Abstract:
Investigation of ethnological medicinal plants have been done and on the use of medicinal
plants to treat human and livestock ailments in middle altitudes by Oromo people in Limu Kosa
District, Jimma Zone, Oromia regional state, South West Ethiopia. Data have been collected
using semi-structured interview, field observations, various ranking and comparison. Sixty
informants (49 males and 11 females) participated from five Ganda and eighty-eight medicinal
plant species grouped into 79 genera and 43 familes. Fabaceae was the plant family which
contributes 10 species (23.26%), stood first followed by Lamiaceae 7 species (16.27%).
Regarding growth forms of medicinal plants: 62 species (70.45%) from wild where as 26 species
(29.54%) from home gardens and herbs claimed 32 species (36.36%), shrubs 31 species (35.23),
trees 17 species (19, 32%) and climbers 8 species (9.095%). Most plant materials prepared
from fresh form 80%; both dried and fresh 15% and dried 5% and commonly plant parts used
was leaves 56.19%, followed by root 17.14%. Frequently used preparation was crushing and
squeezing 26.42%, followed by pounding, powdered and mixing 17.28% and the most favored
route of administrations was oral (47.74%), followed by painting 16.78%. Threatening factors of
medicinal plants was: fire wood and charcoal (9 species, 10.22%), food (13 species 14.77%);
expansion of farm land, over gazing and others consists (21 species, 23.86%); and conservation
methods was cultivating some medicinal plants in home gardens
