Abstract:
A variety of traditional medicinal plants have been widely used by different indigenous
people in Ethiopia for many human and livestock ailments. This ethnobotanical study aimed
to document and analyze the traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants by the local
community in Dire Teyara Woreda. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews,
group discussions, and field observation. 389 respondents, of which 20 were key informants
were involved. Information regarding the plant species, their medicinal uses, and preparation
methods were collected and analyzed. A total of 52 medicinal plant species belonging to 39
families were identified. The study revealed that these plants were used to treat various
human ailments. Zingiber officinale, Nigella sativa, Allium sativum, Ruta chalepensis and
Schinus molle were species with high preference ranking and used by the local people
frequently. The majority of medicinal plants (53.8%) were harvested from the wild
environments. The result of growth form analysis showed that shrubs constituted the highest
proportion of medicinal plants (40.4%). The family Solanaceae occupied the first rank with
five species followed by Fabaceae and Myrtaceae with three species each. The most
frequently used plant parts were leaves (44%) followed by roots (19.2%), seeds (13.4%) and
stem and fruits (5.8%). Crushing was a widely used mode of preparation of traditional
remedies, whereas oral administration (61.5%) was the dominant route. Results of statistical
analyses showed that knowledge of traditional medicine of plant origin was significantly
(P<0.001) affected by age, sex, educational status and occupation of the indigenous people
of the study area. Local people in the study area possess indigenous knowledge of medicinal
plants to treat various human ailments; however, agricultural expansion and disinterest of
young generation became the major threat to medicinal plants. It is, therefore, necessary to
preserve this indigenous knowledge on traditional medicines by proper documentation,
identification of plant species used, and herbal preparation. To save medicinal plants from
further loss, involving local communities in cultivation of the most utilized medicinal plants is
recommended
