USE OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS BY PEOPLE OF KURFA CHELE WOREDA, EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

The study of indigenous knowledge on utilization of native plants as source of medicine is important to conserve useful plants and preserve indigenous knowledge for next generation. This study documents indigenous medicinal plant utilization and factors contributing to the dwindling of native plants and indigenous knowledge. The study was undertaken in Kurfa Chele Woreda, East Hararghe Zone Oromia Region, and Ethiopia. Fifty respondents (10 key informants (traditional healers) and 40 non traditional healers) were involved in the study. Ethnobotanical data were obtained using semi structured interviews, field observations and group discussions with local traditional medicine practitioners. Descriptive statistics, informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level index and preference ranking were used to summarize and analyze data. Ethno medicinal use of 66 plant species distributed in 43 families and 60 genera were documented. Majority of the plants (65.15%) were reported to treat human ailments while 7.57% and 27.27% were reported to treat livestock ailments and both humans and livestock ailments, respectively. From the total medicinal plant species, 23 were herbs followed by 21 species of shrubs, 16 species of trees, 4 species of climbers and 2 species of mistletoes. The most frequently used plant part for preparation of remedies was the leaf. The most widely used method of preparation was powdering of the different plant parts. The common route of administration recorded was oral (50%) followed by dermal (28.79%). Disease categories caused by insect biting (0.80), skin and subcutaneous tissue related (0.79), evil spirit (0.73),urogenital problem and problems of respiratory system (0.72) had higher ICF values, suggesting high prevalence of these diseases in the study area and agreement of people on their remedies. Fidelity level values ranged from 33.3% to 100%. Preference ranking of medicinal plants against body swelling showed that Carissa spin arum is the most preferred plant. Various anthropogenic and natural factors have been reported as threats to plants of the study area. In order to prevent biodiversity erosion and loss of indigenous knowledge, local communities must be taught and involved in conservation and management of plant resources and their indigenous knowledge.