Medicinal Plants used a mong the People of Boji Chokorsa District, West Wollega, Ethiopia.

Abstract

The study was conducted in Boji Chokorsa District, West Wollega Zone, Oromia Regional State aimed at assessing use and management and related knowledge of medicinal plants. Focus Group Discussion and interview were done to address details on the types and characteristics of plants, such as their preparation, method of application, dosage and threats . Fom the total of 23 Gand in the district 10 Ganda were purposely selected. From these Ganda , forty informants ,four from each Gand whose age was more than 30 were selected by the same technique. total of 89 medicinal plant species (64 from wild, 25 from homegardens) belonging to 28 families were collected. Among 89 species of medicinal plants recorded, 56 wereused for human ailments, 18 for livestock and 15 species for both livestock and human ailments. The majority of the medicinal plants (72%) were collected from the wild and (28%) from homegardens. Herbaceous species constitute the largest number with 35(39%) species, followed by shrubs 27(30%) species. Fabaceae with nine species contributed the highest score. The most frequently harvested plant parts were leaves and roots with a proportion of 38(43%) and 26(29%) respectively. Most remedies were prepared from single plant (71%) and preparation from combined plant species was about 29% ot these 64% were used in fresh. The widely used method of application was found to be internal scoring 67% in which oral application (56%) was the main route of administration.The major threats to medicinal plants in the study area were agricultural expansion, overgrazing, termite problem, urbanization, fire wood collection and cutting down trees for construction and furniture. Therefore, there is a need for appropriate in situ and ex situ conservation mea