The Use And Management Of Medicinal Plants By Indigenous People Of Sewena District, Bale Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

An ethnomedicinal study of medicinal plants used by local people of Sewena district was conducted from September 2016 to June 2017. The study focused on determination and documentation of the traditional medicinal uses and management of various plants, of the study area. The data were gathered from indigenous people, local healers and knowledgeable elders of the study area. Ninety-three informants (80 males and 13 females) aged above 20 years were randomly selected from four field areas. Ethnobotanical data were collected by using semistructured interview, field observation and focus group discussion. Preference ranking, direct matrix ranking and fidelity level index were used for data analysis. Forty two medicinal plants were collected and studied for their medicinal uses, identified and distributed in 39 genera and 29 families. Fabaceae, Solanaceae and Asteraceae were recorded 4 species each. A large number 27 (64.28) of medicinal plants was collected from wild whereas from 13 (30.95%) cultivated area and 2 (4.76%) occur both in the home gardens and wild. About 27 (64.28 %) of medicinal plants were reported for treatment of human ailments, 5 (11.9 %) livestock ailments and 10 (23.8 %) both human and livestock ailments. In the study area, leaves 14 (33.3%) and roots 9 (21.42%) were the two frequently utilized plant parts for preparation of remedies. The most widely used method of preparation was crushing which accounted for 15 (35.7%) of traditional medicine in the study area. The large numbers of the medicinal plants, 30 (71.42%), were cited to be used in fresh form, few were used in dry. The most common mode of administration was found to be oral 21 (50 %) and dermal 17(41%) respectively. Analysis of preference ranking showed, Allium sativum was the most preferred medicinal plant by people of the study area to treat gastrointestinal problem. Some medicinal plants are popular than others in treating various diseases. Concerning informant consensus factor, the highest Fic values were linked to problems associated with Malaria and Headache (0.875), followed by gastrointestinal disorder (0.79) and animal poisonous (0.76). The lowest Fic value was linked with respiratory tract infection (0.44). Drought, overgrazing and deforestation were reported to be the major threats to medicinal plants. The success of conservation and sustainable use of resources largely depends up on the understanding of local people and accepting of the concept, hence local community must be taught and, involved in conservation and management of plant resources.