Assessment of Medicinal Plants Used to Treat Human and Livestock Ailments in Sinan District, East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used to treat human and livestock ailments in Sinan District, East Gojjam Zone of Ethiopia, was conducted from October 2021 to August 2022. Semi structured interviews, field observations and preference ranking and paired comparison methods were employed and information was collected from a sample of 357 respondents which are 312(87.4) males and 45(12.6) females. These include 10 key randomly selected informants. A total of 82 plant species, representing 72 genera and 44 families were collected. The Fabaceae, which contributed 8 (9.8%) species stood first followed by Asteraceae, Solanaceae and Euphorbiaceae with 7, 6 and 5 species respectively. Most of the species 42(51.2%) were collected from wild while 34(41.5%) were collected from homegardens. A total of 61 (74.4%) species wereidentified for the treatment of human ailments while 5(6.1%)species were used to treat livestock health problems, the rest 16(19.5%) species used to treat both human and livestock diseases. Herbs were the most used plants, accounting for 40(48.8%) species, followed by shrubs, trees and climbers. About 88(24.65%) of respondents said that root are used for medicinal purpose more than other plant parts for preparation of human and livestock remedies. 90(25.21%) respondents replied that most of medicinal plants are administered orally. According to respondents, the most widely used method of preparation was crushing 99(27.7%) of the different plant parts followed by pounding (21.3%). The most commonly used application of medicinal plant was drinking 79(22.13%) followed by rubbing6 (18.49%) and eating mixing with food 44(12.32%). There was high preference for Plantogo lanceolata for treating wound while paired comparison showed Zehneria scabra to be the most preferred species for treatment of febrile illness by traditional healers. Cordia africana was shown to be the top multipurpose species while agricultural expansion, firewood collection and charcoal making were considered major threats to plants in general and medicinal plants in particular. Provisions for participation of the local people, awareness raising and establishment of protected areas need encouraging.