An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants used by Local Pcople in Menz Gera Midir District, North Shcwa Zone of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia
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Date
2013-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
All ellll/obolal/ieal sludy was conducted 10 docl/menl medicinal plwlI.\· lH'ed by the local people and their
indigenous knowledge ill Menz Gera Midir Districl, North Shewa Zone of the Amhara Regional State.
Ethiopia. Data were collected from 72 (12 of Ihem key informams) informa",s using semi-structured
interviews, group discus!:.-ions and guided field walk. Priority ranking, paired comparil·oll. (IireCI matrix
ral/king and by calclilalion of the informam consensus faclOr (ICF) were IIsed ill dow analysis. Ol/e
hUlldred fifty five medicinal plant '!'pecies from the natural vegetation (67. J%) and homegardells (32.9%)
claimed to be used by the local people for the treatment of human and livestock ailments. A total of I J j
species are ",elltiolled for the treatment of only hllman heallh problems, 10 species for Irealllleni of
/ivesrock ailmellls only and 30 for both human and livestock diseases. Asleraceae, which cOlllributed 16
species. s/Ood first followed by Lamiaceae with 12 species. The medicinal flora of the study area is
composed of 68 (43. 9%) herb. 47 shrub, 29 tree and I I climber species. The IIIOSt frequently used p{alll
parll' are leaws (43.9%) followed by roots (31%). The most frequent mode of preparalion of plmll
medicine was pounding (27. 9O.Ai) followed by powdering (I6%). The most COIIIIIIon route of administration
of tradilional medicine was oral (48%) followed by dermal (28.6%). The highesl ICF values were linked ro
problems associated wilh abdominal and gastrointestinal diseases (0.86) followed by dermatological
problelll (0.83). Priority ranking showed that people of the area preferred Lupilllls albus, which was the
rarest medicinal plant in the study area. Paired comparison offive species ofp/(lIIb showed thm Cucllfbira
pepo is the most preferred species by Iradi/ional healers for the trealment of headache. Olea eurOlxlea
subsp. cllspidara was shaWl/to be the IIIO!>'t IIIl1ltipllrpo'!"e species. The medicillal planl remurce of the area
is I"reatened by agriclllwral expansion to grazing lal/ds andforests, charcoal making, firewood collection
and O\·ergra:illg. I"-situ cOllsen'ation and cultivatioll of medicinal plallis in homegardens are
recommended as remedial actions.
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Keywords
Ethnobotany, Medicinal plants, Indigenous Knowledge, Informant consensus factor, Menz Gera Midir District