Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Selected Horro Gudurru Woredas, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Plant remedies are still the most important therapeutics to treat diseases in Ethiopia although large knowledge of ethno medicinal plants is declining to deterioration due to the oral passage of herbal heritage verbally. The objective of the study was to identify and document ethno-veterinary medicinal plants. Methods: The study was carried out from January to August 2014. The study sites were selected purposefully based on the recommendations of elders and local authorities. Ethno-botanical data were collected using semi-structured interviews, field observations and group discussion. About 56 study participants were involved in this study during the study period. Results: A total of 81 major considerable medicinal plant species belonging to 43 families were documented with details on their local name, family, habit and their traditional preparation, mode of application. Asteraceae family was constituted the highest proportion (11.6%) followed by Solanaceae (9.60%). The informants were reported as rabies and wound are the most commonly treated diseases by traditional healers. Herbs (46.4%) followed by shrubs (28.6%) and tree (25%). Oral route of administration (57.1%) was the most commonly used followed by topical (33.9%). About 75.8% of the plant taxa were available every time. Agricultural expansion (20.0%) has been found to be the first main threat followed by deforestation (4.20%). Agricultural expansion was the most common medicinal plants threats (47.7%) followed by deforestation (32.7 %).Conclusion: The study revealed that the traditional health practitioners were with a good of knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat different diseases. Hence, further research should be conducted to evaluate the efficacy and possible toxicity of the plants in the study area.

Keywords: Disease, Horro Guduru Wollega, Human, Medicinal plants