WOLAITA SODO UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

COLLEGE OF NATURAL ANDCOMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

An Ethinobotanical Study On Traditional Medicinal Plants Used To Treat Human

Ailments in Basketo Special Woreda, Southern Ethiopia.

Msc Thesis Submitted to Wolaita Sodo University, Department of Biology in Partial

Fulfillments for Degree of Masters of Science in Biology

By: Megenagna Wondim

ID NO Bio/Msu/030/10

Advisor: Mr Gebeyehu Feleke(Assi.Prof.)

Mar ,2023
WolaitaSodo, Ethiopia
 THESIS APPROVAL SHEET

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and evaluated the thesis prepared by MegenagnaWondim entitled: “An Ethnobotanical Study
on Traditional Medicinal Plants Used to treat Human Ailment in Basketo Special Woreda,
Southern Ethiopia’’ and recommend that can be accepted as fulfilling the thesis requirement for
the degree of MSc in Biology.

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ABSTRACT
Starting from the ancient time, the people of Ethiopia use medicinal plants as traditional
medicine to heal different human ailments.Plants have been used as a source of medicine to treat
human diseases in Ethiopia.This ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants was carried out in
Basketo special district,southern Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to identify and document
traditional medicinal plants used for the treatment of various human ailments and conservation
practices in the Basketo special district.A total of 78 informants were selected to collect
ethnobotanicalinformation from three kebeles.The study kebeles were selected purposively based
on availiability of traditional healers, medicinal plant abundance , traditional medicine use
history and frequent of community interaction with plants through consultation of elders and
local authorities. Among the 78 informants, 8key informants were selected purposefully; the
other 70 informants were selected randomly by lottery method.Ethnobotanical data were
collected using semi-structured interviews, focusgroup discussion within formants, field
observation and market survey.The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics
and ethnobotanical clustering techniques (informant consensus factor and fidelity level inex)
and ranking methods (preference ranking and direct matrix ranking methods.A total of 49
medicinal plants belonging to 47 families and 32 generas were identified. These medicinal plants
comprised shrubs (44.9%), trees (30.6%), herbs (16.3%) and climber (8.2%). The plant families
with the highest medicinal plants in the study area used for various diseases treatment were
Asteraceae and Lamiaceae (6 and 4 species) respectively. Leaves (38.09%) were the dominant
plant part used in the preparation of remedies, followed by seed (22.6%).Crushing (36.9%) and
oral route of administration (70.9%) were commonly mentioned methods of preparation and
administration, respectively. Ruta chalepensiss was the most preferred medicinal plant to treat
stomach ache and is also ranked highest as the most preferable medicinal plant for various
purposes. Although the current study revealed the existence of indigenous knowledge of
medicinal plants to treat human ailments, agricultural expansion became the major threat to
medicinal plants. Hence, different conservation methods should be applied to conserve those
mostly preferred, frequently used medicinal plants for various purposes.

Keywords:Basketo special woreda, Ethnobotany, Indigenous knowledge, Traditional

medicinal plants.
ACKNOWLEGEMENT
First and foremost, I give a great pleasure to express my deepest gratitude to my adviser
Mr. GebeyehuFeleke ( Assistant professor) for his consistent advise, unreserved guidance,
support, effective follow up, constructive comments from the beginning to end during my
thesis work.

I would like to extend my thanks to the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Wolaita Sodo
university for sponsoring my postgraduate study.

I would like to extend my highest appreciation to administrators inBasketo special District

agricultural office and local community informants providing necessary information who helped
me to give appropriate information on the study site when ever asked for interviews.

Finally my special gratitude also goes to my family for their moral and financial support
to carry out my research. My heartfelt thanks go to all who participated directly or
indirectly in the successful completion of my thesis work.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ..............................................................................................................................iii
Acknowlegement....................................................................................................................iv
LIST OF FIGURE .....................................................................................................................viii
List of Appendix....................................................................................................................viii
LIST OF ABBREVATIONS ........................................................................................................viii
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................1
1.1. Back ground of the study .....................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the problem .....................................................................................................2
1.3 Objectives..............................................................................................................................3
1.3.1 General objective ...........................................................................................................3
1.3.2 Specific objectives ..........................................................................................................3
1.4 Research questions ...............................................................................................................4
1.5. Scope or Delimitation of the Study.......................................................................................4
1.6. Significance of the Study ......................................................................................................4
2. Review of Related Literature ...............................................................................................6
2.1. Historical Development of Ethnobotany ..............................................................................6
2.2. Concepts and definition of Medicinal plants ........................................................................7
2.3. Medicinal plant diversity and distribution in Ethiopia..........................................................9
2.4 Current status of medicinal plants in Ethiopia ....................................................................10
2.5 Use of TMPS in Ethiopia ......................................................................................................10
2.5.1 Preventing infectious diseases .....................................................................................10
2.5.2 Curative practices.........................................................................................................10
2.5.3 Trading purpose ...........................................................................................................11
2.6. Medicinal Plants for Human Ailments................................................................................11
2.7. Conservation of traditional medicinal plants .....................................................................12
3. Materials and Methods .....................................................................................................14
3.1. Description of the Study Area.............................................................................................14
3.1.1 Geographical location of the District............................................................................14
3.1.2. Population ...................................................................................................................15
3.1.3 Climate .........................................................................................................................15
3.2 Research design ..................................................................................................................15
3.3. Sampling size and Sampling techniques.............................................................................16
3.4.Data gathering tools ...........................................................................................................16
3.4.1. Semi- structured interview..........................................................................................17
3.4.2. Focus group discussion................................................................................................17
3.4.3. Field observation .........................................................................................................17
 3.4.4. Market survey .............................................................................................................18
3.5. Data Analysis Technique ....................................................................................................18
3.5.1. Descriptive statistics....................................................................................................18
3.5.2. Informant consensus factor /ICF/................................................................................18
3.5.3 Fidelity level index........................................................................................................19
3.5.4. Preference ranking ......................................................................................................19
3.5.5. Direct matrix ranking...................................................................................................20
4. Result and Discussion .......................................................................................................21
4.1. Medicinal Plant Species Diversity and Treated Ailments....................................................21
4.2. Growth Forms of Medicinal Plant Species Used to Treat Human Diseases ...................22
4.3. Plant parts used for medicinal preparation .......................................................................22
4.4. Preparation and route of administration of medicinal plants............................................23
4.4.1. preparation methods of medicinal plants ...................................................................23
4.4.2. Condition of preparation of medicinal plants .............................................................24
4.4.3. Route of administration ..............................................................................................24
4.5. Clustering and ranking results............................................................................................25
4.5.1 informant consensus factors ........................................................................................25
4.5.2. Fidelity level index.......................................................................................................26
4.5.3. preference ranking ......................................................................................................26
4.5.4. Direct matrix ranking...................................................................................................27
4.5.5. Marketed medicinal plants..........................................................................................28
4.6. conservation and Indigenous knowledge of Traditional medicinal Plant .......................28
5.Conclusion and Recommendation.......................................................................................30
5.1. Conclusion .........................................................................................................................30
5.2. Recommendations .............................................................................................................30
6.References..............................................................................................................................31
 List of table

Table 1: Number of General and key informant's ..............................................................................................16

Table 2: Medicinal plant families and number of species in each ......................................................................21
Table 3: List of human diseases and number of medicinal plants that treat human ailments in the study area
............................................................................................................................................................................22
Table 4: Plant parts used for medicinal preparation ..........................................................................................23
Table 5:Method of remedies preparation from medicinal plants ......................................................................23
Table 6: Conditions of plant materials used for medicinal purposes..............................................................24
Table 7: Informant Consensus Factor (ICF).........................................................................................................25
Table 8: Fidelity level lndex ................................................................................................................................26
Table 9: Preference ranking on five medicinal plants used to treat stomach ache............................................27
Table 10: Ranking of multipurpose medicinal plants .........................................................................................28
LIST OF FIGURE
Figure 1: Map of the study area .............................................................................................14
Figure 2: Growth form of medicinal plants used to treat human ailments..............................22
Figure 3: Route of administration of medicinal plants used to treat human ailments.............25

LIST OF APPENDIX
Appendix 1: Household head survey Interview questions for collecting ethnobotanical data
for medicinal plants...............................................................................................................40
Appendix 2: List of human medicinal plant species recorded in the study area ......................42
Appendix 3: General back ground information of respondents ..............................................47
LIST OF ABBREVATIONS
CSA Central Statistical Agency

FL Fidelity Level

HH Household

ICF Informant Consensus Factor

IK Indigenous Knowledge

NBSAP National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan

SNNPRS South Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State

THs Traditional Healers

TM Traditional medicine

TMPS Traditional Medicinal Plants Species

UNEP United Nation Environmental Program

WHO World Health Organization

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Back ground of the study

Traditional medicine is an ancient medicinal practice which existed, in communities before

the advent of modern medicine. Traditional medicine is based on indigenous theories,
beliefs and experiences that are conserved across from generations. Several countries of
Africa have realized the need and importance of developing traditional medicines from native
and endemic plants that are traditionally used at various places for various ailments.
Traditional medicines remains the main resources for a large majority (80%) of the people in
Ethiopia to treat health problems. Traditional medicinal consultancy including consumption of
the medicinal plants has a much lower cost than modern attention (Mekonnen Bishaw, 1990).

Traditional people around the world possess unique knowledge of plant resources on which they
depend for food, medicine and general utility (Martin,1995). In general, ethnobotany is the
scientific investigation of plants as used in indigenous culture for food, medicine, magic, rituals,
building, household utensils, musical instruments, firewood, pesticides, clothing, shelter and
other purposes (Kelbessa Urga, 2004).

Ethiopia is a country characterized by a wide range of climate and ecological conditions with
enormous diversity of fauna and flora(Pankhurst , 2001).The country possesses a wide range of
potentially useful medicinal plants, more extensive indeed than available in many other parts
of the world (DawitAbebe, 1986).

Despite the large diversity of medicinal plants, over the past decades in Ethiopia
(DebelaHunde,2001).Therefore, it can be said that ethnobotanical studies investigating
medicinal plants are at the start as there is no in depth study on the relation between medicinal
plants and indigenous knowledge resources. Modern health care has never been and probably
will never provide a foreseeable future and adequate health service anywhere in
Africa,due to the financial limitation related to rapid population growth, political instability
and poor socio-economic development(Ankobonggo,1992) .

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Due to uncontrolled human activities the natural resources of Ethiopia have been declining
for years. In Ethiopia the majority of the rural populations traditionally use many plants
as sources of medicines to treat human and livestock ailments of Ethiopia(Tesfaye et al.,
2009). In many parts of the country traditional healers (THs) use roots, barks and other parts
of plant to prepare phytotherapies and in the process they have developed their own local
knowledge (FissehaMesfin, 2007). This knowledge is transferred orally from generation to
generation through herbalists and knowledgeable elders.The indigenous knowledge (IK) system
in Ethiopia is not fully documented when compared to available multiethnic, cultural and
flora diversity (Fissehaet al.,2009).The current account of medicinal plant (MP )of Ethiopia, as
documented by NBSAP and TesemaTantoet al., (2002),shows that about 887 plant species
were reported to be utilized for traditional medicine ( TM).Out of these, 26 species are
endemic and they are becoming increasingly rare and are at the border of extinction.

Basketo special district is located in SNNPR Ethiopia. The size and quality of natural
resources in the study area decline through years due to increasing human population. Some
endangered plant species are lost and many are under threat. Local community of Basketo use
traditional plants as a medicine. Thus, this study is designed to carry out ethnobotanical
investigation on medicinal plants used for the treatment of different human ailments in Basketo
special district.

1.2 Statement of the problem

The vast majority of Ethiopia's population lives in rural areas where the health care
coverage is low and existing public health sector resources are stretched to the limits. One
of the greatest challenges facing the country is determining how best to narrow the gap
between the existing health services and the population whose access to them is very
limited (WHO, 2013).

A study of pharmaceutical drug use showed that 35% of the patients did not obtain the
prescribed drugs due to lack of money (WHO, 2013). Most TMs are delivered either free
or with a relatively low cost, which contributes to the use of rural based healers for
community primary health care need. In developing countries TM addresses the problems
of scarcity of drugs and health related problems due to loss of forests and lack of
efficient inexpensive drug sources (Tesfaye et al., 2009). Lack of conservation activities is

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observed in the study woreda, which is similar to other areas of, Ethiopia. Even thoughit
is known the Woreda has relatively better plant resource and associated traditional
knowledge resource is expected to be significant. The current plant use trend shows that
the environment is facing problems of resource depletion and loss of IK like other area
of the country (Talemos et al., 2013).

According to Basketo special district agricultural office,health office and local peoples
information, like other part of the country, majority of the people of the study area used
traditional medicinal plants for a long time to treat human ailment. Still now the
dependency on this medicine and the unsustainable utilization of the resource leads to the
rapid loss the component of the ecosystem. The problem is sensitive and requires urgent
solutions. Though the problem is critical because, there is no enough scientific information
regarding the status and extent of utilization of medicinal plants in the study area. There
is a gap in the documentation of the wealth of indigenous knowledge and understanding
the corresponding drivers of this knowledge related to management and conservation of
medicinal plants used to treat human ailments. Deforestation isthe major challenge like
other part of Ethiopia. The study also aspires to identify and record the use of medicinal
plantsthere were a gap in documentation, identification and conservation of traditional
medicinal plants(TMPs)with associatedIndigenous knowledge(IK). It requires immediate
solution and appropriate measures.

1.3 Objectives

1.3.1 General objective

The main objective of this study is to asses and document traditional medicinal plants used
for the treatment of various human ailments along with conservation practices in the Basketo
special district.

1.3.2 Specific objectives

1) To document traditional medicinal plants used to treat human ailments
2) To identify plant parts used for medicinal purposes.
3) To identify preparation method of medicinal plants and its administration
4) To identify indigenous knowledge or practices of medicinal plant conservation
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1.4 Research questions
Findings of the study tried to answer the following questions
1) What are the medicinal plants used to treat human disease?
2) How many medicinal plant species ( MP) are there in the study area to be used against
human health problem?
3) What is/are the plant parts used for traditional medicine?
4) What is the mode of preparation , growth form and rout of administration of medicinal
plant?
5) What are the indigenous knowledge or practices of conserving medicinal plants?
1.5. Scope or Delimitation of the Study
The study focuses on the traditional medicinal plants used to treat human ailments. It
focused to identify, document and assess medicinal plants in the study sites. The research
has limitations, which conducted only on ethnobotanical assessment of MPs used for human
treatment and the work does not include the ethno veterinary part and due to limited
resource and time that the study is restricted to three kebeles out of the total 33 kebele.
This may hinder investigating society decision behavior for identification of TM practices
in the whole population of the district that belongs to a single nationality group.
Therefore, the study results are not as comprehensive as that may be obtained from a
study considering all kebeles of the woreda.

1.6. Significance of the Study

Traditional medicine still remains the main resources for a large majority (80 %) of the people in
Ethiopia for treating health problems, including the consumptions of medicinal plants has a much
lower cost than modern attention and almost all scientific medicines are being prepared from
parts of plants or several world research data are giving evidences about 75% of industrial
(synthetic) medicines are made from plants (Tessemaet al., 2003).

But Basketo special district is the area where the diverse medicinal plants are not carefully
studied based on the information gathered from Basketo special district administration office,
health office, agricultural office and other people in the study area. Thus, this study is intended to
expose these plants to the other researchers in order to investigate scientifically new medicine
from traditional medicinal plants and as a result to introduce the area as worldwide sense and

4
also the study findings will therefore help the district Administrative Office to design
strategies that can bring positive outcomes to the conservation of MP diversity. In
addition, the study results were also be used as an initiative for further related research works in
the study area.

5
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1. Historical Development of Ethnobotany

According to Admasu Moges and Yohannes Moges (2003), the history of medicinal
plants has been identified and used throughout human history and can be traced bake to
the time when humans started making conscious interaction with plants. The ancient
Egyptians wrote the information on over 850 plant medicines, including Garlic, Juniper,
Cannabis, Aloe, (Patricia Shanely et al., 2003). Even before 15000 B.C. the Greek and
Roman medicinal practices, as preserved in the writings of Hippocrates, provided the
pattern for latter Western medicine. Similarly, Theophrastus wrote the historical
Planetarium written in 4th century which was the first systematization of the botanical
work. Christopher Columbus in 1492, brought tobacco species and other useful plants to
Europe from Cuba (Endeshaw Bekele, 2007).

FAO (2003) indicated that migrants from other part of the world documented medicine
and other useful plants of the Maya and Inca peoples. In Roman Empire, regions such as
Egypt and Petra obtained substantial knowledge about the local plants and their useful
properties (khafsa Malik, 2019).

The botanical knowledge of the world drastically expanded once the new world was
discovered due to ethnobotany, the knowledge can be primarily attributed to the
substantial discovery of many new plants from the America including crops such as
potatoes, peanuts, avocados and tomatoes (Habibur, 2012). According to Moa Megersa et al.
(2019) around the world, people possess unique knowledge of plants resources on
which they depend for medicine, food and their practical uses through the
traditional knowledge of a local culture and people. Indigenous people all over the
world are still using medicinal plants for treatment of various diseases. This implies that
humans are dependent on other organisms which means plants are most essential to
human wellbeing specially in supplying basic needs for life. Thus, plant resources
have remained an integral part of human society and thought history, man depends
on plants in many aspects including treatment of diseases in their local place
(Selemon Tesfayeet al.,).
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2.2. Concepts and definition of Medicinal plants
Medicinal plants many be defined as those plants that are commonly used in treating and
prellenting specific ailments and diseases and that are generally considered to be harmful to
humans (anselem 2004) these plants are either wild plant species those growing spontaneously in
self maintaining population in natural or semi-natural ecosystems and could exist independently
of direct human actions or the contrasting domesticated plants species those that have arisen
through human action such as selection or breeding and depend on management for their
existences (Cowley 2002).
For most pf the developing world the main issue of public health is still the acute need for basic
health care which is sadly leaking even at the most elementary level. this is true in both the
rapidly growing cities and in the rural areas. The world health organization (WHO) indicates that
more than half of the world’s population does not have access to adequate health care services.
this is due to the fact that poor people neither have access to nor could afford the present health
care services (WHO, 1979). Therefore, innovative alternative approaches are beaded to address
this problem. Medicinal plants after alternative remedies with tremendous opportunities. They
not only provide access and affordable medicine to cure people they can also general income
employment and foreign exchange for developing countries many traditional healing herbs and
plants parts have been shown to have medicinal value, especially in the rural areas and that those
can be used to prevent all human diseases (WHO, 1993).

The WHO estimates that more than 80% of the world population rely either solely or largely on
traditional remedies for the health care. Rural communities continue to rely on locally produced
plant based remedies, some from home gardens, but many from forests, alpine pastures and other
multiple –use habitats .women and elders are the principal harvesters, marketers and healers
(WHO, 1996).

Recently interest has been raised in many countries on the commercial exitribute to cures for
major disease and AIDS harvesting of medicinal plants by cash-needy collectors to supply the
growing of urban and international markets has increasingly intensified since these materials are
cheaper and more accessible. These medicinal plants continue to supplement limited health
facilities and the consequent limited health facilities and the consequent expanding demand due
to increasing population has put tremendous pressure on the natural supply. Several of these

7
medicinal plants have also been over exploited to provide statial incomes to growers and
processors (WHO, 1993).

Hence, supplies of wild plants are constantly being threatened resulting in serious erosion of
genetic diversity the WHO estimates that minimum of 20,000 plant tax has recorded medicinal
uses. It is estimated that up to70,000 plants species are used in folk medicine and a majority of
these species are found in the Asia pacific region. However, the use of medicinal plants is faced
is faced with many constraints. Some of these constraints include plants with medicinal values
not fully identified inventoried and characterized information and knowledge not
beingadequately documented and disseminatedmany issues are not addressed and resolved (i.e.
equity and sustainability) and the alarming commercial over exploitation and consequent genetic
erosion of medicinal plants (WHO, 1979)

The term of medicinal plant includes a various type of plant used in herbalist and some of those
plants have a medicinal activity. These medicinal plants consider as a rich resources of
ingredients which can be used in drug development and synthesis , besides that these plants play
a critical role in the development of human cultures around the whole world moreover some
plants consider as important source of nutrition and as a result of that these plants recommended
for their therapeutic values these plants include ginger, green tea walnuts and some other plants.
Other plants their derivatives consider as important source for active ingredients which are used
in aspirin and tooth paste (WHO, 1996).

Traditional medicinal plants are important source of local building materials, fuel wood and also
used for the treatment of diseases in both human beings and their livestock in developing
countries where 80% of the population has been reported to depend on traditional medical
systems (Dharani and Yenesew, 2010; Dharani et al., 2010; Njoroge et al., 2010). The use of
herbal medicines however, is on the increase even in developed countries because of the belief
that herbal remedies are safe because of their natural origin. Globally, there are about 120 plant-
derived drugs in professional use; three quarters being obtained from traditional medicinal plants
(Fabricant and Farnsworth 2001).

In developing countries, it has been estimated that up to 90% of the population rely on the use of
medicinal plants to help meet their primary health care needs (WHO, 2002). Apart from the

8
importance in the primary health care system of rural communities, medicinal plants also
improve the economic status of the people involved in their sale in markets all over the world
(Taylor et 'al., 2001).

2.3. Medicinal plant diversity and distribution in Ethiopia

Different vegetation types that are found in the various agro ecological zones of Ethiopia
accommodate various types of medicinal plants. Edwards (2001), reported that the woodlands,
Montana vegetation including grasslands and forests and the evergreen scrubs and rocky areas
contain more medicinal plants with higher concentrations in the woodlands. Since 1000
Identified TMPs are reported in the Ethiopian Flora, however, many others are not yet identified.
About 300 of these species are frequently mentioned in many sources.

Jansen (1981), asserts that Ethiopia has rich MP lore and points out that almost all plants of the
Ethiopian flora are used somewhere somehow medicinally. Other workers on the other hand
estimated about 60% of the flora to be medicinal, and most sources give about 10% of the
vascular flora to be medicinal. The list cover plants that are widely used by the local
communities in lowlands and highlands for treating human ailments and some of them for
livestock ailments as well as for prevention of pests and vectors. According to Edwards (2001),
the greater concentration of MPs are found in the south and south western Ethiopian parts of the
country following the concentration of biological and cultural diversity. The various citations
made from various written records of MPs from central, north and northwestern part of Ethiopia
are thus small fractions of MP present in Ethiopia. Study on the Bale Mountains National Park in
the South East Ethiopia revealed that the area, as much as it is a biodiversity hotspot, also turned
out to be a MP hotspot with 337 identified medicinal species of which 24 are endemic (Haile
Yineger, 2005).

Ethiopia is also a home of many languages, cultures and beliefs which in turn have contributed to
the high diversity of IK and practices of the people which, among others, include the use of
medicinal plants. In 1993 it was reported that 80% of the Ethiopian population still depends on
traditional medicine for their health care practices. More than 95% of traditional medical
preparations are plant origin.

9
2.4 Current status of medicinal plants in Ethiopia
According to UNEP (2014), Ethiopia is believed to be home for about 6500 species of higher
plants with approximately 12% endemism, and hence one of the six plant biodiversity rich
countries of Africa. The diversity is also considerable in the lower plants but exact estimate of
these have to be made. The genetic diversity contained in the various biotic make up is also high
thus making the country a critical diversity hot spot for plants. As stated by Thulin (2004),
Ethiopia has a significant portion of two of the world’s 25 biodiversity rich areas hot spot i.e. the
eastern Afromontane Biodiversity Hotspot and the Horn of Africa-Biodiversity Hot Spot. These
hotspots house a lot of the useful wild biodiversity, particularly that of MP. The biodiversity of
Ethiopia was known since 5000 years ago when ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used it
as a source of unique commodities like Frankincense, Myrrh and other plant products, which are
also used for medicine preparation.

2.5 Use of TMPS in Ethiopia

2.5.1 Preventing infectious diseases

According to Pankhurst (1965), traditional Ethiopian medicine includes several ailments or

disease prevention. In the past, the spread of highly infectious diseases such as smallpox was
prevented by deserting places where the epidemics occurred. Sweeping or covering floors with
particular plants is another traditionally practiced disease preventive measure. Other methods of
disease prevention include isolating people with contagious diseases, prohibition or controlling
movement and taking children away from the affected areas. Kitabs are also used for the purpose
of protecting an individual against evil eye, as well as snake and scorpion bites. Still other
medicines are available for use as charms against an enemy. In addition, cultural rituals and
scarification are commonly employed in diseases prevention (Schneider et 'al., 1989).

2.5.2 Curative practices

Traditional Ethiopian medicine is commonly used to treat a variety of diseases employing
substances as recommended by professional traditional medical practitioners. According to

10
Negussie B (1988), professional traditional healers known by different names in different parts
of the country are the primary players in the curative aspect of TM practice.

2.5.3 Trading purpose

According to WHO (1990), traditional medicines are sold in every open market in Ethiopia and
households, especially in the rural areas. Market vendors selling these materials are women.
These medicines are usually sold to the public together with other materials such as spices, salt
and other food items. Traditional medical treatments are also commonly given at the household
level. There is significant knowledge of medicinal plants in the nonprofessional public domain
where most ailments are diagnosed and treated at the household level. Where traditional
professionals are consulted, it is often for their specialized traditional knowledge and skills
pertaining to a relatively limited range of health. Most of the families grow or gather these plants
in their vicinities of homes (Fassil H, 2003).

2.6. Medicinal Plants for Human Ailments

As showed by (Asfaw Debela et 'al., 1999), in Ethiopia, plants have been used as a source of TM
from time immemorial to combat different ailments and human sufferings. Due to its long period
of practice and existence TM has become an integral part of the culture of Ethiopian people
(Pankhurst, 1965 and Mirgissa Kaba, 1996). It is common for people living in rural and urban
centers to treat some common ailments using plants available around them. (For example, the
flowers of Hagenia abyssinica used to expel tapeworm, Ruta chalepensis leaves used to treat
various health problems (Abbink, 1995). The continued dependence on herbal medicine
alongside modern medicine is largely conditioned by economic and cultural factors (Abbiw,
1996). Modern healthcare has never been and probably never will provide for the related to rapid
population growth, political instability and poor economic performance (Anokbonggo, 1992).

Due to incomplete coverage of modern medical system, shortage of pharmaceuticals and

unaffordable prices of modern drugs, the majority of Ethiopian still depends on traditional
medicine (Dawit Abebe, 1986). The problem of ensuring the equitable distribution of modern
healthcare has become more serious, as the gap between supply and demand has continued to
widen. Hence, in present-day Africa including Ethiopia, the majority of people lack access to
healthcare, and where available, the quality is largely below Acceptable level (Abbiw,

11
1996).Foreseeable future adequate and equitable health service anywhere in Africa, due to the
financial limitations.

2.7. Conservation of traditional medicinal plants

The term conservation is defined as the sustainable use of biological resources. The concept of
sustainability is now seen as the guiding principle for economic and social development,
particularly with reference to biological resources. According to Zemede Asfaw (1997), MPs are
considered to be at conservation risk due to over use and destructive harvesting (roots and barks
collection). Availability of MP has been affected by a dramatic decrease in the area of native
vegetation due to agricultural expansion, deforestation, fire, overgrazing, and drought, trading
charcoal and firewood and urban associated developments (Cunningham, 1996 and Kebu
Balemie et ' al., 2004). However, there were checks and balances in the past that made the use of
such plants sustainable.

As stated by Zemede Asfaw (2001), in Ethiopia, TM as elsewhere in other developing countries

is faced with a problem of sustainability and continuity mainly due to loss of taxa of MP, loss of
habitats of medicinal and other category of plants and cultures. The diversity of plants in
Ethiopia is on the process of erosion due to anthropogenic pressures (Abebe Demisse, 2001). The
same document states that habitat destruction and deforestation by commercial timber interests
and encroachment by agriculture and other land uses have resulted in the loss of some thousand
hectares of forest which harbor useful medicinal plants, annually over the past several decades.

Dawit Abebe and Ahadu Ayehu (1993), found that many medicinal preparations use roots, stem
and bark by effectively killing the plant in harvest. Plant parts used to prepare remedies are
different; however, root is the most widely used part. Such wide utilization of root part for
human and livestock ailments with no replacement has severe effect on the future availability of
the plant. Recent work of Haile Yineger (2005), confirms the fact that of the total plant parts to
prepare remedies root is widely used with 64 species (35.5%) followed by leaf 47 species
(25.97%) which hence affects sustainable utilization. In a broad sense, conservation is achieved
through in-situ and ex-situ means. In-situ conservation is conservation of species in their natural
habitat. Some TMP have to be conserved in-situ due to difficulty for domestication and
management (Zemede Asfaw, 2001). Moreover, some plants fail to produce the desired amount
and quantity of the active principles under cultivation out of their natural habitats. MP can also

12
be conserved by ensuring and encouraging their growth in special places, as they have been
traditionally (Zemede Asfaw, 2001), this can be possible in places of worship (churches,
mosques, grave yards, etc), scared grooves, farm margins, river banks, road sides, live fences of
gardens and fields.

13
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS
3.1. Description of the Study Area

3.1.1 Geographical location of the District

This research has given special emphasis on study of traditional medicinal plants on human
ailments in Basketo special district,SouthernEthiopia.According to the communication bureau of
Basketospecial district information (2019),

Figure 1 Map of the study area

Southern Nation, Nationalities and People's Regional state ( SNNPR )has sixteen zonal
administrations and three special district administrations. Basketo Special district is one of three

14
special district in SNNPR, of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The district is located
556 km, 348 km and 50 km away from Addis Ababa, Hawasa and western direction from Sawla
town of Gofa Zone respectively. It is bordered in the east by Geze GofaWoreda, in west by
SalamagoWoreda of South Omo, in the North by Melokoza Woreda and in the south by North
Aari Woreda. There are 33 kebeles in the district. Geographically, the study area is located at
latitude of 6°14'60.00"N and 36°34'59.99"E longtitude. The main town of Basketo Special
district is Laska.

3.1.2. Population
According the census report by Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA, 2007), the
total population of the special woreda was 109,981 of which 55,150 are males and 54,831
are females.

3.1.3 Climate
Based on 2012 climate data, the average annual rainfall of the district ranges from 1401-1600
mm ,while the average annual temperature ranges from 17.6 °C to 27.5°C. Basketo special
district has two major climatic zones. These are woinaDega (the central temperate high belt of
the Ethiopian plateau ) 45% and kola (is an area where the land is at, near, or below the level of
the sea and where there are not usually mountains or larger hills )55%. Different species of
plants are grown in these two different climatic zones. Its elevation ranges from 701-2000
m.a.s.l..

3.2 Research design

Basketo special district has a total of 33 kebeles. Reconnaissance was conducted from october
2021 to November 2022 to select 3 potential kebeles ,which include ; Bakela, Sasa and Simba for
ethinobotanical data collection.The study kebeles were selected purposively based on
availiability of traditional healers, medicinal plant abundance , traditional medicine use history
and frequent of community interaction with plants through consultation of elders and local
authorities.

15
3.3. Sampling size and Sampling techniques
In order to collect ethnobotanical data, men and women household informants with different age
were selected from three kebeles, and the sample size was determined using Cochran’s sample
size formula as indicated by Bartlett et al.,2001. as follows:

n= N/ 1+N( e2)

where n is the sample size of the research, N is the total number of households in the district
(19551), e is the maximum variability of making error 5% (0.05), and 1 is the probability of
event occurring. Then, n=392 which is based on the total number of households of the district,
but our study sites were three kebeles. Therefore, the sample size for each of these three kebeles
was calculated using the proportion of the number of households in each kebele to the total
number of the household in the district.

A total of 78 individuals (48 men and 30 women) were selected randomly and purposefully with
different ages. Out of the 78 individuals, 70 were selected randomly by a lottery method from
the total households in order to give equal chances, and 8 key informants who are traditional
healers and knowledgeable persons were selected purposefully based on the recommendations of
local authorities, elders, and religious leaders. The key informants in the study area are very few
and they were purposely selected because of their knowledge and relevance.

Table 1: Number of General and key informant's

District Total General information Key informant Total
household M F T M F T
Bakela 1600 17 12 29 2 1 3 32
Simba 1314 14 9 23 2 1 3 26
Sasa 1020 12 6 18 1 1 2 20
Total 3934 43 27 70 5 3 8 78

3.4.Data gathering tools

In order to gather relevant information from different sources the researcher used the following
data gathering tools.

16
3.4.1. Semi- structured interview
The respondents background , health problems treated, treatment methods, local name of
medicinal plants used, source of collection (wild or cultivated), used to treat human
ailment, plant part used as medicine, threats to medicinal plants and conservation practice
of the respondents was recorded. Semi- structured interview sessions were employed with
the help of local assistants (Martin,1995; Alexiades, 1996).

Face to face interviews used to collect sensitive /secret indigenous knowledge/data from
all informants based on semi-structured checklist questions prepared in English and
translated into local language ( Basket). The interviews were guided to cover the key
topics of the study or important ideas regarding medicinal plants with the associated
indigenous knowledge. The interview focused on medicinal plant parts used, method of
remedy preparation, dosage of the remedy, route of remedy administration, used antidotes
or ingredient s, interaction of healers to the forest, ailments treated, and conservation
practices of medicinal plants. The time and place of interview were set based on the
interest of the informants.

3.4.2. Focus group discussion

According to Martin (1995), intuition and experience are the best guides to informal ways of
gathering information.

Group discussion were conducted one time with the most knowledgeable ones who were
suggested by respective kebele elders and administrators about the status of distribution, uses and
conservation attempt of traditional medicinal plants. Six respondents will participate in group
discussion at each study sites for one hour. They interacted face to face and actively discussed
and share information about a topic. During the discussion the informants were free to state
about the traditional medicinal plants without interference.

3.4.3. Field observation

Field observation were conducted throughout the whole process of the research in order
to ensure the validity of the obtained information, in field observations, the type of MP,
the source/location, the human activities that cause loss to TMPS, and conservations of
MP were carefully observed (Alexiades, 1996).

17
Guided field observation was carried out with the assistance of local guides and key
informants and all relevant data including the local names of medicinal plants, growth
habit, the parts used and to gather status of medicinal plants in the study sites.

3.4.4. Market survey

Market survey and observation were conducted at market which take place once a week or
Thursday where almost all kebeles attend. Therefore, the researcher was conduct two times to
assess the ethnobotanical information, to distinguish and record the type of herbal drugs
sold in the market, and the multipurpose role of some medicinal plants. In addition, the
market survey were used as an occasion to hold discussions with members of households
that are not captured during the sampling.

3.5. Data Analysis Technique

After the data is collected by data gathering tools (observation, interview and discussion) that
was analyzed and interpreted by using both qualitative data |and quantitative data. Both
qualitative and quantitative data were interpreted by descriptive statistics. The analyzed data
were organized in the form of table, graph/bar graph, bi-chart etc. using percentage, rank and
average etc.

3.5.1. Descriptive statistics

Useful information gathered on medicinal plants from the informants major points like
parts used, preparation, rout of applications, disease treated, habit, habitat, were analyzed
through descriptive statistical analysis techniques using percentage, mean and frequency. In
addition, ethnobotanical clustering techniques such as informant consensus, informant
consensus factor, fidelity level and ranking methods including preference ranking and data
matrix ranking were species priority should distinguish and computed for data analysis.
The detailed ethnobotanical methods used were mentioned below as follows.

3.5.2. Informant consensus factor /ICF/

Informant consensus was used to confirm the agreements of informants on the traditional
medicinal application of plants species and to evaluate the reliability of information recorded
from informant. The method measures the reports of how many times a single species
reported by total informants. To evaluated and confirm the reliability of MPs b/n informant.
18
The informant consensus factor was calculated by grouping the reported treated ailments
via the reported medicinal plants into 10 disease categories with the help of health
officials in order to evaluate the agreements of informants on each category of ailments
and on the reported cures for the group of aliments. The following formula was used to
calculate ICF as the recommendation of Trotter, Logan (1986).

ICF=Nur-Nt / Nur-1

Where:

Nur= Number of individual plant use reports for a particular ailment category

Nt= The total number of species used by all informants for this ailment category

3.5.3 Fidelity level index

The fidelity level (FL) is the percentage of informants claimed the uses of a certain
plant species for the same ailment treatment and calculated for the most frequently
reported diseases as. FL (%) = (Np/N) x 100, where Np were the number of informants
that claimed a use of a plant species to treat a particular disease and N is the number
of informants that use the plants as a medicine to treat any given disease as stated by
Alexiades (1996). Confirmation or consensus could not be taken as a single measure of
the potential efficacy of any medicinal plant. The total overall use and particular use
reports of informants were recorded and its fidelity level index calculated and summarized.

3.5.4. Preference ranking

Preference ranking was conducted by using eight key informants to rank medicinal plants
with different parts and to assign the highest value for the most preferred species against
list of disease and the lowest value for the least preferred plant and in accordance of their
order for the remaining one. The value of each species were summed up and the rank for
each species determined based on the total score. This helps to indicate the rank order of
the most effective medicinal plants used by the community to treat the disease.

19
3.5.5. Direct matrix ranking
Direct matrix ranking was conducted to compare multipurpose traditional medicinal plant
species using eight key informants to know their status of utilization by the categories
and to identify the usefulness of the plant species for each use categories. Important
multipurpose species were selected based the recommendation of informants out total
medicinal plants. According to the instruction. Accordingly, average value of each in each
use-category for a species, were taken and the values of each species were summed up and
ranked.

20
4. RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1. Medicinal Plant Species Diversity and Treated Ailments

A total 49 medicinal plant species belonging to 47 genera and 32 families were identified
for the treatment of 31 human ailments (Appendix 2).The family Asteraceae contributed
the highest number of medicinal plant 6(12%), followed by Lamiaceae 4(8%),Zingbraceae
3(6%) , Apiaceae, Euphorbaceae, Brassicaceae, Rutaceae and Fabaceae each scored 2 (4%)
(Table 1).The findings of plant species belong in different families in the study are could
be its environmental features suitability for the growth of plant species that requires
varied growth needs. Asteraceae dominant in case of species number might be winged
seeds existed in most of species could help for effective dispersal of wide areas.
Similarly, various studies in Ethiopia showed that Asteraceae was the dominant family among
the others(GebrehiwotM. 2010).

Table 2: Medicinal plant families and number of species in each

Family No of MPs Percentage(%)
Asteraceae 6 12
Lamiaceae 4 8
Zingbraceae 3 6
Apiaceae,Brassicaceae,Euphorbiaceae,Rutaceae,Fabaceae 2 4
The rest 26 families 1 2. 53.1%

In order to MPs ailment treated report findings showed that the number of ailments treated by
each plant species vary from plant to plant. Accordingly, Artimisia abysinthum was reported to
treat the highest number of ailments 4(8%) followed by Ocimum lamilfoliumHochest,ex.benth,
Ruta chalepensiss L., Catha edulis (Vahl), Croton macrostachyus Del, Rhamnus prinoides
L'Herit and Citrus limon L.3 (6%) number of ailment (up to 1 ) for each MPs.

Of the reported medicinal plant were used to treat human ailments concerning the highest
proportions of medicinal plant were treat stomach ache 15( 30.6%) followed by common cold,
wound and inflammation 5( 10.2%)(Table 3). This indicated that the diseases have high
preponderance disorder in the area.

21
Table 3: List of human diseases and number of medicinal plants that treat human ailments
in the study area
No. Disease treated MPs Percent( %)
1 Stomach ache 15 30.60%
2 Common cold, wound, inflammation 5 10.20%
3 Tonsillitis, tape worm, headache, gastro intestinal 4 8.16%
complaints
4 Malaria, blood pressure, cough, diarrhea 3 6.12%
5 Tooth ache, evil eye, typhoid, ashma 2 4%

4.2. Growth Forms of Medicinal Plant Species Used to Treat Human Diseases
The predominant and the most represented life forms for human traditional medicinal
plants in the study area were shrubs which accounted for 22(44.9 %) species followed
by tree 15 (30.6%) and herbs 8(16.3%) and climbers 4(8.2%). All plant growth forms were
not equally used as remedies due to the difference in distribution among the growth
forms. The medicinal plants growth forms recorded in different proportions.

50
44.9%
45
40
35 30.6%
30
25 22 Number
20 16.3% Percentage
15
15
8 8.2%
10
4
5
0
Shrubs Tree Herbs Climbers

Figure 2: Growth form of medicinal plants used to treat human ailments

4.3. Plant parts used for medicinal preparation

Different plant parts were used for remedy preparation. Leaves were the most commonly used
plant part for the preparations of remedy which accounted for 32 (38.09%) followed by seeds
19(22.6%), Fruit 11(13.09%) and roots 10( 11.9). Few were harvested for their bulbs, latex and

22
barks flowers used (Table 4). Previous reports in Ethiopia also have leaves were the most
commonly used : followed by roots to

treat various health problems(Delenasaw Yewhalaw, 2007).

Table 4: Plant parts used for medicinal preparation

Parts used Total response Percentages ( %)
Leaf 32 38.09
Seed 19 22.6
Fruit 11 13.09
Root 10 11.9 4.4.
Latex 4 4.76 Pre
Bulb,fruit& seed 2 2.3 par
Bark,flower,stem,whole part 1 1.19 atio
Total 84 100 n
and
route of administration of medicinal plants
4.4.1. preparation methods of medicinal plants
The preparation of traditional medicine by indigenous people employs various method of
preparation of traditional medicine for different types of ailments. The preparation ways is
vary based on the types of disease and the actual site of ailments.The principal method of
preparation reported was crushing. This may be due to its highest medicinal value. In the study
area people using single plant part or mixing with different part of the same plants or different
plants such as coffee, tea and also use some additive like alcohols. Using addictive for
preparation of medicine reported by some researcher.(Dawit Abebe , 1986 ).

Table 5:Method of remedies preparation from medicinal plants

Modes of preparation Total response Percentages( % )
Crushing 31 36.9
Powdered 24 28.57
Squeezing 10 11.9
Boiling 5 5.95
Peel, heating & smear 3 3.57
Decoction 2 2.38
Roasting, fumigate & 1 1.19
crush &soaking
Total 84 100

23
4.4.2. Condition of preparation of medicinal plants
The result in the conditions of plant part used indicated that majority remedies were
harvested for immediate uses and prepared using fresh materials 40(47.6% ) followed by
dried 35(41.67%) and both types were 10(10.7%). Dried preparation was indicated to be
stored for future uses. Healers mostly used fresh specimen MPs, this might be due to the
effectiveness, and contents are not lost much before use compared to the dried forms,
directly harvested and used soon before its deterioration. Fresh parts could be
increaseefficacy of curing due to fresh extract compared to dry part. As well,
Ethnobotanical researches reported fresh part could be better diluting with water for the
formation of effective extract(Admasu Moges et al., 2019).In addition to this other similar
results reported that most of the medicinal plants were prepared to be used in the fresh form, and
this indicates that fresh medicinal plants are much easier and quicker to prepare for remedy than
the other forms(Abebe E. 2011).

Table 6: Conditions of plant materials used for medicinal purposes

Condition Frequency of preparation Percentages ( %)
Fresh 40 47.6
Dried 35 41.67
Both 9 10.7

4.4.3. Route of administration

In the study area the route of administration includes oral, dermal, tooth surface, nasal and tie on.
From the reported route of administration the highest use through oral 59 ( 70.2% ) followed by
dermal 16 ( 19% ), tooth surface 7 ( 8.3% ), nasal 1 ( 1.19% ) and tie on 1 ( 1.19 % ) ( figure 3 ).

24
 80
70.2%
70
59
60

50

40 Number
Percentage
30
19%
20 16
7 8.3%
10
1 1.19% 1 1.19%
0
Oral Dermal Tooth Nasal Tie

Figure 3: Route of administration of medicinal plants used to treat human ailments

4.5. Clustering and ranking results

4.5.1 informant consensus factors
The diseases of the study area have been grouped into different categories based on the types of
the diseases, condition of the disease as well as treatment resemblance of the disease to the local
people. The results of the study showed that diseases that are frequent in the study area have
higher informant consensus factor. It is further shown that medicinal plants that are effective in
treating certain diseases and well known by community members also have higher ICF

Table 7: Informant Consensus Factor (ICF)

disease categories Nt Nur ICF
Stomach ache ,tape worm, tooth ache, intestinal pain 6 59 0.91
Tonsillitis, cough, common cold, asthma 7 48 0.87
Headache 3 13 0.83
Malaria 8 40 0.82
Inflammation, abdominal pain, 3 11 0.8
Wound, hemorrhoid, skin infection 8 28 0.74
Hypertension, bleeding 19 65 0.71
Kidney 5 12 0.63
Evil eye 6 10 0.44

25
4.5.2. Fidelity level index
Rutachalepensiss L. ( 92%) and Artimisia abysinthum ( 88%) were the two plant species with the
highest fidelity levels. These were in the stomach ache and headache categories respectively, and
were followed by Ocimumlamilfolium ( 86%) and Zingiberofficinale correspondingly with in the
sun stroke ( locally Mich ) and common cold ailment categories. A higher fidelity level ( FL )
can imply that a particular plant purpose is preferred if informants mentioned it often. In
contrast, the lowest fidelity level value was assigned to Lepidiumsativum( 50%) followed by
Acmellacaulirhiza( 60%) from tooth ache and tonsillitis categories respectively. The lower
fidelity level implies that a particular plant purpose is not preferred.( Table 8 ).

Table 8: Fidelity level lndex

Species name Primary use N Np FL FL Rank
%
Ruta chalepensiss L. Stomach ache 28 26 0.92 92% 1
Artimisia abysinthumLINN Headache 9 8 0.88 88% 2
OcimumlamilfoliumHochest.ex.benth Sun stroke (mich 23 20 0.86 86% 3
)
ZingiberofficinaleRoscoe Common old 19 14 0.73 73% 4
Moringastenopetala Back.f.cuf Malaria 13 9 0.69 69% 5
Croton macrostachyusDel Wound 16 11 0.68 68% 6
AcmellacaulirhizaDel Tonsillitis 10 6 0.6 60% 7
LepidiumsativumL. Toothache 10 5 0.5 50% 8

4.5.3. preference ranking

For medicinal plants identification by the participants to be used in treating stomach ache
number of medicinal plant species were prescribed for the same ailment people would tend to
show preference of one over the other. Thus preference ranked of five MPs were reported as
effective for treating stomach ache was conducted after selecting eight key informants. Stomach
ache was treated by more medicinal plants and reported first. Informants compare the given
medicinal plants based on their efficacy of treating stomach ache and to give the highest number
(5) and (1) for the least effective plant( Table 9).The analysis of preference ranking values
showed that Rutachalepensiss ranked first followed by Ocimum lamilfolium for the treatment of
stomach ache.

26
Table 9: Preference ranking on five medicinal plants used to treat stomach ache
List of medicinal plants R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 Total Rank
Ruta chalepensiss L. 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 5 35 1
Ocimum lamilfolium 2 4 4 4 3 3 2 4 26 2
Hochest.ex.benth
Lepidium sativumL 4 4 3 3 2 1 3 4 24 3
ZingiberofficinaleRoscoe 3 2 1 1 3 4 4 3 21 4
CucumisficifoliusA.Rich 2 1 2 2 3 2 3 4 19 5
Key R- Informants

4.5.4. Direct matrix ranking

In this study, a number of medicinal plants were found to be multipurpose species being
utilized for a variety of uses. The common uses include medicinal, food, firewood,
construction, charcoal and fencing. Six commonly reported multipurpose species and five use
categories were involved in direct matrix ranking exercise in order to evaluate their
relative importance to the local people. Croton macrostachyus and perseaamericanawere
ranked 1 st and 2 nd and hence are the most preferred medicinal plants by local people for
various uses and are the most abundant species as the informants reported, which was
not evidently shown by their distribution scarcity and time required for collection of these
species. Similarly, the values for use reports across the selected species were summed up
and ranked. The results show that the local people harvest five multipurpose species
mainly for firewood, medicine, food,construction and fencing, and charcoal with the rank of
1th,2th, 3th, 4th and 5threspectively.Those multipurpose medicinal plant species are currently
exploited more for fire wood, food, charcoal production, fence and construction, additional to
their medicinal role. Similar reports showed by (Cathrine G, 2018 ).

Direct matrix ranking FW-fire wood, Co-construction, Ch-charcoal, Fe-fence, Me-medicine, Fo-
food.Average score for direct matrix ranking of six medicinal plant species based on their
general use values (5 = best, 4 = very good, 3 = good, 2 = less used, 1 = least used and 0 = not
used)(Table 9).

27
Table 10: Ranking of multipurpose medicinal plants
Catagories Use of catagories Total Rank
Me Fo Fw Ch Co
&fe
Croton macrostachyus Del 3 0 5 4 5 17 1th
Rutachalepensiss L 5 2 0 0 0 7 5th
Coffee arabica L. 2 3 3 0 2 10 3th
Vernoniaamygdalina Del 3 0 3 1 2 9 4th
Ensetventricosum(Welw) 1 4 0 0 0 5 6th
Perseaamericana Mill.var 1 5 5 3 2 16 2th
Total 15 14 16 8 11 64
Rank 2th 3th 1th 5th 4th

4.5.5. Marketed medicinal plants

The informants reported that marketing medicinal plants were not a common cultural
activity in local markets of the study area for medicinal purpose. The market assessment
result showed that few medicinal plants marketable and sold purchased for other purposes.
During the interview, the respondents explained that most healers prepared and sold
TMPs in the home rather than selling in the market. Since the local people prefer either
collecting these plants by themselves from the available areas in the district to prepare
the medicines or they prefer to go directly to the local healers to get treatments instead
of buying the medicinal plants from the market. Some medicinal plants ( Zingiberofficinale,
Echinopskebericho, Citrus limon , Allium sativum, Rutachalepensis ) were marketed but only
for other use values like for spices, food and fumigation. These marketed Mps should
required management plan for preventing eroding and continuity due to their dual
purpose of medicinal and non-medicinal use.

4.6. Conservation and Indigenous knowledge of Traditional medicinal Plant

As respondents reported in this study, most of the causes for the threats to medicinal plants and
the associated indigenous knowledge are plant uses for firewood, house construction;
overgrazing, agricultural expansion and urbanization were reported to be factors for decreasing
of natural vegetation. Indigenous knowledge and traditional medicine used were kept secret
and transferred orally from generation to generation, this also contributing the loss of
indigenous knowledge and traditional medicinal plants.

28
The respondents reported that most of their knowledge received from their family
members and friends. Medicinal plant knowledge on the application and utilization of
medicinal plants and it transfers through orally inheritance based; limited with selected
criteria to the eldest/son or daughter, poor and unorganized document. Might be cause for
caustic for the knowledge decline through time and getting threat of transfer to the next
generation. In this study information gathered from the key informants indicated that
agricultural expansion the major threat to medicinal plants followed by firewood. Similarly,
this finding agrees with other findings (MirutseGiday , 2001 ).

The effort to conserve plants and useful medicinal plants was to be poor in the study
area. Local people cultivate some important medicinal plants around their home garden
which are near to extinction. In villages female healers grew the some medicinal plants
like Rutachalepensis , Ocimumlamilfolium, Lepidiumsativum, RosmarinusofficinalisMPs which
are used to treat their children from common ailment in addition to use as a food and spices.
This indicates that local people address the conservation of MPs. The result of this
finding agreed with the finding in (NigussieAmsalu et al., 2018).

29
5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1. Conclusion

The present study has shown that Basketo special district. Local people of the study area, was
conducted49 medicinal plants distributed in 47 genera and 32 families that are used to treat
various human ailments were documented. Analysis of growth forms of these medicinal plants
revealed that shrub(44.9%) are the dominant growth form followed by tree(30.6%).Herbal
remedies are prepared using fresh plant material. Leaves were the most commonly used plant
part for the preparation of remedies followed by seeds38.1%and 22.6%respectively.The common
ways of preparations of traditional medicines were crushed and powdered. The remedies were
taken with different additive and solvents and water is more frequently used for this
purpose. Most of the medicinal plants were administered orally (70.2%), followed by dermal
(19%).The major threats to medicinal plants and the associated knowledge in the study
area were agricultural expansion, firewood collection, construction and charcoal production.
Moreover, the study has shown that oral and family limited transfer, loss of interest in
young generation and lack of attention by stakeholders could lead to the deterioration of
indigenous knowledge from generation to generation. Therefore, training and awareness’s about
conservation methods should be given to traditional healers and the local community. Awareness
raising should be made among the healers so as to avoid erosion of the indigenous
knowledge and to ensure its sustainable use.

5.2. Recommendations

Based on the finding of the study, the following recommendations were suggested.

 Should beencourage establishment and strengthening of traditional medicinal

practitioners association so as to deliver proper training and other supports that
could help to proper utilization and management of traditional medicines with the
associated indigenous knowledge .

 As showed in this study the plant part used as medicine were leaf, seed, fruit and
root. Traditional healers dig out the roots and detach the leaves for medicinal

30
 purpose. The participation of the local people and awareness creation through training or
education on sustainable utilization and management of plant resources should be
encouraged.

 Establishing Traditional Healers Associations by providing supports like land, fund

and assistances for cultivations of medicinal plants in the Woreda would helps to
conserve medicinal plants.

 Local community must be aware of preserving indigenous knowledge on medicinal

plants

 The Woreda administration must involve in awareness creations on traditional healers

to transfer their knowledge to the next generation without secrecy.

 Raising awareness of the young generation to avoid negative impacts on the

medicinal plants and associated knowledge in the area, hence, documentation of the
medicinal plants of the area needs to continue.

31
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Recent Research Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor 3 (2):6-8.

Abbiw O.K. (1996). Misuses and Abuses in self-medication with Medicinal plants the case of

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(Masen, G.Burger, X. M. and Rooy, J. M., eds.). Kluwer Academic

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Abebe D. (2001). Biodiversity conservation of medicinal plants: Problem and prospects. in:

Conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in Ethiopia

Proceeding of The National Workshop on Biodiversity Conservation and

Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia, 28 April-01 May 1998,

pp.198-203

Abebe E. Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by local communities in Debark

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Ababa: Addis Ababa University; 2011.

AdmasuMoges and YohannesMoges(2019) Ethiopian Common Medicinal Plants.

Their Parts and uses in Traditional Medicine. Ecology: Quality Control

Plant ScienceStructure, Anatomy10/36/:

Ankobonggo W. (1992). The Role of African Traditional Medicine in Health care

Delivery A long side Modern Medicine. In: Plants used in African

traditional medicine as practiced in Ethiopia and Uganda Botany (2000)

East and Central Africa, NAPRECA Monograph Series. 2: 25-35. Addis

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 Appendix 1: Household head survey Interview questions for collecting ethnobotanical data
for medicinal plants
My name is MegenagnaWondim a student at Wolaita Sodo University School of Graduate Studies, College of
Natural and Computational Sciences and Department of Biology. Below these there are some questions which
will be filled by household informants. First I will appreciate your volunteer to fill these questions. The aim of these
questions is to gather basic information about the title Ethnobotanical study on traditional medicinal plants
used to treat human ailments as well as to get major solutions.
Semi structured interview
Instruction:

Part I: General information

Sex: Male ........female ........

Age..............

Kebele...............

Occupation.........................

Maternal status: Married............Single............. Unmarried.............. Divorce............

Part ll:Data about medicinal plants and their uses:

1.What are the primary activities (economic) you engage in within this location?

a.Pastoralism

b.Agro-pastoralism (Self-cultivating )

c. Agriculture

d. Any other (specify)

2.Have you ever used traditional medicinal plant? A. Yes B.No

3.If YES, Do you know the species used to treat/manage human diseases?

A) YES B) NO

4 .If yes, Name it/them

5.What is the habit of the medicinal plant ?

40
i Tree ------------- ii.Climber ---------------iii. Shrubs ------------- iv . Grass -------------

6.Do have other uses of the plant?

i for food ----------------- ii. Fire wood ------------ iii, house building -------------- iv fodder -------
-----

7.Which part of the medicinal plant is used as medicine?

I Flower ------------------

II, Leaf --------------------

III, Root -------------------

IV, Bark -------------------

V, Seed ----------------

VI Whole Plant ---------------

8. How prepare the medicine?

i. Powdered------------------
ii. Leaf Extract-------------
iii.Other methods ------------
9.What are the main common human health problems or disease in your locality?
10. List plants used to treat human disease?
11.For which types of disease did you give traditional medicinal plants? _____________
The following table was prepared to identify traditional medicinal plants for human
ailments in the study area.

Local name of disease plant part habitat Mode of Route

the plants treated used location preparation

12. Which plant do you use to treat that particular health problem?

13.Are the local people conserve the medicinal plants separately from other plants?

41
 A/yes B/no

14. How do you conserve medicinal plants?

III Leading question for group discussion

1.What are the known medicinal plants?
2.What are the major human health problems?
3.How do you describe marketed traditional medicinal plants?
4 Do you know any activities to protect the medicinal Plants ?
5. Would you please give us any additional information and suggestion?

I thank you very much for your comment

Appendix 2: List of human medicinal plant species recorded in the study area
S.n Scientific(Family) Local Habit Disease Parts Mode of Route of
o. Name name treated used preparatio administra
n tion
1 Acmella caulirhiza Yemidir Grass Tonsillitis Flower Crushing Chewing
Del berbere and sit on
tooth
surface
2 Acalypha villicaulis Kemmu Shrub Kidney Leaf Crushing Oral
A.Rich n infection
(Euphorbiaceae)
3 Allium sativum L. Nech Shrub Cough bulb Crushing Oral
(Alliaceae ). shnkurt Common bulb with Oral
cold honey
Boil with
tea
4 Aleo weloensis Wchirsh Herb Fire burn Latex Smearing
Sebsebe (Aloaceae ) a

42
5 Artimisiaabysinthum Artimisi Shrub Malaria Leaf Crushing Oral
(L INN. ) a Typhoid Leaf Crushing Oral
Asteracaea headache Leaf Crushing Oral
Stomachs Leaf Crushing Oral

6 Artimisia Chikugn Shrub Common Leaf Crushing Oral

abissinicaSch.Bip.ex e cold
A.rich
(Asteracaea)
7 Artimisia afra Ariti Shrub Common Leaf Boiling Oral
Jacq.Ex.Willd cold with tea
(Asteracaea)
8 Amomum subulatum Korerim Shrub Tonsillitis Seed Crushing Tooth
(Zingbraceae) a

9 Brassica nigera L., Senafich Shrub Common Seed Powdered Oral

( Brassicaceae ) cold Seed Powdered Oral
Stomachac
he
10 Calpurnia aurea Digita Tree Wound Leaf Powdered Dermal
(Ait) Benth.
(Fabacae)
11 Carica papaya L. Papaya Tree Hypertensi Fruit Peel Oral
(Caricacae) on Fruit Peel Oral
Gastrointe
stinal pain
12 Catha edulis Chat Tree Typhoid Leaf Powdered Oral
(Vahl) Stomachac Leaf Powdered Oral
Forssk.Ex.Endl he Leaf Powdered Oral
(Celasteracae) Diarrhoea

13 Citrus lemon L. Lomi Tree Athlete'sfo Fruit Squeezing Dermal

(Rutaceae) ot Fruit Squeezing Dermal
Skin Fruit Squeezing Tooth
infection
Tonsillitis

43
14 Coffee arabica L. Buna Tree Wound Seed Powdered Dermal
(Rubiaceae) Headache Seed Powdered Oral

15 Corian drunsativum Dinbilal Herb Cough Seed Boiling Oral

(Apiaceae)

16 Croton Bisana Tree Tapeworm Leef Powdered Oral

macrostachyus Del (batah) Wound Leef Other Dermal
(Euphorbiaceae) Blood Leef method Dermal
clotting smear
during Other
bleeding method
smear

17 Cucurbita pepo Duba Climb Tapeworm Fruit Chipping Oral

L., er Inflammat Fruit & roasting Oral
(Cucubitaceae) ion Chipping
& roasting
18 Cucumis ficifolius Yemidir Climb Stomachac Root Crush Oral
A.Rich emboy er he
(Cucurbitacae)

19 Carica spinarum L. Mitmita Shrub Common Fruit&s Decoction Oral

(Apocynaceae) cold eed Decoction Oral
Asthma Fruit&
seed
20 Colocasiae sculenta Godare Shrub Gastrointe Seed Roasting Oral
L. stinal
(Araceae)

21 Curcuma longa Erid Herb Wound Root Powdered Dermal

(Zingberaceae)
22 Datura stramonium Etse Herb Wond Leaf Powdered Dermal
L. faris
(Solanaceae)
23 Duyalis abyssinica Chawla Tree Headache Fruit Crushing Ora
(Flacourtiacrae)

24 Embella schimperi Enkoko Tree Tapeworm Seed Powdered Oral

Vatke
(Myrsinaceae)

44
25 Echinops kebericho Keberch Shrub Evil eye Stem Fumigate Nasal
Mesfin o Crushing
(Asteraceae) Cough Root Oral

26 Enset ventricosum Enset Tree Abdomina Root Boiling Oral

(Welw) l pain
(Musaceae)
27 Foeniculum vulgare Ensilal Herb Inflammat Leaf Crushing Dermal
Miller ion
(Apiaceae)
28 Gladiolus Tsakar Herb Tapeworm Root Powdered Oral
schweinfurthil
(Baker)
(Iridaceae)

29 Gossypium Bursa Shrub inflamatio Seed Powdered Oral

barbadense L. n
(Malavaceae)
30 Jasminum Soga Shrub Malaria Leaf Crushing Oral
Abyssinicum
Hochest
(Oleaceae)
31 Kalanchoe Endawla Shrub Wound Leaf Heated Dermal
petitionsA.Rich Homrroid Leaf Heated Dermal
(Crassulaceae)
32 Linumusitatissimum Telba Shrub Stomachac Seed Powdered Oral
L. he Seed Powdered Oral
(Linaceae) Constipati Seed Powdered Oral
on
Gastrointe
stinal
33 Lepidium sativum Feto Shrub Toothache Seed Crushing Tooth
L.( Brassicaceae) Stomachac Seed Crushing Oral
he Seed Crushing Tooth
Tongueac
he
34 Moringa stenopetala Haleko Tree Malaria Leaf Powdered Oral
Back f.cuf Blood Leaf Roasting Oral
(Moringaceae) pressure Root Powdered Dermal
Inflammat
ion

45
35 Nigella sativa L. Tikur Shrub Stomachac Seed Crushing Oral
(Ranunculaceae) azmud he

36 Ocimum lamilfolium Damake Shrub Mich(sun Leaf Squeezing Dermal

Hochest.ex.benth sey stroke ) Leaf Squeezing Oral
(Lamiaceae) Headache Leaf Squeezing Oral
Stomachac
he
37 Otosteria Wsisa Shrub Stomachac Root Squeezing Oral
integrifolia he
Benth
(Lamiaceae)
38 Phytolaca Endod Climb Abortion Seed Powdered Oral
dodecandra L' er
Herit
(Phytolaccaeceae)
39 Persea americana Abokad Tree Fungal Fruit Peeling Dermal
Mill.Var o disease
(Lauraceae)
40 Rhamnus prinoides Dekesa Tree Diarrhoea Leaf Squeezing Oral
L' Herit Tonsillitis Leaf Squeezing Tooth
(Rhamnaceae) Stomachac Leaf Squeezing Oral
he

41 Ruta chalepensiss Tenada Shrub Stomach Leaf Crushing Oral

L. m ache Leaf Crushing Oral
(Rutaceae) Tapeworm Whole Crushing Tie on
Evil eye part
42 Rosmarinus Rosmary Shrub Alzheimer Leaf Boiling Oral
officinalis Hypertensi Leaf Powdered Oral
(Lamiaceae) on
43 Terminalia Amba Tree Inflammat Bark Powdered Dermal
schinperiana Hochst ion
(Combreataceae)

44 Trigonella Abish Herb Intestinal Seed Crush & Oral

foenumgraecum L. pain soaking
(Fabacae)
45 Thymus vulgaris Tosigne Herb Asthma Leaf Boiling Oral
(Lamiaceae)

46
46 Syzygium guineensee Dokima Tree Stomachac Fruit Peeling Oral
(Myrtaceae) he Fruit Crush Oral
Diarrhoea

47 Vernonia Girawa Tree Stomachac Tree Powdered Oral

amygdalina he Tree Powdered Oral
Del Gardiasis
(Asteraceae)

48 Verbena officinalis Atuch Shrub Stomachac Leaf Powdered Oral

L. he
(Verbenaceae)
49 Zingiber officinale Zingible Herb Influenza Root Crushing Oral
Roscoe Stomachac Root Crushing Oral
(Zingberaceae) he

Appendix 3: General back ground information of respondents

Characteristics Total N=78 %
Age categories ( years)
20 - 40 18 0.23
40 - 60 45 0.57
>60 15 0.19
Sex
Male 48 0.62
Female 30 0.38
Job status
Farmer 63 0.8
Merchant 15 0.19
Marital status
Married 70 0.89
Unmarried 3 0.04
Widowed 5 0.06

47
48