ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY LOCAL PEOPLE OF GORO DISTRICT, BALE ZONE OF OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia has rich flora with different plant species having use in health care system based on local indigenous knowledge. In this study, plants of traditional medicinal use and their associated indigenous knowledge in Goro district were investigated. A total of 100 informants (age≥25) were selected to collect information on medicinal plant use from three sampled kebeles. Of these, 10 key informants were selected purposively based on recommendation by local elders and authorities. The rest were selected randomly. Data were collected using semistructured interviews, field observations and group discussions with local traditional medicine practitioners. Jaccard’s similarity index, Informant consensus factor, fidelity level, preference ranking and direct matrix ranking were calculated to assess the agreement of informants on the medicinal value of plants. Knowledge about medicinal plants was found to be affected by age, sex and educational level. A total of 84 plant species distributed in 75 genera and 45 families were collected and identified. Family Asteraceae consisted of the largest number of species. Habit wise, 30 were herbs followed by shrubs (27), tree species (24) and climbers (3) species. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves followed by roots and seed respectively. The popular methods of preparation were crushing, pounding; chewing, squeezing and remedies were mostly prepared in fresh form from single plant or multiple plants with or without some additives. Route of administration was mainly oral followed by dermal. For example, the seed of Myrsine africana L is crushed and mixed with honey and drunk to treat endoparasite like Tape worm & Ascaris. Disease categories such as Gastrointestinal and Dermatological problem had the highest ICF values >0.80. In general, the study area revealed that people in the study area have different depth and width of indigenous knowledge on traditional medicinal plants. In order to conserve medicinal plants and indigenous knowledge, formal and non-formal education system should be designed to create positive attitude among local people.