Abstract:
Ethnomedicinal researches play important role for conservation and sustainable utilization of
medicinal plants and associated knowledge. The objective of this study was to document
medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge in Oda-bultum district. Ethnobotanical
data was collected from April 2016 to July 2016 using semi-structured interview, focus group
discussion and direct field observation with 90 randomly selected non key informants and 47
key informants. To analyze data, descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies
were employed. Moreover, informant consensus factor, fidelity level and preference ranking
were computed. A total of 185 medicinal plant species distributed among 148 genera and 72
families were collected and documented from the study area as traditional medicine for the
treatment of 89 diseases of humans and live-stock. Of these, 96 plant species (51.9%) were
reported as remedies for human, 8 plant species (4.32%) as live-stock medicine, and 81 plant
species (43.78%) for both human and live- stock remedies. Family Asteraceae and Lamiaceae
each contributed the largest number of species (15); followed by Fabaceae with 14 species.
Leaves were the most used plant part followed by root and seed. The three most methods of
preparation of remedies were crushing (39.7%), pounding (22.1%), crushing and boiling
(7.81%). Oral application was the most commonly (63.66%) used route of application
followed by dermal (25.73%). The highest informant consensus factor value was observed for Skin and subcutaneous tissue related diseases, and Circulatory system related diseases (ICF
> 0.80). The highest fidelity level index (100%) was for two species; Phytolacca dodecandra
and Alysicarpus rugosus for the treatment of gonorrhea and cough, respectively. In
preference ranking Carica papaya and Ocimum basilicum were ranked first and second, to
treat typhoid. The major factors threatening medicinal plants were agricultural expansion,
expansion of invasive species and drought. Indigenous knowledge transfer found to suffer
from secrecy, and lack of written documents. Therefore, awareness of the local people should
be raised to conserve medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge.
