A study on medicinal plants utilization and conservation in gera district, jimma zone, south west Ethiopia.

Abstract

The traditional medicinal plants of Gera District were studied ethnobotanically. The study aimed to document indigenous knowledge on utilization and conservation status of medicinal plants as well as to investigate the threats to medicinal plants. The data were collected from traditional healers and knowledgeable Gera people using group discussion, semi- structured interviews, guided field walks and observations with informants. A total of 63 medicinal plants, belonging to 36 families were observed. Fabaceae and Asteraceae represented by five species (7.9%) each followed by Rutaceae, Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae Fabaceae and Asteraceae represented by five species (7.9%) each followed by Rutaceae, Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae. Leaves were the most dominant part used, crushing were the dominant preparation method and oral were the dominant routes of administration followed by dermal. Agricultural expansion was ranked as the principal threat (41.6%) to medicinal plants followed by firewood (28.3%). Out of the total medicinal plants, 51 species (80.9%) were collected from wild, 6 species (9.5%) were collected from home garden and 6 (9.5%) medicinal plant from cultivated lands. In terms of the growth form distribution of the medicinal plant species herbs were represented by 20 species (35.7%), shrubs were represented by 16 species (28.6%). Identifying, establishing conservation strategies, encouraging people to grow and protecting indigenous knowledge of medicinal plant were suggested