Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants of anuak and nuer peoples in itang district gambella region Ethiopia.

Abstract

Ethno botanical study was conducted to assess medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge in Itang District, Gambella region, Ethiopia. Forty traditional healers participated in the study , out of these fourteen key informants selected. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, field observations and voucher specimens were brought to Jimma University Harbarium for identification. Informant consuens factors (ICF), preference ranking and paired comparison were used to analyze the data. A total of 57 medicinal plants belong to 36 families and 55 genera were recorded and identified. The most commonly used plant families include Fabaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Solanaceae and poacea. Medicinal plants mostly collected from the wild and trees accounted for the highest share. The medicinal plants of the study site were used to treat 27 ailments; about 13 were used for stomach ache treatment. Roots (26.06%) and fruits (24. 37%) were the most frequently used plant parts. Flowers were the least frequent plant part for medicinal purpose. Routes of administration of the traditional remedies were oral, dermal, nasal, eye, handle and ear. Itang District has considerable diversity of medicinal plants. However, expansion of agricultural land, bush fire and drought are the major threats to medicinal plants. Hence proper conservation measures need to be practiced for sustainabil ity of the medicinal plants.