Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local people in treatments of human and livestock ailments in Gasera Woreda, Bale zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia

Authors

  • Temaro Gelgelu Sinana Agricultural Research Center, Apiculture Research Team, Po.Box. 208, Robe Bale Ethiopia
  • Firew Kebede Hawassa University, Department of Biology, Po.Box. 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia
  • Wendaweke Abebe Hawassa University, Department of Biology, Po.Box. 5, Hawassa, Ethiopia

Keywords:

Ailments, Ethnobotany, Gasera district, Indigenous knowledge, Medicinal plants

Abstract

An ethnobotanical study of indigenous knowledge on the uses of medicinal plant species was conducted from December 2017 to March 2018 in Gasera district of Bale Zone, Oromia Regional State. The objective of the study was to document indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants used to treat human and livestock ailments, threats and conservation status of medicinal plants before it is lost. Different ethnobotanical techniques such as semi-structured interviews, group discussion, field observations and guided field walk were used for gathering data and a total of 97 informants from 6 kebeles were involved in the study. A total of 121 medicinal plant species belonging to 113 genera and 60 families were documented. Among plant families, Lamiaceae was the most dominant plant family represented by 10 species, followed by Solanaceae represented by 8 species and Asteraceae represented by 7 species. Most of the species (78 species) were collected from the wild while (43 species) were collected from home-gardens. A total of 59 (48.76%) species were used for the treatment of human ailments, 34 species (28.1%) were used to treat both human and livestock ailments and 28 species (23.14%) were used to treat livestock ailments only. Herbs were the most used plants, accounting for 52.89% followed by shrubs (23.14%), trees (19.01%), climbers (3.31%) and epiphytes (1.65%). Human interference through habitat destruction for agricultural expansion, construction, firewood and other purposes were the major threats to medicinal plants in the study area. Awareness raising and community based participatory forest management program should be encouraged.

References

Abdurhaman, N., 2010. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local people in Ofla Wereda, Southern zone of Tigray region. Ethiopia M.Sc Thesis. Addis Ababa University.

Abebe, D., 2001. The role of medicinal plants in healthcare coverage of Ethiopia, the possible benefits of integration. In proceeding of the national workshop on conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in Ethiopia: 28 April- 01 May 1998. Addis Ababa: 6-21.

Abebe, D., Ayehu, A., 1993. Medicinal plants and Enigmatic health practices of the Northern Ethiopia Addis Ababa: B.S.P.E.

Abebe, D., Ayehu, A., 1993. Medicinal plants and enigmatic health practices of northern Ethiopia B.S.P.E, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 511.

Asfaw, Z., Nigatu, A., 1995. Home gardens in Ethiopia: Characteristics and plant diversity SINET. Ethiop. J. Sci., 18, 235-266.

Ashagre, M., 2013. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Guji Agro-pastoralists, Bule hora district of Borana zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia. M.Sc Thesis, Addis Ababa University.

Awas, T., Asfaw, Z., 1999. An ethnobotanical study of the Bertha people of Benishangul Gumuz regional state in western Ethiopia. In: Program and abstracts of the national work shop ‘Have we valued our Biodiversity?’ Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Balemie, K., Kelbessa, E., Asfaw, Z., 2004. Indigenous medicinal plants utilization, management and threats in Fentalle area, eastern Shewa, Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci., 3(1), 37-58.

Bekele, E., 2007. Study on actual situation of medicinal plants in Ethiopia. JAICAF (Japan association for international collaboration of Agricultural and Forestry. 76p.

Birhane, E., Aynekulu, E., Mekuria, W., Endale, D., 2011. Management, use and ecology of medicinal plants in the degraded dry lands of Tigray, northern Ethiopia. J. Med. Plant. Res., 5, 309-318.

Birhanu, A., Haji, F., 2017. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used for treatments of human and livestock ailments in Dawe Kachen district of Bale zone, southeast, Ethiopia. Int. J. Emerg. Trend. Sci. Technol., 4(4), 5043-5055.

Ethiopian Central Statistic Authority, 2006. The population and housing census of Ethiopia result for Oromia region a bridged statistical report. ECSA, Addis Ababa, 1(4), 17p.

Gassera district, 2017. Annual report on population and agriculture of the district. GDANRO 2017 Unpublished.

Getaneh, S., 2009. Ethnobotanical studies of medicinal plants in Debre Libanos Wereda, north Shewa zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia. In M.Sc. Thesis. Addis Ababa University.

Giday, M., 2001. An ethnobotanical Study of medicinal plants used by the Zay people in Ethiopia. CBM: Skrift Series, 3, 81-99.

Giday, M., Ameni, G., 2003. An ethnobotanical survey on plants of veterinary importance in two wereda of southern Tigray, northern Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiopia J. Sci., 26, 123-136.

Giday, M., Asfaw, Z., Tigist, W., Woldu, Z., 2003. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Zay people in Ethiopia. J. Ethnopharmacol., 85, 43-52.

Hailemariam, T., Demissew, S., Asfaw, Z., 2009. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local people in the lowlands of Konta special wereda, southern nations, nationalities and peoples regional state, Ethiopia. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed., 5, 26.

Hunde, D., Asfaw, Z., Kelbessa, E., 2004. Uses and management of ethnoveterinary medicinal plants of indigenous people in “Boosat” Welenchiti area. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci., 3(2), 113-132.

Itana, B., 2010. Ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants of Goma Wereda, Jima zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia. Msc Thesis Addis Ababa University.

Lulekal, E., Kelbessa, E., Bekele, T., 2008. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Mana Angetu district, south eastern Ethiopia. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed., 4, 10.

Martin, G.J., 1995. Ethnobotany: A conservation manual London: Chapman and Hall.

Megarsa, M., Asfaw, Z., Kelbessa, E., Beyene, A., Woldeaba, B., 2013. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Wayu Tuka district, east Welega zone of Oromia regional state, west Ethiopia. J. Ethnobiol. Etnomed., 9, 68.

Mesfine, F., Demissew, S., Teklehaymanot, T., 2009. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Wonago Wereda, SNNPR, Ethiopia. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed., 5, 28.

Sofowora, A., 1982. Medicinal plants and traditional medicine in Africa. New York: John Wiley and Sons Ltd.

Teklay, A., Abera, B., Giday, M., 2013. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in Kilte Awulaelo district, Tigray Region of Ethiopia. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed., 9, 65.

Teklehaymanot, T., Giday, M., 2007. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by people in Zegie Peninsula, northwestern Ethiopia. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed., 3, 1-12.

Tolasa, E., 2007. Use, threat and conservation of traditional medicinal plants by indigenous people in Gimbi Wereda, Western Welegga, Ethiopia. In M.Sc. Thesis. Addis Ababa University.

Wassihun, B., Asfaw, Z., Demissew, S., 2003. Ethnobotanical study of useful plants in Danio Gade (Home-gardens) in Southern Ethiopia. Ethiop. J. Biol. Sci., 2(2), 119-141.

Wondimu, T., Asfaw, Z., Kelbessa, E., 2007. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants around Dhera, Arsi zone, Ethiopia. J. Ethnopharmacol., 112, 152-161.

Yinger, H., Kelbessa, E., Bekele, T., Lulekal, E., 2008. Plants used in traditional management of human ailments at Bale mountain national park, southeastern Ethiopia. J. Med. Plant. Res., 2(6), 132-153.

Yinger, H., Yehuwalaw, D., 2003. Traditional medicinal plant knowledge and use by local healers in Sekoru district, Jimma zone, south western Ethiopia. J. Ethnomed., 3, 24.

Published

2020-01-21

How to Cite

Gelgelu, T. ., Kebede, F. ., & Abebe, W. . (2020). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local people in treatments of human and livestock ailments in Gasera Woreda, Bale zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. Scientific Journal of Biological Sciences, 9(1), 253-276. Retrieved from http://sjournals.com/index.php/sjbs/article/view/346

Issue

Section

Original Article