ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY PEOPLE OF DANO WOREDA, WEST SHOA, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants was conducted to document the indigenous plants based on medical knowaledge of people in Dano Woreda, West Shoa, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 60 informants (age≥25) were selected to collect information on medicinal plant use from six sampled kebeles. Of these, 10 key informants were selected purposively based on recommendation by local elders and authorities. The rest were selected randomly. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, field observations and group discussions. Informant consensus factor (ICF) and fidelity level were calculated to assess the agreement of informants on the medicinal values of the plants. A total of 47 medicinal plant species distributed in 43 genera and 27 families were collected and identified. Out of these plants, 35 species (74.47%) were noted to treat only human ailments while 8 species (17.02%) were used to treat livestock ailments and 4 species (8.51%) were used to treat both human and livestock ailments. From the total medicinal plant species, 16 were trees, 16 shrubs, 11 herbs and 4 climbers. The common route of administration recorded was oral followed by dermal application. Disease categories such as goiter and tonsillitis had higher ICF values (0.97), suggesting high incidence of these diseases in the study area and agreement of people on their remedies. Agricultural expansion, firewood collection, and use of plants for construction were reported as major threats to plants of the study area.