ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLE IN ASEKO DISTRICT, ARSI ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia has rich flora with different plant species having use in health care system based on local indigenous knowledge. However, documented Ethnobotanical information was lacking in Aseko Woreda. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate and document Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by indigenous people in Aseko Woreda, Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 116 informants aged 25 and above were selected to collect ethnobotanical data. Out of these, 16 key informants were purposively selected based on recommendations from local elders. Others were selected randomly. Data were collected using semi structured interview, group discussion, guided field walk and field observation. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentage and frequency; preference ranking and, informant consensus factor. The results of the study showed that 74 species of medicinal plants belong to 68 genera and 40 families used to treat different health problems were gathered and documented. The plants were described with their local names and scientific names. Most of plant species were collected from wild (61%) followed by home garden (14.80%) and wild and home garden (24.32%). Out of these plants, 40 species were noted to treat only human ailments while species 15 are used to treat livestock ailments and 19 species were reported to be to treat both human and livestock ailments. The majority 39 species (52.70%) of the medicinal plants were Shrubs followed by Tree 16 species (21.62%) Herbs 12 species (16.23%) ,and 7species (9.45%) climbers. Leaves (47%), followed with roots (22%), Seed (16%), Fruit (5%), Bark (4%), Stem (3%) Bulb (3%), and Latex, (2%).The most diverse families in terms of species composition were Lamiceae represented by (6 species) followed by Fabaceae and Solanaceae each represented by equal number (5 sp),Myrtaceae and Asteraceae each represented by equal number (4 sp.) Rosaceae, Polygnonanceae, Ranunclaceae and, Verbenaceae, Cucurbitaceae and Euphorbiaceae each represented by (3 sp), Malvaceae, Oleaceae, and Rutaceae each represented by (2 species). The remaining families are each represented by 1spp. The most common route of administrations were oral administration constituting (30%), dermal (29 %), nasal (23%), other (16%) respectively. Disease categories with relatively higher ICF values were Gastrointestinal and Parasitic related diseases (0.80); External injuries and bleeding problems (0.78). Among the five plant species, the most effective medicinal plants used to treat degree of healing several ailments were Allium sativum first ranked followed by Ocimum lamiifolium and the least was croton macrostachyus. The study area has a considerable number of traditional medicinal plants, so that conservation measures should be taken to protect these plants in their habitats.