Journal of Plant Genetics and Breeding
Open Access

Traditional medicine; Indigenous knowledge; Medicinal plant; Traditional healers

Introduction

Ethnobotany is the study of the relationships between human populations and plants, addressing the ideas conceptualized by a given society regarding plant life [1]. Ethnobotanists attempt to and preserve traditional botanical knowledge related to the various uses of local Flora [2].

Formal documentation of indigenous plant utilizes began with the campaign of European investigates, looking for 'Green gold', to arrive possessed by indigenous individuals [3]. Such campaign were ice breakers to experience critical plant utilize learning, trailed by the resulting exchange of valuable species and their related utilize information to various nations [4].

The principal objective of all ethnobotanical examines includes documenting, analyzing and disseminating information on the connection amongst individuals and plants [5]. Ethnobotanical examination investigates not just how a particular gathering of individuals uses plants additionally how that gathering sees them, how it deciphers these recognitions, how these discernments impact the exercises of individuals from that society, and how these exercises impact the encompassing vegetation and the biological system on which the general public depends [6].

Lose of knowledge is caused when communities emigrate to towns or to other regions with a different flora and can also be lost by life style changes due to industrialization, rapid loss of natural habitats, drastic alteration of the local ecology [7] even though Ethiopia is endowed with abundant medicinal plant resources and traditional medicinal practices [8]. Most of the knowledge acquired by the local people has been passed on to them by a word of mouth from one generation to the other.Such orally preserved information is liable to loss if left undocumented [9]. Therefore this study aimed to identify and document plant species that have medicinal value for human and livestock in Huleteju Enesie District.

Methods

Description of the study area

Hullet Ejju Enese District (HEEW) is one of the 21District in East Gojjam Zone and 151 Districts in Amhara National Regional State. Relative location of the District is 370 km away from Addis Ababa, 120 km from Bahir Dar the regional capital city and 202 km from Debre Markos (Zonal city of East Gojjam). Hullet Ejju Enese District is bounded in the North by South Gonder Zone, in the South by Sedie District, in the east by Goncha District, in the South West by Bibugn (Hullet Ejju Enessie District administrative office, 2018). Geographically, the area is located at10050'0"- 110 10'0"N latitude and 37040' 0"- 370 50'0"E longitude with an average altitude of 2500 m.a.s.l (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Map of study area in East Gojjam Zone, Amhara Region, and Hulet Ejju Enaessie District.

Data collection techniques

Selections of study sites: Reconnaissance survey of the study area was conducted from November 10-20 in 2018. During this time information related to topography, vegetation distribution, soil type, boarder of the district, traditional healers were observed and data related to the above mentioned features were also collected. Six kebele were selected from 29 kebeles located in the district purposively by considering agro ecology, accessibility, herbal utilization and relative vegetation cover.

Sample size determination and Informant selections: The sample size would be determined statistically by using the Kothari (2004) formula as shown below. n= z² xpxQxN/(e²(N-1)+Z²xPxQ),Where n=sample size, Z= value of standard variant at 95.5 confidence level (2.005), P= sample population (0.02), N= total house hold population, Q= 1-P,e= the estimate should be within 2 % of the true value (0.02), n= ((2.005)² x (0.02)x(1-0.02)x(4382))/((0.02)²x (4382-1)+(2.005)²x(0.02) x(1-0.02))=188. The total informants were distributed proportionally to the selected kebele (sub district). After proportional allocation, each participant was selected systematically from each kebele until the number is reached.

Semi-structured interviews: Semi-structured interview was administered based on the checklist, prepared. The questions were prepared in English and translated to Amharic language (local language of the study area).

Field observation: Field observations were applied on the study sites with the help of local people. During field observation important points like conservation action of medicinal plants, cultivation practice of medicinal plants, soil types and vegetation of an area were observed.

Group discussion: The discussion was conducted at two study kebeles selected by lottery system from six kebeles with 5 individuals (one traditional healer and four nontraditional healers).The participants were discussed about traditional medicinal system of the peoples, its conservation systems and how people transfer medicinal plant knowledge.

Market survey: Market survey was conducted on two kebeles of the markets to distinguish type of medicinal plants available in the markets. During the study the names of medicinal plants, preparation, rout of administration and dosages were recorded and were interviewed about medicinal value of the plants.

Voucher specimens: Plant specimens were collected from both habitats i.e., from home gardens and wild habitats Necessary information need for specimen identification like common name and voucher specimen were recorded during the plant species collection in the field. The collected plants were identified by using different volume of Flora of Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Data analysis techniques

The data would mainly analyzed and summarized by descriptive statistics, preference ranking, paired comparison, direct matrix ranking as described in Martin [5], Cotton [3], Alexiades [10], fidelity level [11] and Informant consensus factor [12].

Results

Medicinal plants

Medicinal Plant recorded, their Sources and growth habit: A total of 95 medicinal plants distributed to different genera (85) and family (44) were collected from the study area. Of this, 71(74.73%) plant species were collected from wild habitat and the rest 24 (25.26%) medicinal plant species were collected from homgarden. Fabaceae was the most dominant family that contains 13 species under 11 genera followed by Asteraceae with 7 species and 6 genera, followed by Lamiaceae five species with four genera and Euphorbiaceae and Solanaceae four species with four genera. Regarding the plant habit, herbs were the most common and stood first with 37 species (38.94%), followed by shrubs 32 species (33.68%), trees 19 species (20%) and climbers 7species (7.36%) (Table 1).

Table 1:List of traditional medicinal plants used to treat human and livestock health problems with parts used, ailment type, route of administration, preparation, application and dosage (Key to abbreviations: Hb- habits, S shrub, T- tree, H- herb, Cl – climber, Pp-plant parts used, R –root, L-leaf, Sb –stem bark, Fl –flower, Fr –fruit, Sd –seed, Rh–rhizome, Bu – bulb, Lat – latex,Uf- used for,Hu–Human,Ca–cattle,Chi–chickens,Li–livestock,Ra–route of administration, O –oral, Dm –dermal, Ne-Neck, Na –nasal, Ey– eye,V- vaginal, Cp – condition of preparation, F- fresh, D- dry).

Medicinal plant part used for preparation of medicine: The study on ethnomedicinal plants in the study area revealed that the plant parts used substantially to treat ailments are leaves 42 (43.75%) followed by roots 12 (12.5%) (Table 2).

Table 2: Proportion of plant parts used for preparation of medicines

Method of preparation: Participants reported that remedy preparations vary based on the type of disease treated and the actual sites of ailments. The principal methods of plant parts remedy preparation forms were reported to be through crushing, which accounts for 18 (24%), followed by crushing, powdering and mixing 12 (16%), boiling 11 (14.66%),Crushing and squeezing 8(10.66%) (Table 3).

Table 3: Ways of preparations of only human medicinal plants.

Route of administration and measurements utilized: The most favored route of administration is through oral 51(53.68%) followed by dermal 20 (21.05 %) and others presented in (Table 4). Dosages were estimated using cups (TASSA or TIWA), Glasses, bottle (BIRCHIKO) to measure and administered liquids, spoon (MANKIA) for powders, numbers or in some cases handful for seed a