Ethnomedicinal study of Plants in Wonchi District, South Western Shewa, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract This study documents indigenous medicinal plant utilization, management and the threats affecting them. The study carried out in Wonchi District from December to March 2017. Ethnomedicinal data were collected using semi-structural interview, Field observation, Preference and Direct matrix ranking with traditional healers. The Ethnomedicinal use of 68 plant species belonging to 62 genera and 34 families. was documented in the study area. The most commonly used plant families were Lamiaceae 9 species, 13.23%) followed by Asteraceae (8, 11.76%).Most of the plants (70.6%) were reportedly used to treat human diseases. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (66%), followed by roots (17.64%).The dominant route of remedy administration was oral (38 preparations, 55.9%) followed by dermal (20, 29.4%), nasal (8, 11.8%) and optical (2, 3%). The study showed that Wonchi District is rich in medicinal plant and related indigenous knowledge. However, anthropogenic factors and very poor conservation efforts threaten medicinal plant survival in the study area. Promotion a complementary in-situ and ex-situ conservation strategy for medicinal plants of the District highly recommended.