Abstract:
Ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants were conducted to document
indigenous knowledge on the use and management practices of medicinal plants by local
people of Sululta Woreda, Oromia Region Special Zone, Ethiopia. A total of 100
respondents (age >25) 80 ordinary residents and 20 key informants (traditional healers)
participated in this study. Data were collected using semi-structured interview, guided
field walk observation and group discussion between August and September 2016. The
collected data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Fidelity level (FL) and
Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) were also computed. Results show that a total of 34
plant species distributed in 29 genera and 20 families were collected, identified and
recorded. Out of the 34 collected medicinal plants of the study area, 25 species (73.52%)
against human diseases, 6 species (17.64%) against livestock diseases and the remaining
3 species (8.82 %) were used to treat both human and livestock diseases. Of the total 34
medicinal plants collected from the study area, 15(44.11%) were herb species, followed
by 12(35.29 %) tree species, 7(20.5 %) shrub species, and 1(2.9 %) climber species. The
most frequently used plant parts were leaves followed by roots. The most widely used
method of preparation was crushing followed by powdering the different plant parts. The
most dominant route of administration recorded was oral followed by dermal. The major
threats to medicinal plants of the study area were human in origin. Diseases categories
like digestive system diseases had higher ICF values (0.97)showing high incidence of
these diseases in the study area and agreement of people on their remedies. Medicinal plants should be conserved and documented. In order to conserve indigenous knowledge
on the use and management practices of medicinal plants by local people of Sululta
Woreda, local communities should be aware on the sustainable use and management of
plants resources and their indigenous knowledge
