Pakistan is fortunate to have many medicinal plants because of its topography, biological zones, and climate (Sher et al., 2010). Nearly 400-600 recognized medicinal herbs are employed in Pakistan as traditional medicines (Shinwari and Qaiser, 2011). Although it is now common to find Western medications, the usage of medicinal plants is still rising for a variety of reasons, including a wide range of cultural and socio-economic considerations (Rondilla et al., 2021). About 90% of medicinal plants are used by people who grow naturally in the areas where the plants are found.

Medicinal plants are one of the most important sources of innovative medicines globally (Nalawade et al., 2003, Chen et al., 2010, Hamilton, 2004). Plants make it feasible for traditional medicine to cure various illnesses (Bako et al., 2005). Natural cures have been used to relieve pain since humanity's birth. Herbal treatments are commonly used as a substitute for allopathic ones (Sandhya et al., 2006). Due to their reputation for dependability, affordability, and availability, herbal medicines are preferred (Gupta and Raina, 1998). Herbal formulations, sometimes called herb-herb combinations, have been used in various procedures over the years, although there is currently no scientific evidence of their medicinal advantages (Che et al., 2013). Naturally occurring plant items classified into herbal formulations have conceivable interaction impacts on the body (Mishra et al., 2023). Herbal remedies have been utilized within the ayurvedic framework to treat numerous contagious disorders. These plants have demonstrated greater efficacy when combined with other herbs, as most traditional medical systems have proved that drug combinations work better than the effects of a single herb to treat a variety of complex disorders (Mehta et al., 2019). In developing countries, herbal medicines are being used by 75-80% of the population but there is need of quality control of these herbal medicines. Quality control is an integral part of herbal medicine production, which encompasses different measures to ensure safety and efficacy. Additionally, plant materials need to be assessed for quality, including purity, moisture content, and contaminants such as heavy metals and pesticides (Qamar et al., 2022). World Health Organization-recommended Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) is followed by the industry in order to maintain high standards (Organization, 2011). DNA bar-coding and spectroscopy techniques are used for the verification of plant species authenticity (Yu et al., 2021).

Due to rapid population growth and economic development, natural habitats have suffered significant losses. Although medicinal plants could improve health, overharvesting endangers their conservation status (Da Silva et al., 2019). One of the most severe consequences is a fall in exploited species, which could lead to local extinction (Marshall and Hawthorne, 2012). Overharvesting of plants affects their growth since it can alter the dynamics and population patterns of the harvested species (Shahabuddin and Prasad, 2004).

There is growing emphasis on the wild plant populations from which most therapeutic herbs are harvested as their rational and commercial applications expand. Numerous medicinal species are at risk of extinction as a result of overharvesting. Preserving medicinal plants demands global awareness and prompt local action (Chacko et al., 2010). The main conservation threats to medicinal plants are agriculture rise and deforestation. In this regard, the current research work has been planned to evaluate medicinal plants' diversity and conservation status in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. This study would help to determine the diversity and conservation of medicinal plants used in herbal formulations.