An Ethno botanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Farta Wereda,South Gonder Zone of Amhara Region Ethiopia
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
An Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plant was carried out in Farta Wereda
which is found in South Gonder Zone of the Amhara National Regional State that is about 666
km away from north of Addis Ababa. The objective of the study is to conduct ethnobotanical
investigation in the area in order to compile and document medicinally important plants in
accordance with their traditional practice. The study has been carried out from October 20,
2009 to May 5, 2010 to get valuable information from 20 randomly selected kebeles of Farta
Wereda in Amhara National Regional State. In each sample Kebele five informants who are
traditional healers and knowledgeable persons were interviewed and randomly selected that
make up a total of 100 informants. The ethonobotanocal data were collected through
interviewing local communities including local ‘debteras,’ religious leaders, students and Kebele
administrators. Primary data were collected using guided field walk, group discussion, semistructured
interview and participant observation in the field. The inhabitants of the area have
used the medicinal plants not only for medicinal value but also for various purposes and have
for a long time been dependent on the surrounding plant resources for their food, shelter,
fodders, for their animals, health care and other cultural purposes. In total 146 species
belonging to 133 genera and 71 families were recorded. Of these, 136 plant species grouped
under 68 families and 123 genera were used to treat human and livestock ailments. Taxa
commonly used belong to 4 families such as Asteraceae (9.56 %), Solanaceae (6.62%) and
Fabaceae and Lamiaceae (5.15 %, each) in number of species. Herbs formed a major
component (41.9%) while shrubs, trees and climbers constitute 32.35 %, 18.38 % and 7.35 %
respectively. The study showed that preparation and administration of medicinal plants include
several methods. The most frequently used plant parts for the preparations of remedy were
leaves 56 (34.78 %), roots 29 (18.01 %) and fruits 17 (10.56%). These medicinal plant parts
were processed in various forms and the major ones include crushing 51 (23.29%), powdering
42 (19.18 %) and boiling 19 (8.68 %). The most common mode of administration was oral (52.97
%) followed by dermal (30.14 %). The main threats to medicinal plants in the study area were
agricultural expansion, firewood, grazing, drought and construction. It is therefore,
recommended that the local people have to be encouraged to cultivate medicinal plants in their
homegarden.
Key words: conservation, ethnobotany, Farta, healthcare, IK, medicinal plant
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Keywords
conservation, ethnobotany, Farta, healthcare, IK,, medicinal plant