Abstract:
The study of indigenous knowledge on utilization of native plants as source of Medicine is
important to conserve useful them and preserve indigenous knowledge for next generation. This
study was conducted to document indigenous knowledge and medicinal plants used by the people
of Toke Kutaye district in four field campaigns. A total of 100 respondents (age≥27) were
participated during ethnobotanical data collection. Ethnobotanical data were collected using
semi-structured interviews, field observations and group discussions. Descriptive statistics was
used to summarize ethnobotanical data. Further, Informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level
and preference ranking were computed. Reulst showed that 79 medicinal plant species distributed
in 77 genera and 46 families were documented in the study area. Of the recorded plant species,
majority (49.37%) of them were reported to treat human ailments. From the total medicinal plant
species, 26(32.9%) were herbs followed by shrubs 24(30.38%), trees 17(21.5%) climber11
(13.9%) and epiphytes 1(1.27%). The most frequently used plant part was leaf (34.25%) followed
by root (13.01%). The most widely used method of preparation was pounding (48.9%) of the
different plant parts. The common route of administration recorded was oral (45.9%) followed by
dermal (28.7%) and through the eye (7.4%). Disease categories such as Head ache, fever, febrile
illness and evil eye related diseases had relatively high ICF value. Olea europeae, Rytigynia neglecta and Buddleja polystachya had the highest fidelity level value, suggesting agreement
between respondents on their efficiency to treat the diseases they are cited for. Therefore, further
phytochemcal screening should be done on these plant species to look for the active components.
