Abstract:
This study was conducted in Yayo districts, Oromia Region, South west Ethiopia during 2021,with the aim of investigating ethnomedicinal plants. .Indigenous knowledge includes time-tested practices that developed in the processes of interaction of humans with their environment .Medicinal plants are one part of the plant resources that have a potential capacity for treating of various diseases. The purpose of the study was to organize and document information on use, managementand conservation of medicinal plants.The study involved in three kebeles of yayo district durin stady time. For ethnobotanical data collections, 90 informants were interviewed. 27 key informants were purposively selected. Various ethnobotanical techniques were used to collect and analyze the data such as semi-structureinterview,guided field walk and observation, group discussion,preference ranking and paired comparison, direct matrix that werethetop two species recorded for the highest number of usesand fidelity levelindex, descriptive statistical analysis.One hundred seventeen informants from 3 kebeles were included in the study.A total of 70 plant species58 fromwild, and 12 from ``homegarden, distributed in 28 families,66 genera were collected and identified. Asteraceae was the most Species rich family represented by 27 followed by Fabaceae that contributed 24 species. All 70 species (100%) are used for treatment of 46 .Trees species constitute the largest number with (34 %) species followed by herbs (30 %), shrubs (29%), and climbers (7 %) species. In addition tothese medicinal plants in the area are utilized for forage, fencing, fire wood, construction and spiritual and cultural needs. The highest informant consensus was documented for the plants Artemisa abyssinica 11% cited by all informants for its medicinal value treating fibrilillness. Burecea antidystrical and Bidens piloca9.4% and 8% are citedcited 2nd and 3rd Ocimum urticifolium (7.7%) ranking4threspectively. Oral administration is the dominant route (53 %) ,followed by dermal route (28%) in which pounding 23% , powdering 19%, crushing 14%, squeezing 10%, smashing 10%, chewing, burning, steam bath, dry bath and rubbing are recorded methods of preparation techniques.Modernization and acculturation have contributed in making the younger generation un willing to practice and retain traditional knowledge.
