Abstract
This study was conducted in four districts of Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to assess medicinal plants found in Menz gera, Siyadebirna Wayu, Antsokiya gemza and Bugna districts, Amhara region, Ethiopia. The ethnobotanical surveys were carried out from September 2017 to June 2018 using a semi-structured checklist consisting of questions or issues prepared in advance. Two separate questionnaires were prepared, one for the local healers and the other for the local community. A total of 376 (94 per district) informants were selected using purposive sampling technique and asked both open and close-ended questions. The interviews and observations were based on and around this checklist and some issues were raised promptly depending on responses of an informant. All plant species found in each district were recorded, collected, pressed and identified following Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. From the total 376 informants 238 were males and the rest 138 were females. A total of 77 medicinal plants were reported and distributed in 28 families. Family Lamiaceae was distributed in all four districts followed by 5 families which were distributed in three districts. Leaf 47 (56.63%) was the plant part widely used followed by stem 12 (14.46%), root 8 (9.64%) and seed 7 (8.43%), while the rest include fruit 3 (3.61%), bulb 3 (3.61%), flower 1 (1.20%). Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. and Citrus durantifolia were the plants with the highest fidelity level values, each scoring 100%, followed by Moringa stenopetala (Bak.f.) Cuf. (96%). From the present study, the highest number of medicinal plants was observed in Antsokiya Gemza District followed by Siyaderina wayu, Bugna and Menz Gera, with 29, 24, 15 and 9 number, respectively. In these four districts the highest number of plants was used to treat wound followed by abdominal disease/pain. Pounding and grinding of the plant parts to make a powder were the most frequently used methods of traditional medicine preparation. Traditional medicine is the base for the modern medicine, but nowadays, the work is not respected by most people so it needs further attention especially in changing the attitude of the community towards traditional medicine. Key words: Amhara Regional State, disease treated, medicinal plants, plant part.
Highlights
Ethnobotanical studies are often significant in revealing locally important plant species especially for the discovery of crude drugs
The various literatures available show the significant role of medicinal plant in primary health care delivery in Ethiopia where 70% human and 90% livestock population depend on traditional medicine again similar to many developing countries that of Sub-Saharan African countries
A total of 77 medicinal plants were reported by the local community including the healers from the study area as being used for treatment of different disease in the area
Summary
Ethnobotanical studies are often significant in revealing locally important plant species especially for the discovery of crude drugs. The various literatures available show the significant role of medicinal plant in primary health care delivery in Ethiopia where 70% human and 90% livestock population depend on traditional medicine again similar to many developing countries that of Sub-Saharan African countries. Those plants are part of the economic commodity for some members of the society which make their livelihood on their collection, trade and medicinal practices by practitioners or healers. Such plants include Phytolacca dodencadra Aklilu (1965), many species of Maytenus studied by National Cancer Institute, USA (Kupchan et al, 1972) and many species that show anti-malarial (Nkunya, 1992)
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