Abstract:
An ethnobotanical study of the knowledge on use and management of medicinal plants by local
people in Dire Enchini District, was conducted from April 2023 to August2023. Semistructured interview
s, field observations and various ranking and comparison methods were employed and information was
collected from a sample of 80 informants(36females and 44 males).These included 20 key and 60 rando
mly selected informants.Atotal of 107 plant species,representing111 genera and 57families,were collecte
d,and107of them were claimed to be medicinal plants.The Fabaceae,which contributed11.21%) species,
stood first followed by poaceae,which contributed8(7.47%)species,Asteraceae,which contributed7(6.54
%)species, Solanaceae,which contributed 6(5.6)species.(About 57species) were collected from the wild
while 50 were collected from homegardens. A total of 88 (76.03%) species were mentioned for the
treatment of 47 human ailments while 10 species were used to treat 20 livestock health problems. Herbs
were the most used plants, accounting for (49.58%) species, followed by shrubs22,72%, trees18.18%
and climbers5,68%. The most frequently used plant part was the leaves of (45.71%) and fresh form of
utilization consisted of (54.39%). The common route medicine administration was oral (45.99%).
Some of the remedies are taken with additives and solvents including water (33.76%),butter(16.88%)
and honey (15.58%). The most widely used method of preparation was squeezing (33.33%) of the
different plant parts followed by crushing (25%). The most commonly used application of medicinal
plant was drinking (30%) followed by creamed (19.45%) and dropping (12.21%). Medicinal plants with
higher informant consensus included Crotalaria pallida, Croton macrostachyus and Rumex nepalensis
while the disease category with the highestICF value (0.870) was evil eye. There was high preference
for Carissa spinarumfor treating gonorrhea while paired comparison showed Croton macrostachyus to
be the most preferred species for treatment of evil eye by traditional healers.Hagenia abyssinica was
shown to be thetop multipurpose species while agricultural expansion, firewood collection and charcoal
making were considered major threats to plants in general and medicinal plants in particular.Provisions
for participation of the local people, awareness raising and establishment of protected forests are
recommended.
