ETHNO-BOTANICAL STUDY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY LOCAL PEOPLE IN THREE SELECTED DISTRICTS OF HARARI NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ethnobotanical study was conducted inselected six kebeles of three districts (Sofi, Direteyara & Erer ) of harari regional state, Ethiopia with the objective of identifying and documenting the medicinal plants used by indigenous people to treat both human and livestock ailments. Ethnobotanical data were collected from December 1-30, 2019 byusing semi structured interviews, focus group discussion & filed observation and structured questioners from traditional medicinal practitioners and non-traditional medicinal practitioners respectively.The data were analysed throughnarrative explanation and Descriptive statistics (percentage and frequency). Informant consensus factors, Fidelity level& preference ranking were also calculated. For Ethno medicinal use 35 families represented by 50 plant species were collected and documented. Ofthese 50% grow in wild, 30% in home garden, 14% in farm lands and 6% grow as live fences. From these medicinal plant species 34% were herbsand dominantly found in the study area followed by 28%shrubs, 24% trees and 14% climber species. Majority of the plant families67.5% were reported to treat human ailment and 22.5% of them were used to treat both human & animal aliments whereas the remaining 10 % wereused to treat only animal aliments. The most frequently used plant parts were leaf (40%) followed by roots (29%), 14.5%barks, 7.5% stems, 5.4% bulbs and 3.6% fruits. The most widely used method of preparation is crushing (35.7%) and Pounding (29.4%) followed by Powdering (18.4%) andSqueezing (7.4%)whereas, Boiling and roasting accounted for(3%) and (2.1%) respectively. Smashing,Soaking and chewing each represent 1% and are the least used methods of preparation. The common route of administration of remedies were 65% oral followed by 24.6% dermal, 4.4% nasal, 3.4 % through ear and 2.6% anal. Sensorial system related disease categorieshave high (1) informant consensus factors and they have been treated with single plant species through only traditional herbals followed by genitourinary system disease and Rh factors related infection.Relatively high (0.5)informant consensus factorssignifies high people agreement on remedies and incidence of these diseases in the studyarea, whereas Problems of Gastritis and stomach disease have low informant consensus factor (0.21) signifying lowpeople agreement on remedies and incidence of these diseases. Agricultural expansion, use of plants species for firewood and construction were reported as major threats to medicinal plants in the study area. In order to protect biodiversity erosion and loss of indigenous knowledge, the local communities have to be well aware, trained and actively involved in conservation and management of medicinal plants species and their local indigenous knowledge respectively.