USE AND MANAGEMENT OF MEDICINAL PLANTS BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF TOKE KUTAYE IN WEST SHAWA ZONE OF OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

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.