Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Human and Livestock Ailments in Dawe Kachen District of Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia

Abstract

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants was carried out in Dawe Kachen district of Bale zone, southeastEthiopia with the objectives to identify medicinal plants and to document the knowledge associated with themedicinal plants. Four Kebeles were selected for the study based on the vegetation cover and availability ofthe practices. Accordingly,80 informants were systematically selected. Recommendation from local leadersand elders was employed to select the key informants. Semi-structured interview and observation was used tocollect the data from the traditional healers. The collected data was analyzed using Micro-soft Excelspreadsheet 2007 and summarized using descriptive statistical methods. A total of 42 medicinal plants(belonging to 36 genera and 23 families) used to cure different ailments in the area were recorded.Accordingly Euphorbiaceous followed by Asclepiadaceae dominated the families. Almost all medicinal plantswere collected from the wild. Herbs (38.1%) followed by shrubs (30.9%), trees (28.6%) and climbers (2.4%)dominated the plant growth forms. Root (35.71%) is the most commonly harvested plant part in the areafollowed by leaf (19.05%), stem (14.28%), root & leaf (9.52%), latex (7.14%), bark (4.76%) and root & stem,leaf & stem, flower, seed (2.38%) each. Majority of the medicinal plants (76.19%) used for the treatment ofhuman ailments. Most of the medicinal plants (61.9%), in the study area used in fresh form. Crushing(52.38%) followed by powdering (23.8%) was the most commonly used methods of preparation in the area.Oral administration is the dominant rout (45.20%), followed by dermal (38.10%),oral & dermal(9.50%),nasal (4.80%) and anal (2.38%). Of the five medicinal plants of preference ranking, the highest rankwas given first for Cyphiaql and ulifera used for the treatment of abdominal pain. Gamphocarpus integerwas also perceived as the most threaten medicinal plant in the area based on the priority ranking. Aconservation measure for the medicinal plants in the area is recommended