Diversity of Medicinal Plants and Uses in Sayint District South Wollo Amhara Region Ethiopia
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Date
2021-10-20
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Study of diversity of medicinal plants and uses were conducted in Sayint district, South Wollo, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Data on medicinal plants were collected from 92 informants (53 male and 39 female). Data were collected through questionnaire, interview, market survey, field observation and group discussion. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. A total of 75 medicinal plant species were identified and from natural vegetation 61 (81%) and home garden 14 (19 %) distributed in 68 genera and 42families. The abundance of medicinal plants was categorized as presently safe (40%), threatened (28%), sporadic (20%), endangered (6.7%) and vulnerable (5.3 %). A total of 53 ailments (35human, 11 livestock and 7 both) were identified to be treated by medicinal plants. From the total identified medicinal plants, 54 of them were reported for the treatment of human ailments and the remaining others were for livestock and both. The dominant life forms of medicinal plants were shrubs 37(50%), followed by herbs 21(28%), trees 10(13%) and climbers7 (9%).The most preferably used medicinal plant parts were leaves 41 (55%) followed by roots16 (21 %). The dominant method of medicinal plant part remedy preparation was pounding and squeezing 26 (35 %) followed by pounding 15(20 %). The most common preferable route of administration of medicinal plant remedy was reported to be oral 39 (52%) followed by dermal 24 (32 %). Drinking was the most frequently used method of application26 (35%) followed by painting or creaming 21(28%). The main sources of knowledge on medicinal plants reported to be elder people and used oral based transfer of knowledge. Anthropogenic factors such as farm land expansion, charcoal production, fire wood, construction, animal grazing and medicine and natural factors were found to be the threats for medicinal plants. Promoting tree growing project and the sustainable utilization and management of medicinal plants were recommended. Further studies towards cultivation of medicinal plants of the area were needed.
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Abundance, Ailments, Diversity, Species Richness, Threats