Browsing by Author "TEMESGEN SHIFERAW"

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    ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED TO TREAT HUMAN AND LIVESTOCK AILMENTS IN DAWRO ZONE, SOUTH WEST ETHIOPIA PEOPLE REGIONAL STATE
    (Hawassa University, 2024-06) TEMESGEN SHIFERAW
    This ethnobotanical study was carried out to investigate and document the use of medicinal plants in Kechi woreda. In this study, 18 purposively selected key informants and 84 randomly selected general informants from three sampled kebeles were involved. Data were collected using semi-structured interview, group discussion and field observation. The collected data were analyzed using preference ranking, paired comparison, direct matrix ranking, informant consensus factor, jaccard’s coefficient of similarity and fidelity level index. A total of 91 medicinal plant species were identified. These species distributed under 81 genera and 42 families. Out of the identified medicinal plants species 75 species (56.81%) were used against human ailments, 40 species (30.30%) were used against livestock ailments and 17 species (12.87%) were used to treat both human and livestock ailments. Herbs constituted the largest growth habit (49 species) followed by trees (41 species). The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (46.07%) followed by roots (26.47%) and most widely used method of preparation was pounding (46.07%) followed by concoction (26.47%). The most common route of administration was oral (85.29%) followed by dermal (7.84%). Croton macrostachyus was predominant medicinal plant cited by most of the informants (53%) while the disease categories with the highest ICF value (21.33%) for abdominal pain. There was high preference for Ruta chalepensis for treating abdominal pain while paired comparison showed Phytolacca dodecandra the most preferred species for treatment of hepatitis illness. Anthropogenic factors such as agricultural expansion, firewood gathering, charcoal production, overgrazing etc. are the major threats to medicinal plants. In general, medicinal plants are still playing a significant role in the management of various human and livestock diseases in the study area.