ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS AND THEIR CONSERVATION STATUS IN MECHA WEREDA, WEST GOJJAM ZONE OF ETHIOPIA

An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants and their conservation status was conducted in Mecha Wereda, West Gojjam Zone of Ethiopia from November 2012 to April 2013. A total of 16 kebeles were selected, from which 80 informants (five per kebele) were interviewed for data collection. Among the 80, 21 were key informants selected by purposive sampling method and other informants were selected randomly during transect walking. The ethnobotanical data collected through group discussion, semi-structured interview and participatory observation were subjected to calculate direct matrix ranking, informant consensus factor, fidelity level index and percentage of distribution. A total of 107 medicinal plants belong to 96 genera and 52 families were identified and recorded. Among the families, Asteraceae was the dominant (11.20%) followed by Solanaceae (7.47%). The majority (41.1%) of medicinal plants like Brucea antidysenterica, Dodonaea angustifolia, Clutia lanceolata, Clerodendrum myricoides, etc. were shrubs and herbs accounts for 36.5%. Plants like Solanecio gigas, Echinops kebericho, Laggera tomentosa and Millettia ferruginea were endemic to Ethiopia. Most frequently used plant parts for remedies preparation were leaves (29.8%) followed by roots (22.4%). Most remedial preparation method was squeezing (24.9%) followed by powdering (16.6%). Commonly used routes of administration was oral (55.4%) followed by dermal (26.9%). The highest (0.85) ICF was associated to dermatological diseases (scabies, dandruff, ringworm, eczema, etc.) followed by gastrointestinal and parasitic infections (0.84). The FL of Acacia pilipisia, Ocimum lamiifolium, Ficus carica, Clerodendrum myricoides and Verbena officinalis was calculated 100% for tonsillitis, febrile illness, wound, malaria and dysentery respectively. Currently, the main threats to medicinal plants were firewood, construction, grazing and agricultural expansion. Hence, the local communities are advised to give attention for in-situ and ex-situ conservation of the medicinal plants.