Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants of Mirab-Badwacho District, Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethnobotanical investigation on medicinal plants was conducted in Mirab-Badawacho District of Ethiopia. Sixty traditional healers participated in the study. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, guided field walks and key informant interviews. Voucher specimens of the medicinal plants were collected during guided field walks. Ethnobtanical techniques such as informant consensus factor (ICF) and  preference ranking were used to analyse the data. A total of 57 medicinal plants belonging to 40 families were recorded. The most commonly used plant families include Euphorbiaceae, Solanaceae, Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae and Brassicaceae. Medicinal plants were mostly collected from the wild habitats. Herbs accounted for the lion's share of the medicinal plants. The medicinal plants of the study site were used to treat 31 ailments.  About 42 % of the plants were used to treat stomach ache, diarrhea and intestinal worms. Leaves (41%) and roots  (20.3%) were the most frequently used medicinal plant parts. Flowers were least used plant parts for medicinal purpose. Routes of administration of the traditional remedies were mouth, skin, nose and eye. The study area has considerable diversity of medicinal plants. However, expansion of agricultural land, over grazing and deforestation  are major threats to the medicinal plants. Hence, proper conservation measures need to be practiced for sustainability of the medicinal plants.