Abstract:
An ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants was conducted in Shirka woreda to document the indigenous plant-based traditional medical knowledge of the people of Shirka, Eastern Arsi zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. The main objective of this study was to identify traditional medicinal plant species, recognize human and livestock ailments that can be treated by traditional medicinal plants. A total of 384 informants were selected to collect ethno botanical information from three study sites. Traditional medicinal data were collected using semi-structured interview, field observation and group discussion and the data was analyzed by Informants ’consensus factor, fidelity level, Preference ranking, and direct matrix ranking. The research revealed that 69 traditional medicinal plants were collected and identified that belong to 67 genera and 42 families. Of the 42 families, Fabaceae takes the lead by contributing 6 (8.7%) species followed by Solanaceae 5 (7.25%), Poaceae , Euphorbiaceae 4 (5.8%) species and the families Rutaceae, Lamiaceae, Curcurbitaceae and Asteraceae contribute each 3 (4.35%) plant species. These traditional medicinal plants were used to treat a total of 55 human and livestock ailments; 37, of them were human ailments, 10, livestock ailments and 8, were human and livestock ailments. And from them 31 (44.93%) were collected from wild, 28 (40.58%) were cultivated and 10 (14.49%) were both wild as well as cultivated. Herbs were the most widely used life forms of the traditional medicinal plants that accounts 29 (42.o3%) species followed by tree 21 (30.43%) species, shrub 15 (21.74%) species. The most commonly used part of the traditional medicinal plants was leaves 19 (27.54%) followed by seed 14(20.29%), root 9 (13%), leaves &root 5 (7.25%). Most of the traditional medicinal plants were prepared in fresh form which accounts 33 (47.83%) plants followed by dry 23 (33.33%), 13 (18.84%) both dry and fresh materials. The major traditional medicinal plants methods of preparation were grinding 28(40.58)%) followed by grinding and boiling 12 (17.39%) andwereadministeredandapplythroughoral(drinking,chewing,eating),dermal,(rubbingor,smearin g,tied,heating),nasal,(fumigation),and.dermal,dermal and oral,nasal and oral,spittingeye and(dropping ear, fumigation. Abdominal pain, evil eye, gastric, tonsillitis, febrileillness’, head ach, cough, and asthma are the common human ailments; leech, abdominal pain, anthrax, black leg,tumor and skin rush are livestock ailments that frequently occur in the study area. The highest ICF value reproductive system relateddisease(0.5),evil eye and evil spirit(0.45),respiratory system related disease(0.4)andtThe FL Allium sativm the highest 88% for treating cough, influenza and asthma followed by Croton macrostachyus.The preference ranking of medicinal plants showed that the combined use of (Lepidium sativum, Allium sativum, Achyranthes aspera,Sesamumindicum,Brassica carinata) were the most effective for treatment of abdominal pain. Direct matrix ranking indicated that Olea europaea was the most multipurpose medicinal plant species in the study area. Generally, Shirk woreda was relatively rich in traditional medicinal plant species. It is recommended that awareness and training should be given to the inhabitants of the study area on conservation and proper usage of traditional medicinal plants; on the transfer of knowledge of traditional medicinal plants.