Abstract
Incomplete coverage of the modern medical system, shortage of pharmaceuticals, and unaffordable prices of modern drugs, make the majority of Ethiopians still depend on traditional plant medicine. Therefore, this study is aimed to assess the current status of indigenous knowledge of traditional plant medicine used among communities of Won chi District. Method: A total of 198 informants (27 key and 171 general) were selected purposively based on the availability of key informants and vegetation richness of the District. semi-structured interview, observation, and guided field walk with informants were data collection methods. Ethnobotanical scoring and ranking methods like informant consensus, paired-wise comparison, and preference ranking were used to analyze the collected data. The findings were displayed using tables and figures. Result: A total of 93 medicinal plant species were identified. Out of these,50 species (53.76%)were noted to treat only human ailments, 3(2.23%) species were used to treat livestock ailments and the rest 40 (43.01%) were used to treat both. Nearly two-thirds of the study participants have good knowledge about traditional plant medicine use. most medicinal plants were reported by elders (94.62%) than younger age group, traditional medicinal plant healers almost know all (96.77%), regarding religion waqefata (60.21%) know than other religion. More medicinal plants were reported by males (86.02%)than females, while regarding educational status illiterate (61.29%)know and mention more Medicinal plants than literate. Therefore, all stakeholders should work together in changing the current situation in order to sustainably benefit from traditional plant medicine.
Highlights
Ethno-botany studies the interaction between human and plants [1, 2]
The humans indigenous knowledge on plant use come into view from the time when human experienced how to use plants; they get several benefits to fulfill their basic needs like food, shelter, fire wood, drugs and other several uses [1, 3, 4]
In the indigenous community of most developing countries traditional medicine plays a vital role in addressing health care needs of rural people and urban poor’ because modern medicine unable to meet the health care need of the community, so that the role of traditional medicine would not be diminished for the reason that it is culturally practicable and expected to remain reasonably priced [5, 6]
Summary
Ethno-botany studies the interaction between human and plants [1, 2]. Since earlier time the daily livelihood of human depends on plants [1]. The humans indigenous knowledge on plant use come into view from the time when human experienced how to use plants; they get several benefits to fulfill their basic needs like food, shelter, fire wood, drugs and other several uses [1, 3, 4]. The knowledge of traditional medicine in most cases has been remained through oral sharing experience. The traditional medicinal plant related information is less likely to be distorted since it is retained by healers as secrete. It is not reached to the public [7, 8]
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