Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in two Cultures: Hadiya and Yem Peoples, Snnpr, Ethiopia
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2020-06-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This investigation was carriedout between 2013-2016 in five districts of SNNPR (Anlemo, Duna, Gibe, Gombora and Yem) with the objective of documenting and analyzing traditional medicinal plants (MPs) and the health care knowledge of the society. Vegetation data were gathered from 123 quadrats each 30x30 m laid in different land use types in the districts. Clustering was undertaken to identify plant communities, Shannon-Weiner Index was calculated to evaluate the diversity of species, Sorenson’s coefficient was calculated to assess similarity in species, and ordination was performed to identify the effects of environmental factors plant communities. Ethnobotanical data were gathered from 399 general and 102 key informants through individual interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, market surveys and guided transect walk. Quantitative ethnobotanical tools including Preference Ranking, Direct Matrix Ranking, Informant Consensus Factor, Fidelity Level, Use Value, Relative Impotrance and Use Diversity indices were calculated to identify most culturally important MPs. A total of 468 species of vascular plants were recorded from vegetation data. Five plant communities were identified in Hadiya and three in Yem. The communities had diversity indices between 3.35-4.89 and evenness 0.87-0.97. Monte Carlo test showed that altitude, slope, aspect and disturbance in Yem, and three of the former in Hadiya had significant effects on the distribution of plant communities (p<=0.001-0.03). The most frequently reported growth forms were herbs (45%) for human health and shrubs (30%) for livestock health and they were mainly collected from wild habitats. The Hadiya and Yem people most frequently used leaves for treating both human and livestock ailments. Asteraceae for human and Fabaceae for livestock health were MPs richest families in all districts. The top perceived threats of loss of MPs in all districts were agricultural expansion, firewood and charcoal while modernisation was considered responsible for loss of MPK. Dermatological human ailments scored the highest ICF (0.95) in Gombora while ailments of gastrointestinal system & visceral organs scored the least ICF (0.82) in Yem. Reproductive & urogenital livestock ailments had the highest ICF (0.92) in Duna while musculoskeletal, sensory & miscellaneous category had the least ICF (0.78) in Yem. Among MPs that scored 100% FL for human ailments were Vernonia myriantha, Stephania abyssinica, Securidaca longepedunculata, Englerina woodfordioides and Inula confortiflora in Anlemo, Duna, Gibe, Gombora and Yem, respectively. Similarly, among EVMPs that scored 100% FL were Croton macrostachyus, Kalanchoe schimperiana, Securidaca longepedunculata, Asparagus africanus, Haplocarpha rueppellii in Anlemo, Duna, Gibe, Gombora and Yem, respectively. The calculated UV and RI showed that C. macrostachyus is the most culturally important species, most exploited and locally threatened in all districts. MPK was significantly different between Yem (mean =13.40) and Hadiya (mean = 10.35) (p < 0.001). Gender, marriage, age, religion and informant skill had significant contribution to MPK of human and livestock health in Hadiya (p =< 0.001-0.048) while the former four variables were not significant in Yem indicating MPK is variably dependent on these variables in the study sites. Conservation of MPs was found to be associated with gender and age in both Hadiya and Yem (p = 0.001-0.003). The people of the study area were known to utilise TMPs side by side with the mainstream biomedical system for maintaining both human and livestock health. The remnant forests and different land uses are still reservoirs for high diversity of medicinal and other useful species in the study area. Conducting phytochemical screening and clinical trials of the MPs with high informant consensus and FL including Englerina woodfordioides, Stephania abyssinica, Securidaca longepedunculata, Lysimachia ruhmeriana and Vernonia myriantha is suggested in the first priority line for their efficacy, safety and standard uses.
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Hadiya, Health Care, Human Ailments, Medicinal Plants, Veterinary Ailments, Vegetation, Yem