Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in ale woreda, South West Ethiopia
Orkaido Geta, Hamer Hansha, Obsa Asafa and Asmera Amde
An ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants by local people in Ale Woreda, South West Ethiopia was carried out to investigate the diversity and use of medicinal plants as well as to identify and document the indigenous knowledge of local people. Ninety (90) informants were selected by preferential sampling method of which 78 were males and 12 were females. Data were collected using semi structured interview, field observation, group discussion and specimen collection. A total of 72 medicinal plant species were identified belonging to 68 genera and 39 families. From medicinal plants collected 78.80% were used to treat human ailments 18.20% were used to treat livestock ailments and 3% were used to treat both human and livestock ailments. Herbs (51.39%) were the dominant followed by shrubs (20.80%), trees (19.50%) and climbers (8.30%). The most utilized plant part was leaf (41.56%) followed by root (23.38%). The most widely used method of preparation was crushing (32.32%) followed by chopping (16.20%) and powdering (13.13%). The common route of administration was oral (59%) followed by dermal (24%) application. Agricultural expansion, over grazing, over harvesting of plants for different household utensils and other human induced problems were the major threats of natural habitat, and the conservation practice of medicinal plants in the study area is too petite.
Orkaido Geta, Hamer Hansha, Obsa Asafa, Asmera Amde. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in ale woreda, South West Ethiopia. J Med Plants Stud 2020;8(5):121-129.