Abstract:
Ethnobotanical studies are useful in documenting, analyzing and communicating knowledge
and interaction between biodiversity and human society. The objective of this study was to
conduct ethnobotanical study and document medicinal plants and indigenous knowledge in
Tulo district. Ethnobotanical data was collected from December 2019 to January 2020 using
semi-structured interview, focus group discussion and direct field observation with 80
randomly selected non traditional healers and 20 traditional healers. Descriptive statistics
such as percentages and frequencies were used. The informant consensus factor, fidelity level
and preference ranking were computed to analyze data. A total of 104 medicinal plant species
distributed among 98 genera and 55 families were collected and documented from the study
area as traditional medicine for the treatment of 63 different diseases of humans and live stock. Of these, 77 plant species (74.04%) were reported as remedies for human, 11 plant
species (10.58%) as live-stock remedies, and 16 plant species (15.38%) for both human and
live- stock remedies. Family Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were with the largest number ( 9 )of
specie; followed by Solonaceae with 6 species. Leaves were the most used plant part followed
by root and seed. The most methods of preparation of remedies were crushing (34.50%)
followed by pounding (19.88%) and boiling (15.79%). Oral application was the most
commonly (66.08%) used route of application followed by dermal (23.98%). The highest
informant consensus factor value was observed for swelling and homorrhoids, (0.90). The
highest fidelity level index was (100%) for two species; Croton macrostachyus and Hagenia
abyssinica for the treatment of ring worm and Intestinal parasite, respectively. In preference
ranking, Guizotia abyssinica and Anthemis tigreensis were ranked first and second, to treat
cough. The major factors threatening medicinal plants were agricultural expansion, fire wood
collection and charcoal. Many natural and antropogenic factors have been reported as threats
to medicinal plants in the study area. Therefore, awareness of the local people should be
raised to conserve medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge.
