Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Medicinal Plants of Goma Wereda, Jima Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants was conducted to document the indigenous plant-based
medical knowledge of the people of Goma Wereda in southwestern Ethiopia from September, 2009 to
May, 2010. A total of 100 informants (73 males and 27 females) between the ages of 20 and 80 were
selected to collect information on medicinal plant use from ten sampled kebeles. Out of these, 24 key
informants (22 males and 2 females) were purposively selected based on recommendation from elders
and local authorities. Other informants were selected randomly. Data were collected using semistructured
interviews, field observations and group discussions. Informant consensus, preference
ranking, paired comparison, direct matrix ranking, informant consensus factor (ICF) and Jaccard’s
coefficient of similarity were calculated. A total of 160 plant species: 101 species from wild
vegetation and 59 species from home gardens distributed in 124 genera and 58 families were
collected and identified. Of these, 121 medicinal plant species were used as cure for 102 ailments.
From these, 92 species were recorded for the treatment of human health problems, 12 species for
livestock and 17 species for the treatment of both human and livestock. From the total medicinal
plants species 54 species of the medicinal plants were herbs, followed by 30 species of shrubs, 26
species of trees and 11 species of climbers. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves
(61.66%) followed by roots (13.33%). The most widely used method of preparation was crushing
(26.80%) of the different plant parts followed by squeezing (22.68 %) and burning (7.21%). The
common route of administration recorded was oral (52.01%) followed by dermal (28.52%) and nasal
(8.3 %). The most commonly used application of medicinal plant was drinking (43.37%) followed by
painting (10.84%) and put on and washing accounted for 10.84% each. The medicinal plants that are
presumed to be effective in treating certain diseases such as Ocimum lamiifolium and Croton
macrostachyus have high informant consensus. The disease categories such as rheumatism and
stabbing pain as well as the categories of evil eye and evil spirit have higher ICF value of 0.907.
Preference ranking showed that people of the area have preference for Acmella caulirhiza for the
treatment of tonsillitis. Paired comparison of five species of plants that are used for the same disease
showed that Indigofera spicata is the most preferred species by traditional healers for the treatment
of insect allergy (‘Hadha’). Direct matrix ranking showed Cordia africana as the most utilized
species by the community. Agricultural expansion, firewood collection, timber production and
construction are major threats to plants in general and medicinal plants in particular in the study
area. The participation of the local people, awareness raising through training or education on
sustainable utilization and management of plant resources, establishment of forest protected areas
should be encouraged.
Key words: Ethiopia, Ethnobotany, Goma. homegardens, informant consensus factor
Description
Keywords
Ethiopia, Ethnobotany, Goma, homegardens, informant consensus factor