ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF TRADITIONALMEDICINALPLANTS IN LUME DISTRICT EASTERN SHOA ZONE OROMIA REGIONAL STATE ETHIOPIA

Ethnomedicinal research plays an important role for conservation and sustainable utilization of medicinal plants and associated knowledge. The objective of this study was to document medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge in Lume District. Ethnobotanical data was collected from February 2022 to September 2023 using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and direct field observation with 76 randomly selected non-key informants and 10 key informants. The collected data was analyzed by informant consensus factor (ICF) and Fidelity level (FL). A total of 67 plant species were collected and identified, 40 species from the wild vegetation, 20 species from home-gardens and 7 from both (wild vegetation and homegardens) belongs to 67 genera and 40 families. Forty-five medicinal plant species were recorded for the treatment of human health problems, 12 species for livestock and 10 species for the treatment of both human and livestock diseases. The frequently used plant parts were leaves (47.8%) followed by roots (16.4%). The widely used method of preparation was crushing (33%) followed by pounding and mixing (21%). administration route oral (65.7%), followed by dermal use (22.4%). The highest informant consensus factor (0.96) was associated with problems caused by acute sickness. Followed by respiratory diseases (0.90), spiritual (menfes)(0.89), gastro-intestinal disorder (0.85), and Urino-genital problems (0.28). Preference ranking, direct matrix ranking and fidelity level index showed the popularity and preference of some species over others for different uses and in treating ailment by the community. The present study revealed the existence of indigenous knowledge of traditional medicinal plants to treat human and livestock ailments. However, agricultural expansion, firewood collection, environmental degradation, and deforestation are the main threats to medicinal plants. Therefore, there should be mentoring for the local people in the study area to conserve and prevent the destruction of medicinal plants. Strategies for conservation and sustainable of traditional medicinal plants through cultivating and maintaining plants in botanic gardens, parks, other suitable sites and through long term preservation of plant propagates in gene banks and community awareness is also important