STUDY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS IN MIDA WOREMO DISTRICT, NORTH SHOA ZONE, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia, has a long history of using traditional medicinal plants to combat various human and livestock ailments. The purpose of this study was to collect, identify and document traditional medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge of communities of the study area. A total of 100 informants ages >25 were selected to collect information on traditional medicinal plant use from three sampled kebeles. Out of these, 14 key informants (12 male and 2 female) were purposively selected based on recommendation obtained from elders and local communities. Other informants (54 Male and 32 Female) were selected systematically. As a data collection methods; semi-structured interviews, field observations and group discussions were used. To analyze ethnobotanical data; preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, informant consensus factor and Jaccard’s coefficient of similarity were calculated. Totally, 82 traditional medicinal plant species belonging to 75 genera and 45 families were collected, identified and documented in the study. From the total medicinal plant species, (39%) were herbs, followed by (26.8%) species of trees. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (40%) followed by seeds (18.8%) and fruits (15.3). The most widely used route of administration recorded was oral (57.4%) followed by dermal (29.5%). The disease categories such as Sensory organ problems (eye, ear disease and headache) had the highest ICF value (0.87). The highest fidelity level index (100%) was schinus molle for the treatment of diarrhoea. In the area, preference ranking showed that Withania somnifera and Mytenus arbutifolia, were ranked first and second to treat evil eye. Direct matrix ranking showed Eucalyptus globulus as the most utilized species by the local peoples. The ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants indicates that the study area is relatively rich in its medicinal plant diversity and the associated indigenous knowledge. Agricultural expansion and deforestation for various purpose are the major threats to medicinal plants in the study area. Therefore, encourage the participation of the local people in conservation activities for traditional medicinal plants