Title : Ethnobotanical survey: Traditional medicinal plant utilization in treating human diseases in west gojjam zone, amhara region, Ethiopia
Abstract:
Historically, Ethiopians have relied on medicinal plants to heal a wide range of human diseases. However, indigenous knowledge associated with medicinal plants has been lost due to the secrecy of the knowledge transfer system and several anthropogenic factors. Thus, this work was aimed to study and document medicinal plants and associated knowledge in the west Gojjam zone of the Amhara Regional State. Ethnobotanical data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, a focus group discussion, and field observations. Data were gathered from 101 key informants and 298 general informants. Key informants were purposively selected, while general informants were selected by a systematic random sampling method. Descriptive statistics, an informant consensus factor, a preference ranking system, and direct matrix ranking were used to analyze the data that had been gathered. A total of 97 medicinal plants were collected from the study districts. The Fabaceae family was the most prominent, followed by the Asteraceae. Herbs were found to be the dominant plant habit in the study area. Plant parts used most frequently to make medicines were leaves. The crushing technique was the most common method of plant-based remedies. Most administration methods used oral delivery. In the current study site, Olea europaea was the most multipurpose plant species and found that under high pressure. The informant consensus factor was calculated, and the dermatological diseases had the highest ICF value of 92% (0.92) followed by respiratory diseases 91% (0.91). Plantago lanceolata and Zingiber officinale are the highest ICF values for dermatological and respiratory disease, respectively. In the study area, the main causes of the decline of medicinal plants were charcoal production and agricultural uses. Most herbalists said they prepared the remedy by collecting medicinal plants from forests and remote locations rather than growing them close to their compound. Therefore, to preserve medicinal plants before extinction, appropriate measurements must be taken.
