Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Menz Keya Gebreal Woreda, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia
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Date
2024-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants was conducted to investigate and document medicinal plants in Menz Keya Gebreal Woreda Amhara Regional State Ethiopia. Atotal of 90 informants (age beteween19-94) were selected to collect information on medicinal plant use from eight sampled kebeles. Of these, 6 key informants were selected purposively based on recommendation by local elders and authorities. A total of 70 medicinal plant species distributed in 64 genera and 40 families were collected and identified. Out of, 54 species (77.1%) were used against human ailments, 6 species (8.6%) were used against livestock ailments and the remaining 10 species (14.3%) were used to treat both human and livestock ailments. From the total medicinal plant species, 32 were shrubs, followed by 20 species of trees, 14 species of herbs, and 4 species of climbers. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves 38 (54.3%) followed by roots 22 (31.4%), fruit 4 (5.7%), bark 2 (2.8%), and whole parts 2(2.8%). The most widely used method of preparation was creaming accounted for the largest 35(28.68%) followed by drinking 30(24.59%), swishing, 17(13.93%), eating 11(9.01%), sniffing 11(9.01), tie on10 (8.19%) and smoking 8 (6.55%). The common route of administration recorded was oral way which is equal to 37(52.8%) followed by dermal 31(44.2%). Nasal routes of administration ranked third represented by 6(8.5%) and the other routes of administration were both dermal/oral 3(4.3%), oral/nasal 3 (4.3%), optical 2(2.8%) and ears 1(1.4%).Most of the remedy preparation in Menz Keya Gebreal Woreda used by the local community were prepared from fresh condition which accounts 59(84.3%) followed by fresh/dried which represents 8(11.4%) and the last one was
dried condition which represents 3(4.3%).Agricultural land expansion, deforestation, charcoal production and firewood collection were reported as major threats to plants of the study area.
The Menz keya Gebreal people possess rich ethnomedicinal knowledge. This study can be used as a basis for developing management plans for conservation, sustainable use of medicinal plants and drug development.
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Ethnobotany, Fidelity Level, Informant Consensus Factor, Paired Comparision