayarov, Prof. Dr. Kadyrbai Chekirov, Prof. Dr. Gulbubu Kurmanbekova, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nazgul Imanberdieva, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gulnara Sharshenalieva, Dr. Nurjamal Omurzakova, Research Assist. Bermet Kydyralieva, and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine faculty member Prof. Dr. Askarbek Tulobaev.

The researchers point out that the rich plant diversity of the Kara-Koy Valley, when evaluated together with traditional knowledge, carries significant research potential for the international scientific world. The findings are expected to form a strong foundation for future phytochemical, pharmacological, and biotechnological studies.