An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Mana Angetu District, southeastern Ethiopia

Ermias Lulekal¹ , Ensermu Kelbessa² , Tamrat Bekele² and Haile Yineger³

¹Department of Biology, Debre Berhan University, P.O. Box 445, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

²National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

³Department of Biology, Jimma University, P. O. Box 5195, Jimma, Ethiopia

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Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2008, 4:10doi:10.1186/1746-4269-4-10


Published:	28 April 2008

Abstract

This study documents indigenous medicinal plant utilization, management and the threats affecting them. The study was carried out in Mana Angetu district between January 2003 and December 2004. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi structured interviews, field observations, preference and direct matrix ranking with traditional medicine practitioners. The ethnomedicinal use of 230 plant species was documented in the study area. Most of the plants (78.7%) were reportedly used to treat human diseases. The most frequently used plant part were roots (33.9%), followed by leaves (25.6%). Most of the medicinal species (90.4%) were collected from the wild. Direct matrix analysis showed that Olea europaea L. Subsp. cuspidata (Wall. ex G. Don) was the most important species followed by Acacia tortilis (Forssk.) Hayne (120) indicating high utility value of these species for the local community. The principal threatening factors reported were deforestation (90%), agricultural expansion (85%) and fire (53%). Documenting the eroding plants and associated indigenous knowledge can be used as a basis for developing management plans for conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants in the area.