Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Akaki district, East Shewa Zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge in Akaki District, Oromia, Ethiopia. Forty informants above age 18 were selected from eight kebeles. Out of these, 10 key informants were purposely selected based on the recommendations of elders and local authorities. Other 30 informants were selected randomly. Data were collectedusing semi-structured interviews and field observations. Informant consensus factor (ICF), preference ranking, paired comparison and fidelity level were calculated. Sixty four plant species belonging to 60genera and 35 families were collected and identified. Overall, 48 and 16 species were recorded for the treatment of human and livestock ailments respectively. The most frequently used plant parts for human and livestock ailments were leaves and roots respectively. The most widely used method of preparation was crushing (35.95%) of the different plant parts followed by chewing (18.75%) and pounding (17.18%).The common route of administration recorded was oral (53.12%) followed by dermal (18.75%). The most commonly used application of medicinal plant was drinking (43.75%) followed by painting (17.18%) and putting on accounted for 4.68%. The disease categories such as external parasites, as well as the categories of retained urine and placenta have higher ICF values of0.93, 0.92 and 0.90 respectively. People of the area have preference for Ocimum lamiifolium for the treatment of febrile illness. Paired comparison of five species of plants that were used for the same disease showed that Ruta chalepensis was the most preferred species by traditional healers for the treatment of stomach a