Medicinal Plants Used by the Ayehu Woreda Communities Awi Zone Amhara Regional State Ethiopia Threats and Conservation Methods
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Date
2021-09-21
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ethiopia has a long history of employing traditional medicinal plants to treat a wide range of human and Livestock illnesses. The present study on medicinal plants was conducted to document local, plant-based medicinal knowledge of communities, conservation methods and the threats affecting these medicinal plants in Ayehu- Guagusa Woreda, Amhara Regional State Eastern Ethiopia. A total of 54 informants (aged between 20-80) were selected so as to provide information on medicinal plant use from 8 sampled kebeles. Of these, 6 male key informants were selected purposively based on recommendations obtained from elders and also younger members of the communities. Other informants (28 males and 20 females) were selected randomly by lottery method. Semi structured interviews, field observations, group discussions, and a guided field walk were used to collect data. Preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, and the informant consensus factor were utilized to analyze the data .Also, fidelity level calculations were run so as to assess the importance of a given medicinal plant for the intended Purpose. A total of 50 different medicinal plant species collected and identified.42 species (84%) were used to treat human illnesses, 5 species (10%) were used to cure livestock illnesses, and the remaining 3 species (6% ) were used to treat both human and livestock diseases. From the total medicinal plant species, 16 ((34.04%), most of them 0f 6 (34.04%), were herbs, and least of them 2 ((29.79%were species of climbers. The most commonly used plant parts were 35 (33.98%) leaves followed by 30(29.13%) roots. The most commonly used method of preparation was crushing (50 %), squeezing (13.75%), and chewing (12.5%) of the different plant parts. Oral administration 60.6 % followed by dermal administration was the popular route of administration reported (22.7 %).most of the medicinal plants (46%) have been harvested from the wild, the effort of local people to conserve medicinal plants is limited. To relieve the rapid loss of medicinal plants, associated indigenous knowledge, we recommend that urgent measures be taken by the concerned government institutions. Strategic approach should include systematic awareness creation through schools, local institutions as well as through accepted leaders of the communities. Awareness creation should be supported by concrete conservation and development activities by way of technical support for selecting, domesticating, propagating and cultivating threatened medicinal plants.
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Ailments, Fidelity Level, Indigenous Knowledge, Informant Consensus Factor, Traditional Medicinal Plants