Ethno-botanical investigation of medicinal plants use by oromo people in middle altitudes at limu kosa woreda, jimma zone

Abstract

Investigation of ethnological medicinal plants have been done and on the use of medicinal plants to treat human and livestock ailments in middle altitudes by Oromo people in Limu Kosa District, Jimma Zone, Oromia regional state, South West Ethiopia. Data have been collected using semi-structured interview, field observations, various ranking and comparison. Sixty informants (49 males and 11 females) participated from five Ganda and eighty-eight medicinal plant species grouped into 79 genera and 43 familes. Fabaceae was the plant family which contributes 10 species (23.26%), stood first followed by Lamiaceae 7 species (16.27%). Regarding growth forms of medicinal plants: 62 species (70.45%) from wild where as 26 species (29.54%) from home gardens and herbs claimed 32 species (36.36%), shrubs 31 species (35.23), trees 17 species (19, 32%) and climbers 8 species (9.095%). Most plant materials prepared from fresh form 80%; both dried and fresh 15% and dried 5% and commonly plant parts used was leaves 56.19%, followed by root 17.14%. Frequently used preparation was crushing and squeezing 26.42%, followed by pounding, powdered and mixing 17.28% and the most favored route of administrations was oral (47.74%), followed by painting 16.78%. Threatening factors of medicinal plants was: fire wood and charcoal (9 species, 10.22%), food (13 species 14.77%); expansion of farm land, over gazing and others consists (21 species, 23.86%); and conservation methods was cultivating some medicinal plants in home gardens