Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Kersa Mellima Woreda, South West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State
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Date
2024-08
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study was dedicated to uncovering the valuable traditional knowledge that the people of Kersa Mellima Woreda hold about medicinal plants. It shows how the rich variety of plants in the local and the wisdom passed down through generations are woven into their everyday lives. The study aimed to uncover where these plants come from, how they are prepared, and how they are administered. Through a combination of semi-structured interviews, direct observations, informant consensus, and group discussions, and using descriptive statistics alongside ethno botanical methods for analysis. For data collection, first, questionnaires were handed out to 20 women and 30 men to gather basic information about their knowledge of medicinal plants. Second, 45 women and 60 men were interviewed to learn more about the types of ailments they treat, how they prepare the plants, and how they administer them.
A total of 155 participants were used in the study and the individuals were selected from randomly chosen nine kebeles based on their knowledge of medicinal plants. Both primary and secondary sources were used to collect data. For analyzing the ethno botanical data, both qualitative and quantitative methods were combined.
The research uncovered 77 different medicinal plants used to treat various ailments. In the study area, different types of plants were prevalent: climbers were the most common (41.19%), followed by trees (22.07%), shrubs (24%), and herbs (32.55%).When it came to preparing these medicinal plants, most remedies were made from a single plant or its parts, making up 66.23% of the plants used. The rest were mixed from different species, accounting for 33.77%.In terms of how these remedies were administered, the study found that 50.64% were taken orally. Other methods included oral and dermal application (6.49%), nasal application (7.79%), and just dermal application (28.57%).The most common techniques of preparation were pounding (30.3%), squeezing (17.1%), and powdering (9.2%), with less common methods like sniffing and chewing at 1.3% each. Other methods such as boiling, roasting, and crushing made up 7.9% of the total.
Fourteen important medicinal plants were considered most effective for treating stomachaches. Fourteen informants ranked these plants from most to least preferred. By adding up the scores,Cynoglossum coeruleu was rated highest for treating stomachaches with a score of 149, while Ruta chalepensis was rated lowest
with a score of 70. Based on the informants’ input, seven multifunctional plant species were selected and recorded their use diversities. Hordeum vulgare, with a score of 8, was identified as the least versatile, while Ritchie halbersii, scoring 23, was found to be the most multifunctional. The study found that Allium sativum was the most favored treatment for malaria in the area.In this study, Allium sativum and Euphorbia abyssinica were found to be the most reliable, with both plants receiving a 100% rating for treating infectious and abdominal disorders. Following them was Acmella caulirhiza, which scored 85%, showing its notable importance in traditional medicine.
The community widely agreed that Allium sativum was the best option, scoring 63. Taverniera abyssinica and Croton macrostachyus followed with scores of 49 and 42, respectively as the consensus among participants on the most commonly used medicinal plants for treating specific diseases. There was a strong agreement among informants on how to treat toothaches and tonsillitis, with these conditions having the highest ICF value of 0.96. On the other hand, treatments for elephantiasis had the lowest ICF value of 0.77, indicating fewer consensuses on how to handle this condition.
The research revealed that the majority of medicinal plants were gathered from home gardens (21 species), with forests (15 species) and grasslands (14 species) also playing significant roles. In study area, the main threats included overgrazing, firewood collection, deforestation, and agricultural expansion. The study highlighted growing concerns about the diminishing availability of these plants, largely due to changes in their natural habitats and unsustainable harvesting practices. This underscores the urgent need to educate the community on conserving and sustainably managing these invaluable plant resources to safeguard them for future generations. Increased public support, involvement from various stakeholders, and continuous awareness campaigns are essential for conserving and sustainably using medicinal plants
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Keywords
Ethnobotanical Study, Medicinal Plants