Ethnomedicinal Study of Plants Used against Human Ailments in Aseko District, South East Ethiopia
Abstract
Background
Over exploitation of MPs to treat human ailments in highly populated regions caused by deforestation and agricultural expansion disappearing (MP) species diversity in the areas, MPs Hence, this study was aimed to document and analyze the plant-based ethnomedicinal knowledge of the people in order to preserve the existing indigenous knowledge.
Methods
Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured interview, key informants interview, guided field observations, group discussions & market survey. Quantitative approaches were used to determine Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), pair wise comparison, preference ranking and Fidelity level (FL) values.
Results
A total of 96 medicinal plant species belonging to 89 genera and 66 botanical families were reported to treat human diseases in the Aseko District. Plant Families with the highest number of species were Lamiaceae and Solanaceae, followed by Fabaceae. About 44% of Medicinal Plants (MPs) preparations were reported to be obtained from leaves. Highest ICF values were recorded for gastrointestinal (0.76) & parasitic and febrile illnesses (0.74) indicating best agreement among informants’ knowledge on MPs used to treat aliments in these categories. The highest fidelity level values (100% FL) were recorded for
Ocimum gratissimum
L against febrile diseases,
Rubus steudneri
Schw against Asthma and
Podocarpus falcatus
against Intestinal Parasite) for each, showing conformity of knowledge on species of the best healing potential.
Cordia africana
was ranked first in a direct matrix ranking exercise of multipurpose Medicinal Plants. The output of preference ranking exercise indicated that
Urtica simensis Steudel
was the most preferred species to treat gastritis.
Conclusion
The study revealed that Aseko district is rich in MP diversity and associated indigenous knowledge. However, anthropogenic factors (over exploitation) coupled with acculturation threaten the sustainability of MPs in the study area. Promoting a complementary in-situ and ex-situ conservation approach in the District is highly recommendable for MP sustainability.
Background
Over exploitation of MPs to treat human ailments in highly populated regions caused by deforestation and agricultural expansion disappearing (MP) species diversity in the areas, MPs Hence, this study was aimed to document and analyze the plant-based ethnomedicinal knowledge of the people in order to preserve the existing indigenous knowledge.
Methods
Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured interview, key informants interview, guided field observations, group discussions & market survey. Quantitative approaches were used to determine Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), pair wise comparison, preference ranking and Fidelity level (FL) values.
Results
A total of 96 medicinal plant species belonging to 89 genera and 66 botanical families were reported to treat human diseases in the Aseko District. Plant Families with the highest number of species were Lamiaceae and Solanaceae, followed by Fabaceae. About 44% of Medicinal Plants (MPs) preparations were reported to be obtained from leaves. Highest ICF values were recorded for gastrointestinal (0.76) & parasitic and febrile illnesses (0.74) indicating best agreement among informants’ knowledge on MPs used to treat aliments in these categories. The highest fidelity level values (100% FL) were recorded for
Ocimum gratissimum
L against febrile diseases,
Rubus steudneri
Schw against Asthma and
Podocarpus falcatus
against Intestinal Parasite) for each, showing conformity of knowledge on species of the best healing potential.
Cordia africana
was ranked first in a direct matrix ranking exercise of multipurpose Medicinal Plants. The output of preference ranking exercise indicated that
Urtica simensis Steudel
was the most preferred species to treat gastritis.
Conclusion
The study revealed that Aseko district is rich in MP diversity and associated indigenous knowledge. However, anthropogenic factors (over exploitation) coupled with acculturation threaten the sustainability of MPs in the study area. Promoting a complementary in-situ and ex-situ conservation approach in the District is highly recommendable for MP sustainability.