UNIVERSITY OF GONDAR

COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY

ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL PLANTS:

THE CASE OF WEST BELESSA WOREDA, CENTRAL GONDAR ZONE

BY

1. MELEKAMU ASEMAMAW……………………. GUS/00161/10

2. YOHANNESE TESEFAYE………………………. GUS/00220/10
3. TEWODROSE ESHETIE…………………………GUS/00247/10
4. HILINA TENA……………………………………. GUS/00102/10
5. YENENESH GUADIE……………………………...GUS/00237/10

ADVISOR

ABIYOU ENEYEW

March, 2023

Gondar, Ethiopia

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 Table of Contents
Table of Contents 2
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. Background of the Study 3
1.2. Statement of the Problem 4
1.3. Objectives of the Study 5
1.3.1. General Objective 5
1.3.2. Specific Objectives 5
1.4. Research Questions 6
1.5. Significance of the Study 6
1.6. Scope of the Study 6
2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1. Traditional Medicine 7
2.2. The Importance of Traditional Medicinal Plants in Human Health Care Service 8
2.3. Traditional Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia 10
2.4. Ethnobotanical Studies of Medicinal Plants Research in Ethiopia 12

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1. Description of the Study Area 15
3.2. Reconnaissance Survey and Selection of Study Sites 15
3.3. Sampling Techniques 16
3.4. Data Collection 16
3.5. Data Analysis 17
3.6. Ethical Considerations 17
4. REFERENCES 19
5. Time and Budget Breakdown 20

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 1. Introduction
1.1. Background of the Study
Ethnobotany is the study of people’s classification, management and use of plants. It is defined
as “local people’s interaction with the natural environment, how they classify, manage and use
plants available around them” (Martin 1995 cited in Gemedi et.al. 2022). The above definition
entails that the local people use their indigenous knowledge in their interaction of the natural
environment. In line with this idea, Negi et. al. (2021) defined indigenous knowledge as a unique
knowledge held by a given culture or society that involves practices acquired over time, based on
traditional practices. Therefore, indigenous knowledge helps the local people to conserve
indigenous cultural traditions and biodiversity, but also the local people use their indigenous
knowledge to use medicinal plants for primary healthcare and treatment development (Firaol et
al. 2013, Gijan & Dalle 2019).

It has been estimated that traditional remedies are the most important and sometimes the only
source of therapeutics for nearly 80% of the worldwide population, of which 95% of traditional
medicinal preparations are of plant origin (WHO, 2019). Much of the knowledge on traditional
medicine is available in rural communities and perpetuated by word of mouth within family or
small community. Particularly, people in developing countries have continued to rely on the use
of traditional medicinal plants as their primary source of healthcare (Etuk & Mohammed, 2016).
These people possess exclusive knowledge on plant resources of their surroundings and depend
on them for various purposes including food and medicine (Samar et al. 2015). Among the
continents, Africa depend on plant-based traditional medicine for their health care requirements.
Traditional medicine is the principal and, in some cases, the only source of healthcare system for
many rural communities of Africa (Antiwi-Baffour et al. 2014)

In Ethiopia, utilization of medicinal plant remedies plays a significant role in preventing or

curing various ailments in most parts of the country (Birhan, Mirutse and Tilahun, 2011).
Particularly, traditional herbal healing systems are widely practiced throughout the rural
population as their primary healthcare system (Yineger & Yewhalaw, 2016). The existence of
diverse languages, cultures, beliefs and significant geographical diversity favored the formation
of indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants.

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Hence, there is enormous indigenous knowledge and associated medicinal plant species in
Ethiopia (Tinsae, Zemede & Sebsebe, 2014). Findings of previous studies conducted in different
parts of Ethiopia also show that people living different geographic areas and having different
cultural background use traditional medicinal plants to treat human and animal aliments. To
support this, an ethnobotanical study on traditional medicinal plants in Bale zone by Kedir
et,al(2022) revealed that a total of 84 medicinal plants belonging to 45 families were
documented. Most of the plants were herbs (30). The most frequently used plant parts were
leaves (39.36%) followed by roots (19.18%). Similarly, a study conducted by Abebe (2022)
indicated that total of 56 medicinal plants from 52 genera, and 38 families, were identified in
North Shewa zone, where they were used to treat human and animal diseases. Herbs were the
most dominant growth forms as they accounted for about 29 (52.72%) species, while shrubs had
17 (30.9%) species. Most herbal remedies were prepared by mixing 25.45% of the roots and
leaves.

In the study area, west Belessa woreda, the local community highly relay on medicinal plants
which are available in their surrounding area. The community uses medicinal plants for treating
human and animal diseases. In most cases, traditional medicine is prepared by traditional healers
who have an indigenous knowledge regarding the preparation and administration of the
traditional medicine for both human and animal cases. In the area, the practice of traditional
medicine has been highly intact with the culture and tradition of the local community. However,
as per the knowledge of the researchers, there has been no research investigations that focused on
the ethnobotanical analysis of traditional medicinal plants in the study area. Thus, this study will
systematically identify and document traditional medicinal plants that the local community use.
The study will particularly be conducted in two rural kebeles.

1.2. Statement of the Problem

Plants are fundamental components of many ecosystems on earth, forming the productive bases
and physical structures that produce resources to support a diversity of organisms. Many
medicinal plant species have multiple uses, providing essential materials for human survival
including food and building materials as well as supporting many ecological processes (Kebede
et al. 2017; Nigussie & Dong 2019). Specifically, today, medicinal plants play a great role in
human health services worldwide. Particularly, in developing countries, up to 80% of the
population relies on medicinal plants for their primary healthcare needs (Subramanyam et. al.

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2014) This evidence confirms that traditional medicinal plants play significant role in healing
process of human and

animal diseases in many countries across the globe. In many countries of the world such as
China, India, Japan and Korea, ethnobotanical study of traditional medicinal plants has been
conducted for years. Those studies largely focused on identification, documentation and
utilization of traditional medicinal plants.

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used in Ethiopia due to the inadequate coverage of the
modern medical system, the scarcity of pharmaceuticals [8], the unaffordability of modern
medicine [9], as well as the easy accessibility of traditional medicine. In Ethiopia, medicinal
plants provide a vigorous contribution to human and livestock health care systems. Actually,
medicinal plants of Ethiopia have shown very effective medicinal value for many human
ailments, and some of domestic animals, particularly where modern public health services are
limited or not accessible.

Despite handful of studies have been conducted on the method of traditional medicine
preparations by using local medicinal plants, parts used and routes of applications (Kebu et al.,
2004; Haile and Delenasaw, 2007; Ragunathan and Solomon, 2007), the available studies may
not provide the full picture of documentation and utilization of traditional medicine as compared
to the existence of varied biodiversity and cultural diversity.

Similarly, in the study area, as far as the knowledge of the researchers goes on there are no
ethnobotanical documentation of medicinal plants in west Belessa woreda. But, in the area there
are many elderly people who have experience in preparation and administration of traditional
medicine to provide remedies for human and livestock health problems. Therefore,
documentation of medicinal plants and the associated knowledge in this area is important for
conserving the plants, ensuring their sustainable use and to preserving the knowledge for the next
generation. In this study, traditional medicinal plants used by the local healers and communities
in and around Fiche District were documented and reported for the first time.

1.3. Objective of the Study

1.3.1. General Objective
The General objective of this study is to investigate and document the traditional medicinal
plants used by local people to treat both human and livestock ailments in west Blessa woreda

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1.3.2. Specific Objectives
The study will address the following specific objectives

1. To collect, identify and document widely available traditional medicinal plants that are used
by the local people for the treatment of human and livestock ailments in the study area
2. To document plant parts used, for medicinal purposes, methods of preparation and ways of
administration
3. To evaluate the indigenous knowledge of the people on the use, threat and conservation
measures practiced in the study area.

1.4. Research Questions

The following are the basic research questions of the study
1. Which traditional medicinal plants that are widely available and used by the local people for
the treatment of human and livestock ailments in the study area?
2. Which parts of the plants are used for medicinal purposes, methods of preparation and ways
of administration?
3. What is the current status of indigenous knowledge of the local people on the use and
conservation traditional medicinal plants?

1.5. Significance of the Study

Up on its completion, this study is expected to provide information regarding types of traditional
medicinal plants used in the study area, parts of plants used as well as the current status of
indigenous knowledge on traditional medicinal plants for researchers and practitioners.
Moreover, as there is no empirical data concerning documentation and utilization of traditional
medicinal plants in west Beless woreda, the study could add its share to already existing but
limited local literature. The study could also be used as stepping stone for further comprehensive
investigation on the issue.

1.6. Scope of the Study

The study will be delimited in terms of area and conceptual focus. In terms of geography, the
study will be delimited to West Belessa woreda. Conceptually, the study will focus on the
identification, documentation and utilization of traditional medicinal plants in the study area

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 2. Review of Related Literature
This chapter presents the review of literature related to the topic of the study. Specifically, the
review focuses on the concept of traditional medicine, the importance of traditional medicinal
plants in human health care service, traditional medicinal plants in Ethiopia, ethnobotanical
studies of medicinal plants research in Ethiopia.

2.1. Traditional Medicine

Traditional medicine has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO, 2008) as “the
sum total of all knowledge and practices, whether explicable or not, used in the diagnosis,
prevention and elimination of physical, mental or social imbalances and relying exclusively on
practical experience and observation handed down from generation to generation, whether
verbally or in writing.” This system of health care is also known as folk medicine,
ethnomedicine, or indigenous medicine

According to World Health Organization, more than 3.5 billion people in the developing world
rely on medicinal plants as components of their healthcare (Balick and Cox, 1996). In another
hand, about 60-85% of the population in every country of the developing world has to rely on
traditional medicine (Sofowora, 1982). The practice of traditional medicine is widespread in
China, India, Japan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Thailand. In Africa, traditional medicine is a part of
the people's culture despite the fact that this form of medicine is not as well organized as, for
example, in India and China. Practitioners include herbalists, bonesetters, village midwives or
traditional birth attendants, traditional psychiatrists, herb sellers, and other specialists (Sofowora,
1996). Traditional medicinal plants play typical role in the lives of many people in terms of
health support, financial income and livelily hood security (Hamilton, 2003, 2004; Abdulhamid
Bedri et al., 2004). Plants in general and medicinal plants in particular are invaluable,
fundamental and most useful to almost all life on the earth, one of the most significant uses of
plants is the phytomedicinal role, i.e., the benefits of medicinal plants. Traditional medicine has
also drawbacks as various authors stated (Amare Getahun, 1976; Sofowora, 1982; Dawit Abebe,
1986). Lack of precision and standardization is one drawback for the recognition of the

7
traditional healthcare system. Lack of precise dosage which could lead to toxicity is also the
other disadvantage of traditional medicine (Dawit, 1986).

The measurements used to determine the dosages are not standardized and depend on the age and
physical appearance of the patient, socio cultural explanation of the illness, diagnosis and
experience of individual herbalist (Dawit Abebe and Ahadu Ayehu, 1993; Pankhurst, 1995

2.2. The Importance of Traditional Medicinal Plants in Human Health Care Service
Plants in general and medicinal plants in particular are important, fundamental and most useful
to almost all life on the earth, one of the most significant uses of plant is the phytomedicinal role,
i.e., the benefits of medicinal plants. Plants have contributed to modern medicine, through
providing ingredients for drugs or having played central role in drug discovering some drugs
having botanical origin, extracted from plants. Traditional medicinal plants has remained as the
most affordable and easily accessible source of treatment in the primary healthcare system of
resource poor communities and the local therapy is the only means of medical treatment for such
communities. Like any other developing and list developed nations, the available modern health
care services of the country are not only insufficient but also inaccessible and unaffordable to the
majority (Haile Yineger et al., 2008). This problem along with the rapidly increasing human
population and cultural resistances towards the use of modern medicines means that the majority
of the people in Ethiopia are dependent on traditional medicines of mainly plant origins to
manage various human ailments (Dawit Abebe, 2001). This is true in Ethiopia where nearly 80%
of population still relies on plants to prevent and cure various health problems (Dawit Abebe and
Ahadu Ayehu, 1993).

In developing counties leaning to and favoring traditional medicinal plants is mainly due to
inaccessibility of modern medical system, economic and cultural factors (Abbie, 1996).
According to konno (2004), easy accessibility efficacy on treatment and affordable cost in
getting health services are main reasons in preferring tradition medicine to modern medication.
Medicinal plants play typical role in the lives of many people in terms of health support,
financial income and lively hood security (Abdulhamid Bedri et al., 2004; Hamilton, 2003;
Hamilton, 2004). Plants have been indispensable and the most important sources of both
preventive and curative traditional preparation for human beings and livestock since time
immemorial. By their capacity of photosynthesis, plants form the basis of the biological food

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web and producing oxygen which is the key for our lives and they are balancing the gases of our
environment. Plants are also recycling essential nutrients, establishing soils and soil fertility,
protecting areas of water catchments. They keep ecological and climatic balances and helping to
control rainfall through the process of transpiration.

And all these benefits of plants are directly or indirectly linked with health care (Hamilton, 2004;
Kelbessa Urga et al., 2004). Therefore, health care and botany have evolved as inseparable
domain of human activities since various plant products are of paramount importance in
traditional health care systems. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 80%
of the world’ people relay chiefly on traditional medicine, mostly of plant origin to meet their
primary health care needs (Duke, 1992; Farnsworth et al., 1985). According to Mekonnen
Bishaw (1990) and Tesema Tanto et al., (2003) about 80% of human population and over 90%
livestock in Ethiopia rely on traditional medicine. The livestock or ethnoveterinary medicine
provides traditional medicines which are locally available and usually cheaper than standard
treatments. Not only in Ethiopia but also globally and in all developing countries and especially
in tropical Africa, using traditional medicinal plants is common and form the back bone of
traditional therapy since the majority of the people depend on these traditional medicinal plants
for their health care, and this global importance and utilization of medicinal plants has
considerably increased in the last two decades. And thus, today, medicinal plants play a great
role also world wide of the health services. Medicinal plants have also economic importance
besides their critical role in the health care provision of much of the world population (Medihn
Zewdu et al., 2001). These plants are commonly traded in various forms in different countries
(Lange, 1998), currently large number of medicinal plants have been found their way as raw
materials of modern bio-pharmaceutical industries (Rai et al., 2000). Ethiopia is endowed with a
number of economically useful medicinal plants. But Ethiopia is not known in developing the
low for importing and exporting medicinal plants legally. The country exports only some
agricultural products such as coffee, cotton, niger seed, linseed, castor seed and catha edulis as a
means of getting foreign currency. Dawit Abebe (2001) emphasized that there is a large
magnitude of use and interest in medicinal plants in Ethiopia due to acceptability, accessibility
and biomedical benefit. Haile Yineger and Dilnesaw Yehwalawu, 2005) in their study on Sokoru
District added that traditional medicines are useful for poor people who have little access and
couldn’t afford the cost of modern medicine. In addition to this, traditional systems are also more
culturally acceptable and meet the physiological needs in a way modern medicine does not
(Fassil Kibebew, 2001). Indeed, there is growing recognition that revitalization and promotion of
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traditional health practices alongside modern health services is the most promising means for
ensuring affordable and sustainable health care for poor communities throughout Africa
(Cunnigham, 1993). The study conducted by Teferi Flatie et al. (2009), on Bertha community
revealed that herbal remedies remain important component of public health care there, as it is the
only option for some illnesses and the next alternative when modern medicine

fails. Traditional medicine can save foreign exchange. Moreover, the development of medicinal
plants in primary health care not only will save the foreign exchange but also will aid in
conserving our national heritage (Abiot Birhanu et al., 2006).

In Ethiopia, there is a large magnitude of use and interest in medicinal plants due to sociocultural
acceptability, accessibility, affordability and biomedical benefits of the traditional medicinal
plants. In other words, in all regions of the country, traditional medicine has high acceptability
since it is an integral part of the local culture and hence, people often rely on their efficient and
less costly alternative health care (Konno, 2004; Mwambazi, 1996; WHO, 2000). It is also noted
that since medicinal plants are often within easy reach compared to modern drugs that are
dispensed in remotely located health institutions, so most people in Ethiopia rely on the
medicinal plants for treating their livestock and themselves (Abbiw, 1996; WHO, 2000; Dawit
Abebe, 2001; Konno, 2004). Traditional medicine has also disadvantage as various authors
stated (Amare Getahun, 1976; Sofowora 1982; Dawit Abebe 1986) lack of precision and
standardization is one drawback for the recognition of the traditional healthcare system. The
main disadvantage of traditional medicine are the lack of scientific proof of its efficacy which
could result in the decrement of its acceptance specially by educated and most urban dwellers
who entirely depend on modern medicine (Dawit Abebe, 1986). In addition, the imprecise
diagnosis given by some traditional healers and when they use several types of medicinal plants
species and other types of traditional medicine in combination (without scientific proof) which
could result in health damage is the other negative side of the traditional medicine. Lack of
precise dosage which could lead to toxicity is also the other disadvantage of traditional medicine
(Dawit Abebe, 1986). In addition to traditional healers had no accurate value of the medicines
prescribed to patients. They administered the same amounts of medicine to people who have the
same disease regardless of age, body weight or sex (Gidey Yirga, 2010).). Local healers did not
have enough awareness about cleanness of the equipment which are to prepare the medicines.

2.3. Traditional Medicinal plants in Ethiopia

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The various climatic and topographic conditions of the country contributed to a rich biological
diversity. Ethiopia is believed to be home for about 6,000 species of higher plants with
approximately 10% endemism (Ensermu et al., 2006). In Ethiopia, plants have been used as a
source of traditional medicine from antiquity to solve different health problems and human
sufferings (Kebede et al., 2006).

The country possesses a wide range of potentially useful medicinal plants, more extensive indeed
than available in many other parts of the world. They remain the main resource for a large
majority (80%) of the people in Ethiopia to treat their illnesses and maintain their health (Asfaw
et al., 1999). However, this is not only because of poverty where people cannot afford to buy
expensive modern drugs, but traditional systems are also more culturally acceptable and meet the
psychological needs in a way modern medicine does not. In Ethiopia, even though the traditional
medical practitioners are the best sources of information about the knowledge of the medicinal
plants, it was found very difficult to obtain their traditional medicinal information as they are
considering their indigenous knowledge as a professional secret, and only to be passed orally to
their older son at their oldest age (Jansen, 1981). On the other hand, the local indigenous
knowledge on medicinal plants is being lost at a faster rate with the increase of modern
education, which has made the younger generation to under estimate its traditional values.

In addition, the increase in population growth rate would result in the intensification of
agriculture in marginal areas which would lead to deforestation with decrease in number or loss
of medicinal plants in the wild (Phankhurst, 2001). In Ethiopia, there is a large magnitude of use
and interest in medicinal plants due to socio cultural acceptability, accessibility, affordability,
and biomedical benefits of the traditional medicinal plants (Haimanot, 2010). In other words, in
all regions of the country, traditional medicine has high acceptability since it is an integral part of
the local culture and hence, people often rely on their efficient and less costly alternative health
care (Mwambazi, 1996; WHO, 2000; Konno, 2004). It is also noted that since medicinal plants
are often within easy reach compared to modern drugs that are dispensed in remotely located
health institutions, so most people in Ethiopia rely on the medicinal plants for treating their
livestock and themselves (WHO, 2000; Dawit, 2001; Konno, 2004). Medicinal plants have also
economic importance besides their critical role in the health care provision of much of the world
population (Medihn et al., 2001). These plants are commonly traded in various forms in different
countries (Lange, 1998), currently large number of medicinal plants have been found their way
as raw materials of modern bio-pharmaceutical industries (Rai et al., 2000). Ethiopia is endowed

11
with a number of economically useful medicinal plants. But Ethiopia is not known in developing
the law for importing and exporting medicinal plants legally. Modern medical services are in
accessible to the vast majority of the population due to their costs made herbal medicines more
acceptable. Due to incomplete coverage of modern medical system shortage or pharmaceuticals
and unaffordable prices of modern drugs, the majority of Ethiopian still depends on traditional
medicine.

The antiquity of the traditional use of medicinal plants in Ethiopia could never be disregarded
(Pankhurst, 2001; Mirutse, 1999). Due to acceptability, accessibility and biomedical benefits
there is a large magnitude of use and interest of medicinal plants in Ethiopia (Dawit, 2001).

2.4. Ethnobotanical Studies of Medicinal Plants Research in Ethiopia

Traditional medicine has been practiced for the last several thousands of years but only found its
legitimate place in the WHO program only about 35 years ago (WHO, 1978). Furthermore,
pharmaceuticals industries and western researches on plant-based drugs have now rediscovered
that plants have much to contribute to the discovery of new, effective, safe and profitable
therapeutic agents (Pistorius and VanWiik, 1993). Most pharmaceuticals companies recently
have developed mechanisms to involve indigenous people collect plant samples on the
recommendations of the traditional practitioners. This approach is reported to be more successful
than random collections of samples of medicinal plants (Alexiades, 1996; Balick and Cox, 1996;
Asfaw Debela et al., 1999). WHO established a worldwide program to promote and develop
basic and applied research in traditional medicine (WHO, 1978).

Medicinal plants then have got special attention and regional offices were established by world
health organization to coordinate basic and applied research activities on medicinal plants. To
preserve indigenous knowledge of plant use in general and traditional medicine in particular, an
ethnobotanical survey of losses studied socio cultural group is very crucial. However, in Ethiopia
research and documentation on medicinal plants have been started only very recently (Mesfin
Tadesse and Sebsibe Demissew, 1992). As this was neglected and considered irrelevant in the
past (Dawit Abebe and Ahadu Ayehu, 1993) only little effort has so far been made to record and
documents the medicinal plants use and the associated knowledge. And also, a limited number of
papers dealt with specific socio-cultural groups in specific areas when compared to the countries
varied Flora and the socio-cultural diversity this studies incomplete as medicinal plants healing
systems differed from culture to culture. Hence, attention should be given to the field of

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ethnobotanical studies of the country with all necessary endeavors to have a full picture of the
countries medicinal plant potentials. Among the research conducted on ethnobotanical study of
medicinal plants in Ethiopia, Ermias Lulkal et al., (2008) collected the highest number.
Ethnomedicinal uses of 230 plants species were documented from Mana Angetu District, which
is found in Bale Zone of Oromia Region. Of these, 181 (78.70%) were used as human medicine,
27 (11.74%) as livestock medicine and the remaining were 22 (9.7%) uses for treating both
human

and livestock ailments. Similar study by Mirutse Gidey (2001), on Zay people indicated as herbs
stood first in which Zay people derive their medicine (55%), followed by trees and shrubs (33%).
Whereas, the study conducted by Debela Hunde et al., (2004), in Boosat around Welenchiti area
stated that shrubs rank first with 59% followed by herbs 14% by which indigenous people of
Boosat derive their and livestock remedies. In addition to the above point, ethnobotanical study
of food and medicinal plants of Danio Gade (home gardes of Gamo people) by Belachew
Wassihun et al., (2003) revealed that the majority of medicinal plants were herbs (66.6%)
followed by shrubs (22.2%) for this particular study. Moreover, the study explained that the most
frequently utilized plant parts are the leaves (66.6%) followed by the roots (16.6%). In terms of
their growth location, the study showed that about 61.11% of the medicinal plants were wild
while the remaining 38.9% were grown close to home. From this study finding, one can easily
imagine that those grow close to homes provide good evidence for home gardens being useful as
habitat for medicinal plants. It was also reported that ethnoveterinary service is among the uses
of medicinal plants (Debela Hunde et al., 2004).

Some of the works that have been carried out includes: Amare Getahun (1976); Jansen (1981);
Dawit Abebe (1986); Dawit Abebe and Ahadu Ayehu (1993); Mirutse Giday (1999); Kebu
Balemi et al., (2004); Debela Hunde et al., (2004) and Ermias Lulekal (2005). Although, only
small fractions of the world’s plants have been investigated scientifically so far, human kind
already reaped enormous benefits from it (Farnsworth et al., 1985). More than ever, plant
diversity remains vital for human well beings and still provides a significant number of remedies
required in health care. There for the crucial role played by plant derived products in human and
livestock health, the need for systematic scientific investigation is unquestionable. Different parts
of plants are being derived for medicine in order to cure human or livestock diseases in Ethiopia.
However, roots and leaves are widely utilized plant parts. According to Tizazu Gebre (2005),
roots are the most used plant part (35.7%), followed by leaves (32.9%). Beside this, the study

13
explained as 68.6% of herbal remedies were applied orally and 31.4% were applied externally.
People use medicinal plant parts, to treat human or livestock ailments while they are fresh, dried
or both. The study of Gidey Yirga (2010) on Central Tigray revealed as some of medicinal
preparation were fresh or dried state, as these plants are used in both forms, the chance of using
the medicinal plants under different seasons of the year is increased and traditional healers
preserve the plant that they could not find in dry season in different ways like pounding and
hanging the plant material.

Related studies by Kebu Balemie et al., (2004), Kebu Balemie (2006) indicated that malaria,
jaundice, cough and stomachache are among the human ailments treated with medical plants. It
was also pointed out that veterinary problems due to leech, tsetse, anthrax, tick and intestinal
worms were among the diseases treated with medicinal plants recorded in the Fentalle study
area, Eastern Shewa and upper Omo valley in southern Ethiopia. The study also underlined the
indigenous knowledge of the Dawro people in herbal preparations that mostly involve
concoction an infusion of leaves, fruits, seeds, stems and roots. His finding is in line with the
findings of Debela Hunde et al., (2004) by their studies conducted on the use and management of
ethnoveterinary medicinal plants by indigenous people in ‘Boosat’, Welenchiti area despite their
diverse role in treating various diseases and ailments in both humans and animals, medicinal
plants are facing an increasing pressure from both natural and anthropogenic factors as many of
the literature sources indicated.

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 3. Research Methodology
3.1. Description of the Study Area
The study will be conducted at West Belesa wereda, Central Gondar Zone, Amhara Region
Ethiopia. West Belesa is one of the woreda under Central Gondar Zone. The capital city of the
wereda is Arbaya which is 82km far from the historic town Gondar. The wereda is bordered by
East Belesa, Gondar Zuria, Wogera, and Sekota districts on East, South, West, and North
directions respectively. Agriculture and allied activities are the predominant income sources and
that farming is performed using plow with oxen and sowing the local seed with hand
broadcasting. Chickpea, teff, and sorghum are the major crop grown in the area. The rare
livestock like cattle, donkey, goat, and poultry. Year-round Flow Rivers like Mena, Hota, and
balagas are unutilized water resources that flow in the center of the wereda to Tkeze water shade
(West Belesa Agricultural office, 2022).
Location of the Study Area

Longitude Latitude Altitude Annual Rainfall

37 o 47, 39, E 12 o 20, 59, N 1777m to 1806 m a.s.l 800-1200 ml

Land Use and Topography

N Land Use Topography

o
1 Land allocation Area in ha Feature of land Percentage
2 Cultivable land 411336 Mountainous 10
3 Grazing land 7398 Plato 40
4 Land covered by forests 11850 Plane 50

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 5 Land covered by shrubs 5711 - -
6 Unutilized land 616 - -
Source: West Belesa woreda office of agriculture, (2022)

3.2. Reconnaissance Survey and Selection of Study Sites

Reconnaissance survey will be conducted from May 1, 2023 to May 10, 2023, to select two local
kebeles in the study area. The two kebeles will be selected taking such points into account as the
availability of traditional medicinal practitioners, biodiversity as well as traditional medicine use
history of the local kebeles.

3.3. Sampling Techniques

A total of 20 informants will be selected from the two study sites (10 informants from each local
kebele). Informants will be 20 and above years of age and out of the 20 informants, 6 informants
will be practitioners of traditional medicine (3 traditional healers will be selected from each
study site. On the other hand, aa total of 14 residents of the local kebeles who are non-
practitioners of traditional medicine will participate as key informants of the study. With regard
to the sampling techniques, the 6 practitioners of traditional medicine will be selected using
purposive sampling technique. In doing so, the recommendations of local authorities,
knowledgeable elders and developmental agents will be considered in the selection process. On
the other hand, the 14 non-practitioners will be selected using simple random sampling
technique.

3.4. Data Collection

Ethnobotanical data will be collected between May, 2023 and June, 2023 on trips made to the
two study sites. Data collection methods will include semi-structured interviews, group
discussions, and guided field walks with key informants for field observations. The following
section provides a brief explanation on the procedures of data collection
3.4.1. Group Discussion
Discussions will be conducted at each kebele implying that the study will have two group
discussions. A total of 7 discussants will be included in one group (14 discussants in total. The
main purpose of the discussion will be to gather information about the traditional medicinal

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system of the local people and its management as well as how knowledge is maintained and
transferred from one generation to other generations.
3.4.2. Semi-Structured Interviews
Semi-structured interview will be prepared for practitioners of medicinal plants In doing so, an
interview guide will be prepared. The interview guide will focus on such points as (a) socio-
demographic data of the respondents which includes sex, age, educational level, work experience
(b) information on medicinal plants such as indigenous name, parts of the plant used, time and
season of collecting plant material, preparation, dosage, administration and side-effect (s) types
of ailments treated
3.4.3. Guided Field Walk
Guided field interview will be made with informants. In guided field walk, all relevant data
including the vernacular names of plants, habitat of the plant, the parts used, the preparation

methods and modes of administration and disease condition treated as well as the strategies they
use for the conservation of medicinal plants and the preservation of the indigenous knowledge on
medicinal plants will be recorded.

3.5. Data Analysis

Data analysis will be conducted using descriptive statistical methods such as percentage and
frequency will be employed to analyze and summarize the data on medicinal plants, methods of
preparation, administration and associated knowledge, management methods, use and
conservation

3.6. Ethical Considerations

Prior to data collection, permission from informants as well as from local kebele authorities will
be secured

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4. References
Birhan Wubet, Mirutse Giday and Tilahun Teklehaymanot (2011). “The contribution of
traditional healers' clinics to public health care system in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,” A
cross-sectional study. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Vol. 7, Issue 39, 2011
Ensermu Kelbessa, Sebsebe Demissew, Zerihun Woldu and Edwards, S. (2006). Threatened
Endemic Plants of Ethiopia. In: (Edwards, S. and Zemede Asfaw eds.). Plants used in
African traditional medicine as practiced in Ethiopia and Uganda
EU. Etuk and B. J. Mohammed (2009). “Informant consensus selection method; reliability
assessment on medicinal plants used in North western Nigeria for the treatment of
diabetes mellitus,” African Journal Phamacy and Pharmacology, vol. 3, pp. 496–500,
Haimanot Reta. (2010). An ethnobotanical study of useful plants of the farming site in Gozamen
Wereda, East Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia unpublished thesis. Addis Abeba
University
Jansen, P.C.M. (1981). Spices, Condiments and Medicinal plants in Ethiopia: Their Taxonomic
and agricultural significance. Centre for agricultural publishing and documentation.
Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Kebede Deribe, Alemayehu Amberbir, Binyam Getachew, Yunis Mussema. (2006). A Historical
Overview of Traditional Medicine Practices and Policy in Ethiopia. Journal of Health
development, 20:127-134.

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Konno, B. 2004. Integration of traditional medicine with modern medicine Addis Ababa. Pp.3-
9.
Mwambazi, W.C. (1996). World health organization partnership in the development and
utilization of herbal remedies in Ethiopia. In: development of herbal remedy in Ethiopia
proceedings of work shop on Development of herbal remedies in Ethiopia, PP.26-27.
Addis Ababa.
Pankhurst, R. (2001). The status and availability of oral and written knowledge on traditional
health care In: Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia
Proceeding of The National Workshop on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use
of Medicinal Plants in Ethiopia, 28 April-01.
Subramanyam, R., Steven, NG. Murugesan, M., Balasubramaniam, V. and Muneer, M., (2014).
“The consensus of the Malasars traditional aboriginal knowledge of medicinal plants in
the Velliangiri holy hills, India,” Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Vol. 4,
Issue 8,

Tinsae Bahru, Zemede Asfaw & Sebsebe Demissew, (2014). “Indigenous Knowledge on Plant
Species of Material Culture (Construction, Traditional Arts & Handicrafts) used by the
Afar & Oromo Nations in & Around the Awash National Park, Ethiopia,”Global Journal
of Human Social Science Geography & Environmental Geosciences, Vol.12, Issue 11,
2014
WHO (2000). Development of National policy on traditional medicinal report of the work shop
on development of national policy on traditional medicine. Beijing, China.
WHO, Global Report on Traditional and Complementary Medicine 2019, World Health
Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2019
Yineger Haile and Yewhalaw Delenasaw(2001). “Traditional medicinal plant knowledge and use
by local healers in Sekoru District, Jimma Zone, Southwestern Ethiopia,” Journal of
Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Vol. 3, Issue 2,

19
 5. Time and Budget Breakdown
Time breakdown
N Time allotted for each activity (2015 E.C)
o Activities Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

1 Stage1.Preliminary activity   √
 Reviewing related
literature, preparing
proposal
2 Stage 2. Data collection  
 Preparing data collection
instrument
 improve the instrument &
collecting data will be
done

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  Improving and writing
chapter 1 &2
3 Stage 3. Data organization &  
analysis
 Analyze and interpret the
data
4 Stage 4. Finalizing the report √ √ √
 Writing chapter 3,4 and 5
of the research reports
 Gathering and submitting
the first drafts to the
advisor
 submitting the final copy

Budget Breakdown

No Items Quantity Unit price Total price

1 Transportation cost - 300 900.00

2 Paper 2 reams 140.00 280.00

3 Note book 1 20.00 20.00

4 Pen 5 6.00 30.00

5 Internet cost - 30 180.00

6 Staples 2 packets 5.00 10.00

7 CD_ROM 5.00 20.00 100.00

10 Computer typing In page (120) 4.00x120 480.00

13 Binding - - 100.00

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14 For data collection process - - 1500.00
(tea, coffee ceremonies)
15 Bag to documentation handling - 600.00 600.00

16 Contingency cost - - 1500.00

Total 5000.00

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