An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Sheka Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract Background People’s classification, management, and use of plants represent attempt to attracting people from different academic disciplines. Many countries use traditional medicine for their primary healthcare system. Medicinal plants have been important components of healthcare systems si...

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Main Authors: Zewdie Kassa, Zemede Asfaw, Sebsebe Demissew
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-02-01
Series:Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-020-0358-4
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spelling doaj-94790168fbc44d63badf4fe6781feefe2021-02-07T12:45:34ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692020-02-0116111510.1186/s13002-020-0358-4An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Sheka Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, EthiopiaZewdie Kassa0Zemede Asfaw1Sebsebe Demissew2Department of Biology, Mizan-Tepi UniversityDepartment of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa UniversityDepartment of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa UniversityAbstract Background People’s classification, management, and use of plants represent attempt to attracting people from different academic disciplines. Many countries use traditional medicine for their primary healthcare system. Medicinal plants have been important components of healthcare systems since the time immemorial. The objective of this research was to document and analyze traditional medicinal plants used by the Sheka people and associated ethnobotanical knowledge. Methods Data was collected by administering pre-prepared semi-structured interview items to 414 informants. Market surveys, group discussion, and guided field walk were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics; determination of informant consensus factor, fidelity level, as well as ranking and scoring. Results A total of 266 plant species belonging to 192 genera and 74 families were identified. About 204 (77%) of the medicinal plants were used to treat human health problems. Only ten (4%) were used to treat livestock health problems and 52 (19%) of them were used to treat both human and livestock health problems. Croton macrostachyus, Prunus africana, Peperomia retusa, Lobelia giberroa, and Celosia schweinfurthiana were found to be high ranking medicinal plants against gastrointestinal problems based on simple preference ranking. Conclusion Very high number of medicinal plant species recorded from the study area indicates that vegetation of Sheka is reservoir of medicinal plants. Hence, the area needs attention for medicinal plant conservation priorities. Plant parts used as medicines also play vital role in the entire medicinal plant life cycle. Therefore, it is useful to consider harvesting impacts. Except well-experienced traditional healers, people of the study area use the medicinal plants haphazardly. There may be high risk of being victims of dosage and improper usage. High ranking medicinal plants are candidates for further phytochemical profiling, drug research, and development.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-020-0358-4DiversityFidelityHealthcareInformant consensusPhytochemicalVegetation
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Zewdie Kassa
Zemede Asfaw
Sebsebe Demissew
spellingShingle Zewdie Kassa
Zemede Asfaw
Sebsebe Demissew
An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Sheka Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Diversity
Fidelity
Healthcare
Informant consensus
Phytochemical
Vegetation
author_facet Zewdie Kassa
Zemede Asfaw
Sebsebe Demissew
author_sort Zewdie Kassa
title An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Sheka Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia
title_short An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Sheka Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia
title_full An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Sheka Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia
title_fullStr An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Sheka Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Sheka Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia
title_sort ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in sheka zone of southern nations nationalities and peoples regional state, ethiopia
publisher BMC
series Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
issn 1746-4269
publishDate 2020-02-01
description Abstract Background People’s classification, management, and use of plants represent attempt to attracting people from different academic disciplines. Many countries use traditional medicine for their primary healthcare system. Medicinal plants have been important components of healthcare systems since the time immemorial. The objective of this research was to document and analyze traditional medicinal plants used by the Sheka people and associated ethnobotanical knowledge. Methods Data was collected by administering pre-prepared semi-structured interview items to 414 informants. Market surveys, group discussion, and guided field walk were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics; determination of informant consensus factor, fidelity level, as well as ranking and scoring. Results A total of 266 plant species belonging to 192 genera and 74 families were identified. About 204 (77%) of the medicinal plants were used to treat human health problems. Only ten (4%) were used to treat livestock health problems and 52 (19%) of them were used to treat both human and livestock health problems. Croton macrostachyus, Prunus africana, Peperomia retusa, Lobelia giberroa, and Celosia schweinfurthiana were found to be high ranking medicinal plants against gastrointestinal problems based on simple preference ranking. Conclusion Very high number of medicinal plant species recorded from the study area indicates that vegetation of Sheka is reservoir of medicinal plants. Hence, the area needs attention for medicinal plant conservation priorities. Plant parts used as medicines also play vital role in the entire medicinal plant life cycle. Therefore, it is useful to consider harvesting impacts. Except well-experienced traditional healers, people of the study area use the medicinal plants haphazardly. There may be high risk of being victims of dosage and improper usage. High ranking medicinal plants are candidates for further phytochemical profiling, drug research, and development.
topic Diversity
Fidelity
Healthcare
Informant consensus
Phytochemical
Vegetation
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-020-0358-4
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