Ethnobotanical study of ethnoveterinary plants in Kelem Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Questionnaire based cross sectional study design was conducted from November 2015 to April 2016 in Dale Sadi district area, Kellem Wollega Zone of Oromia regional state of Ethiopia, to identify potential medicinal plants used for treatment of the livestock ailments. In this study 50 species of medicinal plant species were identified which were categorized under 32 different families. Among the medicinal plants 45(90%) were used for curative purpose, 2(4%) for only prophylactic purpose and 3(6%) for both curative and prophylactic activities. Shrubs 29(58%), herbs 10(20%) and tree 8(16%) were the main habitat of the herbal plants. The main routes of administration were oral and topical, 30(60%) and 9(18%) respectively. Leaves 18(36%) and roots 7(14%) were the main parts of the plant used as medicinal values. The results of this study play a significant role in encouraging further investigations by extracting and identifying bioactive constituents of those herbal medicines for the antimicrobial effect. It is recommended that further detailed examination should be conducted to investigate the medical principles and pharmaceutical activity found in these plants.