Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Wayu Tuka District, East Welega Zone of Oromia Regional State, West Ethiopia

Authors: Moa Megersa, Zemede Asfaw, Ensermu Kelbessa, Abebe Beyene, Bizuneh Woldeab

Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine | Issue 1/2013

Login to get access

Abstract

Background

This paper reports an ethnobotanical study that focused on the traditional medicinal plants used by local communities to treat human and livestock ailments. A cross-sectional study was undertaken from September 2009 to June 2010 in Wayu Tuka District of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The aim of the study is to document medicinal plants used by local people of the study area and the threats currently affecting medicinal plants.

Methods

Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured interviews, field observations and group discussion in which 63 (41 men & 22 women) randomly selected informants participated. Of which, 11 (10 male and 1 female) were local healers. Paired comparison method, direct matrix ranking and Informant consensus factors (ICF) were used to analyze the importance of some plant species.

Results

A total of 126 medicinal plant species, distributed in 108 genera and 56 families, were collected together with their medicinal uses. Of the 126 species of medicinal plants collected from the study area, eighty six (68%) were obtained from the wild whereas thirty three (26%) were from homegardens. The Fabaceae came out as a leading family with 15 medicinal species while the Solanaceae followed with eight species. Seventy eight (62%) of the medicinal plants were reported as being used for treating human ailments, 23 (18.2%) for the treatment of livestock ailments and 25 (20%) for both. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (43%), followed by roots (18.5%) while crushing, which accounted for (29%) and powdering (28%) were the widely used methods of preparation of traditional herbal medicines.

Conclusion

The number of reported medicinal plants and their uses by the local people of the District indicate the depth of the local indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants and their application. The documented medicinal plants can serve as a basis for future investigation of modern drug.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
MacDonald I: Current trends in ethnobotany. Trop J Pharm Res. 2009, 8 (4): 295-297.
2.
3.
WHO: Traditional medicine and modern health care: progress report by the director general. 1991, Geneva: World Health Organization
4.
WHO: Legal status of traditional medicine and complementary/alternative medicine: A world wide review. 2001, Geneva: World Health Organization
5.
WHO: Traditional medicine. 2008, Fact sheet No34
6.
Wright CW: Plant derived antimalarial agents: new leads and challenges. Phytochemistry. 2005, 4: 55-61. 10.1007/s11101-005-3261-7.CrossRef
7.
Verma S, Singh SP: Current and future status of herbal medicines. Vet World. 2008, 1 (11): 347-350.CrossRef
8.
Rai LK, Pankaj P, Sharma E: Conservation threats to some important medicinal plants of Sikkim Himalya. Biol Conserv. 2000, 3: 27-34.CrossRef
9.
Samy RP, Gopalakrishnakone P: Current status of herbal medicines and their future perspectives. Nat Proc. 2007, 1176: 1-13.
10.
Abebe D, Zewdu M, Demissei A: The role of medicinal plants in health care coverage of Ethiopia, the possible integration. Conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in Ethiopia, proceeding of the national work shop, 28 april-01 May. 2001, Addis Ababa: Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research, 6-21.
11.
Poaceae (Graminae). Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea Volume 7. Edited by: Hedberg I, Edwards S. 1995, Ethiopia and Uppsala: The National Herbarium Addis Ababa University
12.
Pittosporaceae to araliaceae. Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Volume 3. Edited by: Hedberg I, Edwards S. 1989, Addis Ababa and Uppsala: The National Herbarium Addis Ababa University
13.
Plantaginaceae. Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea Volume 5. Edited by: Hedberg I, Kelbessa E, Edwards S, Demissew S, Persson E. 2006, Ethiopia and Uppsala: The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University
14.
Asteraceae. Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea, Part 2 Volume 4. Edited by: Hedberg I, Friis I, Edwards S. 2004, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Uppsala: The National Herbarium
15.
Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Hydrocharitaceae to Arecaceae Volume 6. Edited by: Edwards S, Demissew S, Hedberg I. 1997, Uppsala, Sweden: The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Department of Systematic Botany
16.
Canellaceae to Euphorbiaceae. Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea Part 2 Volume 2. Edited by: Edwards S, Tadesse M, Hedberg I. 1995, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and Upssala, Sweden: The National Herbarium
17.
Magnoliaceae to Flacourtiaceae. Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea Part 1 Volume 2. Edited by: Edwards S, Tadesse M, Demissew S, Hedberg I. 2000, Ethiopia and Upssala, Sweden: The National Herbarium Addis Ababa
18.
Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Apiaceae to Dipsacaceae Volume 4. Edited by: Hedberg I, Edwards S, Nemomissa S. 2003, Uppsala, Sweden: Issue part 1 The National Herbarium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Department Of Systematic Botany
19.
Wayu Tuka District: Annual report on population size and agriculture of the district. 2007, Gute: WTDAO
20.
Woldu Z: Forests in the vegetation types of Ethiopia and their status in the geographical context. Forest genetic resources conservation: principles, strategies and actions, workshop proceedings. Edited by: Edewards S, Demissie A, Bekele T, Haase G. 1999, Addis Ababa: Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research GTZ, 1-38.
21.
Martin GJ: Ethnobotany. A method manual. 1995, London, UK: Chapman and HallCrossRef
22.
Cotton CM: Ethnobotany. Principles and applications. 1996, Chichester, UK: John Willey and Sons Ltd
23.
Heinrich M, Ankl A, Frei B, Weimann C, Sticher O: Medicinal plants in Mexico: Healer’s consensus and cultural importance. Soc Sci Med. 1998, 47: 1863-1867.CrossRef
24.
Getaneh S: Ethnobotanical Studies of Medicinal Plants in Debre Libanos Wereda, North Shewa Zone of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. M. Sc. Thesis. 2009, Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University
25.
Mesfin F, Demissew S, Teklehaymanot T: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal Plants in Wonago Woreda, SNNPR, Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2009, 5: 28-10.1186/1746-4269-5-28.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
26.
Teklehaymanot T, Giday M: Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by people in Zegie Peninsula, Northwestern Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2007, 3: 1-12. 10.1186/1746-4269-3-1.CrossRef
27.
Lulekal E, Kelbessa E, Bekele T: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Mana Angetu District, South Eastern Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2008, 4: 10-10.1186/1746-4269-4-10.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
28.
Tolasa E: Use, Threat and Conservation of Traditional Medicinal Plants by Indigenous People in Gimbi Woreda, Western Welegga, Ethiopia. M. Sc. Thesis. 2007, Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University
29.
Ugulu I, Baslar S, Yorek N, Dogan Y: The investigation and quantitative ethnobotanical evaluation of medicinal plants used around Izmir province, Turkey. J Med Plant Res. 2009, 3 (5): 345-367.
30.
Amenu E: Use and Management of Medicinal Plants by Indigenous People of Ejaji area (Chelya Woreda), West Shoa, Ethiopia. An Ethnobotanical Approach. In M. Sc. Thesis. 2007, Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University
31.
Hailemariam T, Demissew S, Asfaw Z: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by local people in the lowlands of Konta special Wereda, Southern Nations, Nationalities and People Regional State, Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2009, 6: 25-
32.
Yineger H, Kelbessa E, Bekele T, Lulekal E: Plants used in traditional management of Human ailments at Bale Mountain National Park, Southeastern Ethiopia. J Med Plant Res. 2008, 2 (6): 132-153.
33.
Giday M: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Zay People in Ethiopia. Skriftserie. 2001, 3: 81-99.
34.
Giday M, Ameni G: An ethnobotanical survey on plants of veterinary importance in two Weredas of Southern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. SINET: Ethiop J Sci. 2003, 26 (2): 123-136.
35.
Balemie K, Kelbessa E, Asfaw Z: Indigenous medicinal plant utilization, management and threats in Fentalle area, Eastern Shewa, Ethiopia. Ethiop J Biol Sci. 2004, 3 (1): 37-58.
36.
Yineger H, Yehuwalaw D: Traditional medicinal plant knowledge and use by local healers in Sekoru District, Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2007, 3: 24-10.1186/1746-4269-3-24.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
37.
Gebre T: An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Konso Special Woreda, Southern Nations, and Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia. In M. Sc. Thesis. 2005, Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University
38.
Hunde D, Asfaw Z, Kelbessa E: Use and management of ethnovetarnary medicinal plants of indigenous people in ‘Boosat’ Welenchiti area. Ethiop J Biol Sci. 2004, 3 (2): 113-132.
39.
Abebe D: Traditional medicine in Ethiopia. The attempts being made to promote it for effective and better utilization. SINET Ethiop J Sci. 1986, 9: 61-69.
40.
Reddy CS, Reddy KN, Murthy EN, Raju VS: Traditional medicinal plants in Seshachalam hills, Andra Pradesh. India J Med Plant Res. 2009, 3 (5): 408-412.
41.
Abebe D, Ayehu A: Medicinal plants and enigmatic health practices of Northern Ethiopia. 1993, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: B.S.P.E
42.
Yirga G: Assessment of indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants in Central Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Afr J Plant Sci. 2010, 4 (1): 6-11.
43.
Flatie T, Gedif T, Asres K, Gebre-mariam T: Ethnomedicinal survey of Bertha ethnic group Asossa Zone, Benishangul-Gumuz regional state, mid-West Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2009, 5: 14-10.1186/1746-4269-5-14.PubMedCentralCrossRefPubMed
44.
Fennell CW, Light ME, Sparg SG, Stafford GI, Staden JV: Assessing African medicinal plants for efficacy and safety: agricultural and storage practices. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004, 95: 113-121. 10.1016/j.jep.2004.05.025.CrossRefPubMed
45.
Getahun A: Some common medicinal and poisonous plants used in Ethiopia folk medicine. 1976, Addis Ababa: Addis Ababa University
46.
Sofowora A: Medicinal plants and traditional medicine in Africa. 1982, New York: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Metadata
Title
An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Wayu Tuka District, East Welega Zone of Oromia Regional State, West Ethiopia
Authors
Moa Megersa
Zemede Asfaw
Ensermu Kelbessa
Abebe Beyene
Bizuneh Woldeab
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4269
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-68

Other articles of this Issue 1/2013

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 1/2013 Go to the issue

Research

Alternative ways of representing Zapotec and Cuicatec folk classification of birds: a multidimensional model and its implications for culturally-informed conservation in Oaxaca, México

Research

Ethnobotany of Heracleum persicum Desf. ex Fisch., an invasive species in Norway, or how plant names, uses, and other traditions evolve

Research

Medicinal flora and ethnoecological knowledge in the Naran Valley, Western Himalaya, Pakistan

Research

Diversity and use of ethno-medicinal plants in the region of Swat, North Pakistan

Research

Ethno-ornithology and conservation of wild birds in the semi-arid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil

Research

Influence of traditional markets on plant management in the Tehuacán Valley