An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Sheka Zone of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Regional State, Ethiopia

Overview

Journal J Ethnobiol Ethnomed

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties General Medicine
Social Sciences

Date 2020 Feb 7

PMID 32024539

Citations 29

Authors

Zewdie Kassa

Zemede Asfaw

Sebsebe Demissew

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: People's classification, management, and use of plants represent attempt to attracting people from different academic disciplines. Many countries use traditional medicine for their primary healthcare system. Medicinal plants have been important components of healthcare systems since the time immemorial. The objective of this research was to document and analyze traditional medicinal plants used by the Sheka people and associated ethnobotanical knowledge.

Methods: Data was collected by administering pre-prepared semi-structured interview items to 414 informants. Market surveys, group discussion, and guided field walk were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics; determination of informant consensus factor, fidelity level, as well as ranking and scoring.

Results: A total of 266 plant species belonging to 192 genera and 74 families were identified. About 204 (77%) of the medicinal plants were used to treat human health problems. Only ten (4%) were used to treat livestock health problems and 52 (19%) of them were used to treat both human and livestock health problems. Croton macrostachyus, Prunus africana, Peperomia retusa, Lobelia giberroa, and Celosia schweinfurthiana were found to be high ranking medicinal plants against gastrointestinal problems based on simple preference ranking.

Conclusion: Very high number of medicinal plant species recorded from the study area indicates that vegetation of Sheka is reservoir of medicinal plants. Hence, the area needs attention for medicinal plant conservation priorities. Plant parts used as medicines also play vital role in the entire medicinal plant life cycle. Therefore, it is useful to consider harvesting impacts. Except well-experienced traditional healers, people of the study area use the medicinal plants haphazardly. There may be high risk of being victims of dosage and improper usage. High ranking medicinal plants are candidates for further phytochemical profiling, drug research, and development.

Citing Articles

Ethnobotanical investigation of medicinal plants utilized by indigenous communities in the Fofa and Toaba sub-districts of the Yem Zone, Central Ethiopian Region.

Lulesa F, Alemu S, Kassa Z, Awoke A J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2025; 21(1):14.

PMID: 40045312 PMC: 11884170. DOI: 10.1186/s13002-025-00768-2.

Traditionally used phytomedicines and their associated threats in Bita district, southwestern Ethiopia.

Awoke A, Gudesho G, Chane K, Siyum Y, Tilahun W, Gebremedhin H J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2025; 21(1):8.

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Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants and their threats in Yeki district, Southwestern Ethiopia.

Awoke A, Siyum Y, Awoke D, Gebremedhin H, Tadesse A J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2024; 20(1):107.

PMID: 39709441 PMC: 11663343. DOI: 10.1186/s13002-024-00748-y.

Medicinal plants diversity among the oromo community in heban-arsi district of Ethiopia used to manage human and livestock ailments.

Nuro G, Tolossa K, Arage M, Giday M Front Pharmacol. 2024; 15:1455126.

PMID: 39372211 PMC: 11450779. DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1455126.

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