Abstract:
The major role of medicinal plants in health care is demonstrated in developing
countries.The purpose of the study is to assess plants species of medicinal value to the
community in Jikawo district and the associated knowledge on use, conservation,
preparation and other aspects of indigenous knowledge of the people. From 344 informants,
22 were selected purposely whereas the rest were selected randomly. The data were collected
by contacting traditional healers knowledgeable elders and local communities through semi
structured interview observation and group discussion. Preference ranking paired
comparison fidelity level direct matrix ranking and informant consensus factor along with
descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. A total of 81 medicinal plant species
distributed in 68 genera and 41 families were collected. Family fabaceae was ranked 1st with
10 species followed by Euphorbiaceae and poaceae with 5 species each. These medicinal
plants were used to treat 42 human and 18 livestock health problems. Of these 60 species
were used to treat human ailments only 7 species were used to treat both human and
livestock ailments and 14 species were used to treat livestock ailments only. Trees (31
species) were the most growth forms followed by herbs (28 species). Leaves were the most
frequently used plant parts (41.53%) followed by roots (20%). Traditional medicines were
mostly prepared from fresh plant materials (60.98%) and single plant species (88%) with
commonly in crushed preparation (32.35%). The majority of traditional medicines were
administered through oral route of administration (53.22%). Most of the medicinal plants
were gathered from the wild (60 species, 74.07%). Traditional system of management by in
situ and ex-situ methods has contributed to conservation of these medicinal plants however
overgrazing agricultural land expansion over-exploitation due to other uses were the major
threats to the medicinal plants of the study area. Thus, necessary conservation measures of
the medicinal plants and associated knowledge should be taken before the loos of medicinal
plants.
