WOLAITA SODO UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES

COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND OMPUTATIONAL 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.)

Nov, 2022

Wolaita Sodo, Ethiopia

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 WOLAITA SODO UNIVRSITY
COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

THESIS APPROVAL SHEET

As members of the board of examining of M. SC.thesis open defense, we certify that we

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

Submitted by:______________________ _______________ ______________

Name of Student Signature Date

Approved by:

1.____________________ ________________ ______________

Name of Major Advisor Signature Date

2. ______________________________ ________________ _____________

Name of Examiner Signature Date

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Department Head Signature Date

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 ABSTRACT

Many countries in the world including Ethiopia use medicinal plants for their primary health care
system. Plants have been used as a source of medicine to treat human diseases in Ethiopia. An
Ethnobotanical study on traditional medicinal plants used to treat human ailments in basketo
special woreda, southern Ethiopia.The aim of this study was to identify and document
traditional medicinal plants used for the treatment of various human ailments along
with conservation practices in the Basketo special district.A total of 78 informants were
selected to collect ethnobotanical information from 3 kebeles. Ethnobotanical data were
collected using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion with informants, field
observation and market survey. Various ethnobotanical ranking methods were used to analyze
the importance of some plant species. 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, indigenous knowledge,traditional medicinal plants,

Ethnobotany
 ACKNOWLEGEMENT
First and foremost, I give a great pleasure to express my deepest gratitude to my
adviser Mr. Gebeyehu Feleke ( Assistant professor) for their 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 the Education (MOE) and WOLAITA
Sodo university for sponsoring my postgraduate study.

I would like to extend my highest appreciation goes to Basketo special District

Administration, Farmers and traditional healers for their collaboration to participate to
answer my question. I also thank the following Office; Woreda Rural Agricultural Devel
opment Office and Woreda Health Office for their provision of data and information.

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.
CONTENTS
PAGE

Thesis Approval Sheet ii

Abstract iii

Acknowlegement iv

List of figures vii

List of Table viii

List of Appendix viii

LIST OF ABBREVATIONS ix

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 4
1.4 Research questions 4
1.5. Scope or Delimitation of the Study 4
1.6. Significance of the Study 5

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 11
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
3.4 Sampling methods 16
3.5. Data gathering tools 17
3.5.1. Semi- structured interview 17
3.5.2. Focus group discussion 17
3.5.3. Field observation 18
3.5.4. Market survey 18
3.6. Data Analysis Technique 18
3.6.1. Descriptive statistics 18
3.6.2. Informant consensus factor /ICF/ 19
3.6.3 Fidelity level index 19
3.6.4. Preference ranking 19
3.6.5. 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 23
4.4. Preparation and route of administration of medicinal plants 24
4.4.1. preparation methods of medicinal plants 24
4.4.2. condition of preparation of medicinal plants 24
4.4.3. Route of administration 25
4.5. Clustering and ranking results 26
4.5.1 informant consensus factors 26
4.5.2. Fidelity level index 26
4.5.3. preference ranking 27
4.5.4. Direct matrix ranking 27
4.5.5. Marketed medicinal plants 28
4.6. conservation and Indigenous knowledge of Traditional medicinal Plant 29

5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMONDATION 30

5.1. Conclusion 30
5.2. Recommendations 30

6.References 31
 List of table
Table 1: Medicinal plant families and number of species in each...................................................15

Table 2: List of human disease and number of medicinal plants that in the study area...............16

Table 3: plant parts used for medicinal preparation.........................................................................18

Table 4: Method of remedies preparation from medicinal plants..................................................18

Table 5: Conditions of medicinal plants materials used for medicinal purposes..........................19

Table 6: Informant consensus factor.................................................................................................20

Table 7: Fidelity level index................................................................................................................20

Table 8: Preference ranking on five medicinal plants used to treat stomachache.......................2l

Table 9: Ranking of multipurpose medicinal plants..........................................................................21

 LIST OF FIGURE

Figure 1: Map of the study area........................................................................................................11

Figure 2: Growth form of medicinal plants........................................................................................17

Figure 3: Route of administration of medicinal plants.....................................................................19

 LIST OF APPENDIX

Appendix 1. Semi structured interviw................................................................................................30

Appendex 2. List of human medicinal plant species recorded in the study area ..........................32

Appendex 3. General back ground information of respondents......................................................34

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; Tessema et al ., 2003).

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 (Dawit Abebe,
1986).

Despite the large diversity of medicinal plants, over the past decades in Ethiopia (Debela
Hunde , 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) .

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

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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 (Fisseha Mesfin,
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 (Fisseha et al., 2009). The current account of medicinal plant
(MP )of Ethiopia, as documented by NBSAP and TesemaTanto et 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
observed in the study woreda, which is similar to other areas of, Ethiopia. Even though it
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

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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 is the major
challenge like other part of Ethiopia. The study also aspires to identify and record the
use of MPs there were a gap in documentation, identification and conservation of TMPs
with associated IK. It requires immediate solution and appropriate measures. This calls for
an urgent ethnobotanical study to help documented and the study was aspired and
initiated to generate basic scientific information on human TMPs.

1.3 Objectives
1.3.1 General objective
The main objective of this study is to identify 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

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 research 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?

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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 ethno botanical 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 woreda 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 (Mekonnen Bishaw, 1990; Tessema et 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 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 was also be used as an initiative for further related research works in
the study area.

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 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

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plants in many aspects including treatment of diseases in their local place (Selemon
Tesfayeet al., 2020;Yimer Tilahun,2017).

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 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 being

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adequately documented and disseminated many 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 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 TMPSs 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

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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.

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).

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

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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 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.

10
 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, Southern Ethiopia. According to the communication bureau
of Basketo special district information (2019),

Figure 3. 1Map of the study area

(Source: Drawn from Arc GIS version on survey, 2019)
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 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.

11
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 woina Dega
(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 kebels. Reconnaissance will beconducted 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. For the ethnobotanical study the key informants were traditional
healers.Thus,based on reconnaissance the healers in each study site (Simba , Bakela and
sasa ) totally 78 healers were identified. These healers were selected purposively due to
their traditional healing practices. Informants other than healers 70 households above age
20 years was selected randomly by lottery method from the three study sites. Generally, 78
informants were samples of the study.

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 J.E. et ' al.,2001.

n= N/ 1+N*( e )
2

where n is the sample size, 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.

n = 19551/1+19551(0.05)2

n = 392

12
which is based on the total number of households of the district. The sample size to be
cosidered from each kebele was calculated using the proportion of the number of
households in each kebele to the total number of the household in the district.

Number of informant from study area by using the above formula

n ( each kebele sample size)=N (Total No.Of households each kebele)×(the sample size of all
kebeles)/N ( total No.of households of the woreda)

n ( Bakela kebele)=2993×392/19551=60

n (Simba )=499×392/19551=10

n (sasa)=399×392/19551=8
3.4 Sampling methods
Study sites and informants were selected based on the information gathered from Basketo
special district administration office, health office, agricultural office, and other people in the
study area by reconnaissance prior to the data collection. For this study both purpose and
random sampling method were used to collect data. The availability of traditional medicine
practitioners, and vegetation covers. A total of 78 informants ,out of these, 8 key
informants were selected by purposive random sampling based on the recommendation of
knowledgeable elders and local authorities and The other 70 informants were selected
randomly from the local people of the study area.Whose ages ranged from 20 to 90 years.

3.5. Data gathering tools

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

3.5.1. 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

13
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.

3.5.2. 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.

3.5.3. 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).

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.

3.5.4. 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 redearcher was conduct two times
to asses the ethnobotanical information, to distinguish and re cord 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.

3.6. 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.

14
3.6.1. 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.

3.6.2. 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.
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

3.6.3 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.

3.6.4. 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.

15
3.6.5. 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.

16
 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%)
showed in (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 the winged seeds existed in most of species could help for effective dispersal of
wide areas.

Table 1: 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,Rutacea 2 4
e,Fabaceae

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 lamilfolium, Ruta chalepensiss,
Catha edulis, Croton macrostachyus, Rhamnus prinoides, and Citrus limon 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.

17
 Table 2: List of human diseases and number of medicinal plants that treat in the study area

No. Disease treated MPs Percent

1 Stomach ache 15 30.6

2 Common cold,wound,inflammation 5 10.2

3 Tonsillitis,tape 4 8.16
worm,headache,gastro intestinal
coplaints

4 Malaria,blood 3 6.12
pressure,cough,diarrhoea

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%
40
30.6%
30 22
20 15 16.3%
Series1
8 8.2%
10 4 Series2
0
bs

ee

rs
rb

be
Tr
ru

He

im
Sh

Cl

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

18
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
barks flowers used (Table 4)

Table 3: Plant parts used for medicinal preparation

Parts used Frequency of preparation Percentages

( %)

Leaf 32 38.09

Seed 19 22.6

Fruit 11 13.09

Root 10 11.9

Latex 4 4.76

Bulb,fruit & seed 2 2.3

Bark,flower,stem,whole part 1 1.19

Total 84 100

4.4. Preparation 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 ).

19
Table 4: Method of remedies preparation from medicinal plants

Modes of preparation Frequency 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

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 increase efficacy of curing due to fresh extract compared to dry
part. As well, fresh part could be better diluting with water for the formation of effective
extract.Ethnobotanical researches reported (Admasu Moges et al., 2019).

Table 5: 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

20
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 ).

Route of Administration of
Medicinal Plants
80
60
40
20
0
optical Dermal Tooth Nasal Tie on

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
localpeople. 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 intreating certain diseases and well known by community members also have higher
ICF values(Table 6).

21
Table 6. 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

4.5.2. Fidelity level index

Ruta chalepensiss 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 Ocimum lamilfolium ( 86%) and Zingiber officinale
correspondingly with in the sun stroke ( locally Mich ) and common cold ailment categories.A
higher fidelity level ( FL ) can imply that aparticular plant purpose is preferred if informants
mentioned it often. In contrast, the lowest fidelity level value was assigned to Lepidium sativum
( 50%) followed by Acmella caulirhiza( 60%) from tooth ache and tonsillitis categories
respectively. The lower fidelity level implies that aparticular plant purpose is not preferred.(
Table 7 ).

22
Table 7. Fidelity level lndex

Species name Primary use N Np FL FL Rank

%

Ruta chalepensiss Stomach ache 28 26 0.92 92% 1

Artimisia abysinthum Headache 9 8 0.88 88% 2

Ocimum lamilfolium Sun stroke (mich ) 23 20 0.86 86% 3

Zingiber officinale Common old 19 14 0.73 73% 4

Moringa oleifera Malaria 13 9 0.69 69% 5

Croton macrostachyus Wound 16 11 0.68 68% 6

Acmella caulirhiza Tonsillitis 10 6 0.6 60% 7

Lepidium sativum 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 8). The analysis of preference ranking
values showed that Ruta chalepensiss ranked first followed by Ocimum lamilfolium for the treatment
of stomach ache.

23
Table 8: 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 5 5 4 4 3 4 5 5 35 1

Ocimum lamilfolium 2 4 4 4 3 3 2 4 26 2

Lepidium sativum 4 4 3 3 2 1 3 4 24 3

Zingiber officinale 3 2 1 1 3 4 4 3 21 4

Cucumis ficifolius 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 persea americana were
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 5th respectively.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).

24
Table 9: Ranking of multipurpose medicinal plants

Categories of Use categories

medicinal plants

Me Fo Fw Ch Co & fe Total Rank

Croton macrostachyus 3 0 5 4 5 17 1th

Ruta chalepensiss 5 2 0 0 0 7 5th

Coffee arabica 2 3 3 0 2 10 3th

Vernonia amygdalina 3 0 3 1 2 9 4th

Enset ventricosum 1 4 0 0 0 5 6th

Persea americana 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 intervi ew, 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 medicin es or they prefer to go directly to the local healers to get
treatments instead of buying the medicinal plants from the market.S ome medicinal plants
( Zingiber officinale, Echinops kebericho, Citrus limon , Allium sativum, Ruta chalepensis, )
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.

25
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.

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 Ruta chalepensis , Ocimum lamilfolium, Lepidium sativum, Rosmarinus officinalis MPs
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 findi ng agreed with the finding in (Nigussie Amsalu et al., 2018).

26
 5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMONDATION
5.1. Conclusion
The present study has shown that Basketo special district and its area is rich in
medicinal plant resource and the local people have strong interaction with medicinal
plants which enable them to have good ethnomedicinal indigenous knowledge.Local people
of the study area, was conducted. 49 medicinal plants distributed in 47 genera and 32 families
that are used to treat various human ailments were documented from the study area.Analysis of
growth forms of these medicinal plants revealed that shrubs are the dominant growth form
followed by tree, herb and climber. Remedies are prepared using fresh plant material. Biggest
number of plant parts used for the preparations of remedies were harvested from leaves
followed by seeds.The common ways of preparations of traditional medicines were crushed
and powdered. Most of the medicinal plants are administered orally.The major threats to
medicinal plants and the associated knowledge in the study area were gricultural
expansion, firewood collection, construction, and charcoal production.Therefore, training and
awarenesses about conservation methods should be given to traditional healers and the local
community.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.

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

Ø Should be encourage 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 the traditional medicines with
the associated indigenous knowledge

Ø 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
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.

Ø 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.

Ø . Local community must be aware of preserving indigenous knowledge on medicinal

plants

27
Ø .The Woreda administration must involve in awareness creations on traditional
healers to transfer their knowledge to the next generation without secrecy.

Ø . 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.

28
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 Appendix 1: Household head survey Interview questions for collecting ethnobotanical data for medicinal
plants
My name is Megenagna Wondim 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 ?
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 ----------------

36
 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?

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?
37
 I thank you very much for your comment

APPENDIX 2: List of human medicinal plant species recorded in the study area

H= Herb SH= Shrub T= Tree CL= Climber

S.n Scientific Local Habit Disease Part Mode of Route of

o name( name treated s preparatio administratio
Family used n n
name)

1 Acmella Yemidir Grass Tonsillitis Flow Crush Chewing and

caulirhiza berbere er sit on tooth
(Asteraceae) surface
Toothache Crush
Tooth
Root

2 Acalypha Kemmun Shrub Kidney Leaf Crushing Oral

villicaulis infection

(
Euphorbiacea
e)

3 Allium Nech Shrub Cough bulb Crushing Oral

sativum shinkurt with honey
Common bulb Oral
( Alliaceae) cold Boil with tea

4 Aloe Herb Fire burn Latex

pubescens
Wchirsha
( Aloaceae)

5 Artimisia Shrub Malaria Leaf Crushing Oral

38
 abysinthum Artimisia Typhoid Leaf Crushing oral

( Asteraceae) Headache Leaf Crushing Oral

Stomachach Leaf Crushing Oral

e

6 Artimisia Chikugne Shrub Common Leaf Crushing Oral

abyssinica cold

( Asteraceae)

7 Artimisia afra Ariti Shrub Common Leaf Boiling with Oral

cold tea
( Asteraceae)

8 Amo. Shrub Tonsillitis Seed Crush Tooth

Korerima
Stomachach Seed Crush Oral
e

9 Brassica Senafich Shrub Common Seed Powdered Oral

nigra cold
Seed Powdered Oral
(Brassicacea Stomachach
e) e

10 Calpurnia Digita Tree Wound Leaf Powdered Dermal

aurea

(Fabaceae)

11 Carica Papaya Tree Hypertensio Fruit Peel Oral

papaya n

(Caricaceae) Gastrointesti
Fruit Peel Oral
nal pain

12 Catha edulis Chat Tree Typhoid Leaf Powdered Oral

(Celasterace Stomachach Leaf Powdered Oral

a) e

Diarrhoea
Leaf Powdered Oral

39
13 Citrus limon Lomi Tree Athlete's Fruit Squeezing Dermal
foot
( Rutaceae) Fruit Squeezing Dermal
Skin
Fruit Squeezing Tooth
infection

Tonsillitis

14 Coffee Buna Tree Wound Seed Powdered Dermal

arabica
Headache Seed Powdered Oral
( Rubiaceae)

15 Coriandrum Dinbilal Herb Cough Seed Boiling Oral

sativum

( Apiaceae )

16 Croton Bisana( Tree Tapeworm Leaf Powdered Oral

macrostachy batah)
Wound Leaf Other Dermal
us
method
Blood Leaf Dermal
smear
clotting
(Euphorbiace
during Other
ae)
bleeding method
smear

17 Cucurbita Duba Clim Tapeworm Fruit Chipping & Oral

Pepo roasting
Inflammatio Fruit Oral
( n Chipping &
Cucubitacea roasting
e)

18 Cucumis Yemidir Climb Stomachach Root Crush Oral

ficifolius emboy er e

(
Cucurbitacea
e)

40
19 Carica Mitimita Shrub Common Fruit Decoction Oral
spinarum cold &See
Decoction Oral
d
( Asthma
Apocynacea Fruit
e) &
Seed

20 Colocasia Godare Shrub Gastrointesti Seed Roasting Oral

esculenta nal

( Araceae)

21 Curcuma Erid Shrub Wound Root Powdered Dermal

Longa

(
Zingiberacea
e)

22 Datura Este faris Herb Wound Leaf Powdered Dermal

stramonium

( Solanaceae)

23 Douvalis Chawla Tree Headache Fruit Crush Oral

abyssinica

(
Flacourtiacra
e)

24 Embella Enkoko Tree Tapeworm Seed Powdered Oral

schimperivat
ke

(
Myrsinaceae)

25 Echinops Keberich Trée Evil eye Stem Fumigate Nasal

kebericho o
Cauph Root Crush Oral
( Asteraceae)

41
26 Enset Enset Tree Abdominal Root Boiling Oral
ventricosum pain

( Musaceae)

27 Foeniculum Ensilal Herb Inflammatio Leaf Crush Dermal

vulgare ( n
Apiaceae)

28 Gladiolus Tsakar Herb Tapeworm Root Powdered Oral

schweinfurthi
i

(Iridaceae)

29 Gossypium Bursa Shrub Inflammatio Seed Powdered Oral

barbadense n
(malavaceae)

30 Jasminum Soga Shrub Malaria Leaf Crush Oral

abyssinicum

(oleaceae)

31 Kalanchoe Endawul Shrub Wound Leaf Heated Dermal

petitions a
Homrroid Leaf Heated Dermal
(Crassulacea
e)

32 Linum Teliba Shrub Stomachach Seed Powdered Oral

usitatissiimu e
Seed Powdered Oral
m (Linaceae)
Constipation
Seed Powdered Oral
Gastrointesti
nal

33 Lepidium Feto Shrub Toothache Seed Crush Tooth

sativum
Stomachach Seed Crush Oral
(Brassicacea e
Seed Crush Tooth
e)
Tongue
ache

42
34 Moringa Haleko Tree Malaria Leaf Powdered Oral
oleifera
Blood Leaf Roasting Oral
(moringacea pressure
Root Powdered Dermal
e)
Inflammatio
n

35 Nigella sativa Tikur Shrub Stomachach Seed Crushing Oral

azimud e
(Ranunculace
ae)

36 Ocimum Damakes Shrub Mich(sun Leaf Squeezing Dermal

lamilfolium ey stroke)
Leaf Squeezing Oral
(Lamiaceae)
Headache

Stomachach
Leaf Squeezing Oral
e

37 Otosteria Wsisa Shrub Stomachach Root Squeezing Oral

integrifolia e
(Lamiaceae)

38 Phytolaca Endod Climb Abortion Seed Powdered Oral

dodecandra
er
(
Phytolaccaecea
e)

39 Persea Abokado Tree Fungal Fruit Peeling Dermal

americana disease
(Lauraceae)

40 Rhamnus Dekesa Tree Diarrhoea Leaf Squeezing Oral

prinoides
Tonsillitis Leaf Squeezing Tooth
(Rhamnacea
e) Stomachach Leaf Squeezing Oral
e

41 Ruta Tena Shrub Stomachach Leaf Crushing Oral

chalepensiss adam e
Leaf Crushing Oral

43
 (Rutaceae) Tapeworm Whol Crushing Tie on
e part
Evil eye

42 Rosmarinus Rosmary Shrub Alzheimer's Leaf Boiling Oral

officinalis
Hypertensio Leaf Powdered Oral
(Lamiaceae)
n

43 Terminalia Amba Tree Inflammatio Bark Powdered Dermal

schinperiana n
(Combreatac
eae)

44 Trigonella Herb Intestinal Seed Crush & Oral

foenumgraec pain soaking
Abish
um
(Fabaceae)

45 Thymus Tosigne Herb Asthma Leaf Boiling Oral

vulgaris

(Lamiaceae)

46 Syzygium Dokima Tree Stomachach Fruit Peeling Oral

guineensee e
Fruit Crush Oral
(myrtaceae)
Diarrhea

47 Vernonia Girawa Tree Stomachach Leaf Powdered Oral

amygdalina e
Leaf Powdered Oral
(Asteraceae)
Gardiasis

48 Verbena Atuch Shrub Stomachach Leaf Powdered Oral

officinalis e
(Verbenacea
e)

49 Zingiber Zingible Shrub Influenza Root Crushing Oral

officinale
Stomachach Root Crushing Oral
(Zingbracea
e
e)

44
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 63 0.8

Female 45 0.57

Job status

Farmer 63 0.8

Merchant 15 0.19

Marital status

Married 70 0.89

Unmarried 3 0.038

Widowed 5 0.06

45