Abstract:
A study on medicinal plants was conducted in Bonke Woreda SNNPRS, Gamo Gofa, Ethiopia
with the general objective of investigating traditional medicinal practice, identifying and
documenting medicinal plant species and associated traditional knowledge, and assessing
threats to medicinal plant resources are used. Information was gathered from 70 informants
(53 males and 17 females). The informants, except the healers, were selected randomly. Data
was collected using semi-structured interviews, field observations, guided field walk, group
discussion procedures. Seventy eight plant species belonging to 69 genera and 47 families
were identified as resources that have been used to treat 57 ailments in the study area. Of
these, 56 medicinal plants were reported to have been used for curing human ailments, 10 for
livestock ailments whereas 12 for both human and livestock ailments. Most of the medicinal
species were collected from home gardens followed by wild habitats. While the most
frequently utilized medicinal plant parts were leaves and roots, the most frequently treated
ailments using the medicinal plants are stomach disease followed by pneumonia and evil eye
whereas the widely used administration is oral followed by dermal application. The study
revealed that Ocimum lamiifolium is the most popularly preferable medicinal plant followed
by Ruta chalepensis and Echinops kebericho; Ruta chalepensis is the most preferred and most
effective medicinal plant to cure stomach diseases; Datura stramonium is the most effective
medicinal plant to cure diarrhea. Direct matrix analysis showed that Dodonaea angustifolia
ranked first and it is the most preferred plant by local people for various uses. In the study
area, the traditional medicinal practice, medicinal plants and the associated knowledge are
heavily threatened by some major factors. Taking appropriate interventions is recommended
so as to ensure continuation of the traditional medicinal practice on which the local health
care system relies.
