Ethnobotanical Investigation of Medicinal plants Used to Treat Human and Livestock Ailments in Duna District, Hadya Zone, SNNPRs, Southern Ethiopia.

Abstract

An Ethnobotanical investigation on traditional use of medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge to treat human and livestock ailments was conducted on the people of Duna District, Hadya Zone, South Nation Nationality People’s Regional Stat (SNNPs), in the Southern Ethiopia. A total of 110 (85 males and 25 females) above the age of 20 were sampled from 11 kebeles and used for the study. Data was collected using semi structured interviews, field observations and focus group discussions. Informant consensus, preference ranking, paired comparison, direct matrix ranking and informant consensus factor (ICF) were calculated. A total of 116 medicinal plant species; of which 50 species from wild, 38 species from homegarden and 28 species were common for both habitats were identified and recorded. Of these 63 species were used for the treatment of human ailments, 43 species for both human and livestock ailments and 10 species were used to treat livestock ailments. Herbs were the most widely used plants, which were accounting for (45.68%) followed by shrubs (24.13%), trees (21.55%), climbers (6.89%) and epiphyte (1.72%). The most frequently used plant part was the leaves accounted for (40.5%) followed by fruit (11.2%). The most widely used method of preparation was crushing (34.48%). The most common route of medicine administration was oral (56.03%). The most commonly used application of medicinal plant was drinking (37.93%). There was high preference for Ocimum lamiifolium in treating fibrillness while paired comparison showed Echinops kerebicho Mesfin the most preferred species in treating acute sickness. Eucalyptus globulus was shown the most multipurpose use species while agricultural expansion was considered as major threat to plants in general and medicinal plants in particular. Awareness creation on valuing indigenous knowledge and plant resources should be encouraged.