🇺🇸 Medicinal flora of Stara Planina and the Pirot District (Deep Dive)

Stara Planina is a true treasure trove of nature, home to an exceptionally large number of different plants, including 159 species of medicinal and aromatic herbs. Among them, the most famous and widespread are St. John's wort, yarrow, hawthorn, and wild thyme, which have been used in traditional medicine for generations. Although many plants have high medicinal value, extreme caution is required with toxic species like deadly nightshade, which should only be handled by professionals. Unfortunately, this natural wealth is threatened as villages depopulate, causing meadows to become overgrown, while tourism development destroys rare plant species. To preserve these "wild pharmacies" for future generations, it is vital to continuously protect nature and educate collectors on how to harvest herbs safely and sustainably.SOURCES:Lakušić D, Ćetković A, urednici. Biodiverzitet Stare planine u Srbiji. Beograd; 2007.Marković M. Upotreba hajdučke trave u etnomedicini Pirotskog okruga. Arh farm. 2019;69(5):367–84.Marković M, Pljevljakušić D, Kojičić K, et al. Ethnopharmacological application of chamomile in the Pirot County. Arh farm. 2020;70(4):238–47.Marković M, Pljevljakušić D, Menković N, et al. Traditional knowledge on the medicinal use of plants from genus Gentiana in the Pirot County. Nat Med Mater. 2021;41:46–53.Marković M, Pljevljakušić D, Nikolić B, et al. Application of dog rose in ethnomedicine of the Pirot County. Pirotski zbornik. 2020;45:1–16.Marković M, Pljevljakušić D, Papović O, et al. Ethnopharmacological use of burdock (Arctium lappa) in the Pirot County. Pirotski zbornik. 2022;47:133–42.Marković MS, Pljevljakušić DS, Nikolić BM, et al Ethnoveterinary knowledge in Pirot County. S Afr J Bot. 2021;137:278–89.Marković MS, Pljevljakušić DS, Nikolić BM, et al. Traditional medicinal use of Juniperus communis in the Pirot District. Ethnobotany. 2025;5:39–67Marković MS, Pljevljakušić DS, Miladinović DL, et al. Traditional use of plants from the genus Satureja in the Pirot District. Pirotski zbornik. 2024;49:151–64.Marković MS, Pljevljakušić DS, Pančić AS, et al. Ethnobotanical use of plants from the genus Galium in the Pirot District. Pirotski zbornik. 2023;48:191–202.Marković MS, Rakonjac LB, Nikolić BM. Lekovito bilje Pirotskog okruga. Beograd; 2020.Nikolić BM, Marković MS, Pljevljakušić DS, et al. Traditional use of common centaury in the Pirot District. Pirotski zbornik. 2023;48:175–90Papović O, Pljevljakušić D, Marković M. Ethnopharmacological application the plants from family Geraniaceae in the Pirot County. Pirotski zbornik. 2021;46:43–51Rakonjac LB, Marković MS, Pljevljakušić DS, et al. Ethnopharmacological use of Black locust in the Pirot District. Pirotski zbornik. 2024;49:165–73Rakonjac LB, Nikolić BM, Eremija S, et al. Tradicionalna upotreba divlje kruške u Pirotskom okrugu. Pirotski zbornik. 2023;48:1–18Ranđelović N, Avramović D. Priručnik o lekovitim biljkama. Sokobanja; 2011.Ratknić T, Milovanović J. Medicinal herbs as part of the development of sustainable tourism in Nature Park “Stara planina”. Ekonomika poljoprivrede. 2016;63(3):847–60Stankov Jovanović V, Šmelcerović A, Smiljić M, et al. Ethnopharmacological application of St. John’s wort in Pirot County. Pirotski zbornik. 2018;43:141–64Stankov Jovanović VP, Marković MS. Folk names of medicinal plant species in the Pirot District. Ethnobotany. 2026;6:101–31.Stojanović D, Mladenović Ž, Zbiljić M. Uvod u monitoring lekovitih i aromatičnih biljaka u parku prirode „Stara planina”. Knjaževac; 2024.Zlatković D. Tradicionalna medicina Pirota i okoline. Glasnik Etnografskog muzeja (GEM). 2010;74(2):133–76.