Survey of ethno-veterinary medicinal plants in Melkabello District, Eastern Harerghe Zone, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

An ethno botanical survey was conducted from November 2014 to April 2015 in Melkabello district, Eastern Harerghe Zone, Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were designed to document ethno veterinary medicinal plants and identify their associated threats. A structured and pre tested questionnaire was used to collect the required data. About 20 traditional healers were purposively selected based on the recommendation of local authorities. The majority of the healers were male, 16 (80%) and the remained 4 (20%) were females. In this study about 68 medicinal plant species belonging to 55 families were identified in the study area. The principal sources of the medicinal plants were from wild, cultivated and both with the proportion of 53 (77.9%), 12 (17.6%) and 3 (4.4 %), respectively. In this study herb, 27 (39.7%) followed by tree, 19 (27.9%) were the most commonly used habits of the plants by traditional healers. The major plant parts used were leaf, 40 (58.8%) and bark, 2 (2.9%). The most common administration routes were oral, 48 (70.6%) followed by topical, 12 (17.6%) and aerosol 3(4.4%). Febrile diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, external injuries, blackleg and reproductive insufficiency were treated by the traditional practioners. In conclusion, the study revealed that participants had a good knowledge to treat livestock ailments, but the dose varies among the healers. Therefore, further study should be conducted to evaluate the efficacy and standardize the dose of medicinal plants in the study area.

Keywords: Ailments, Eastern Harerghe Zone, Ethiopia, Ethno-Veterinary,
Medicinal Plants