Abstract
Traditional medicinal plants remain vital healthcare resources for rural communities, particularly in areas with limited access to modern medical services. This study documents and quantitatively analyzes the ethnobotanical use of medicinal plants in Meketewa District, northwestern Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical data were collected from 360 informants (20 key informants and 340 general informants) across five kebeles (Sub-Districts) representing different agroecological zones. Data were analyzed using preference ranking, direct matrix ranking (DMR), informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), Jaccard similarity index (JSI), Rahman's similarity index (RSI), t-tests, and one-way ANOVA. The distribution of indigenous medicinal plant knowledge was significantly influenced by agroecology and socio-demographic factors, including age, gender, education, and knowledge experience. A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented, with Fabaceae as the dominant family (7.9%) and herbs as the most common growth form (38.16%). Most species were used for human ailments (63.2%), while 9.2% were used for livestock and 27.6% for both. Natural forests were the primary source of medicinal plants (61.84%). Crushing was the dominant preparation method (38.4%), and oral administration was the most common route (47.7%). The use of additives, antidotes, and localized dosage systems reflects advanced therapeutic knowledge. Rhamnus prinoides was the most preferred species for treating human tonsillitis, whereas Euphorbia abyssinica was widely used for livestock swelling. High ICF values (up to 0.92) indicated strong informant agreement, while JSI (2.29-45.19%) and RSI (0.00-16.67%) reflected largely localized ethnomedicinal knowledge; similarly, high fidelity levels for Asparagus africanus var. puberulus (83.3%), Rhamnus prinoides (75%), and Cucumis ficifolius and Euphorbia abyssinica (73.3%) underscore strong cultural consensus and priority for phytochemical validation. Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata was the highest-ranked multipurpose species but faces increasing anthropogenic threats. These findings emphasize the need for in situ and ex situ conservation and further phytochemical and pharmacological validation.
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Claims 20
Claim · model-written summary
A total of 76 medicinal plant species were documented.
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
Claim · model-written summary
The 76 medicinal plant species belong to 46 families.
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
Claim · model-written summary
Fabaceae was the dominant family (7.9%).
Verbatim
e2“with Fabaceae as the dominant family (7.9%) and herbs as the most common growth form (38.16%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Herbs were the most common growth form (38.16%).
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
e2“with Fabaceae as the dominant family (7.9%) and herbs as the most common growth form (38.16%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Most medicinal plant species were used for human ailments (63.2%).
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
e3“Most species were used for human ailments (63.2%), while 9.2% were used for livestock and 27.6% for both”
Claim · model-written summary
Medicinal plant species used for livestock account for 9.2%.
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
e3“Most species were used for human ailments (63.2%), while 9.2% were used for livestock and 27.6% for both”
Claim · model-written summary
Medicinal plant species used for both human and livestock purposes account for 27.6%.
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
e3“Most species were used for human ailments (63.2%), while 9.2% were used for livestock and 27.6% for both”
Claim · model-written summary
Natural forests were the primary source of medicinal plants (61.84%).
Verbatim
e4“Natural forests were the primary source of medicinal plants (61.84%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Crushing was the dominant preparation method (38.4%).
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
e5“Crushing was the dominant preparation method (38.4%), and oral administration was the most common route (47.7%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Oral administration was the most common route (47.7%).
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
e5“Crushing was the dominant preparation method (38.4%), and oral administration was the most common route (47.7%)”
Claim · model-written summary
Informant agreement reached an informant consensus factor of up to 0.92.
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
e6“High ICF values (up to 0.92) indicated strong informant agreement, while JSI (2.29-45.19%) and RSI (0.00-16.67%) reflected largely localized ethnomedicinal knowledge”
Claim · model-written summary
The Jaccard similarity index (JSI) ranged from 2.29 to 45.19%, reflecting localized ethnomedicinal knowledge.
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
e6“High ICF values (up to 0.92) indicated strong informant agreement, while JSI (2.29-45.19%) and RSI (0.00-16.67%) reflected largely localized ethnomedicinal knowledge”
Claim · model-written summary
The Rahman similarity index (RSI) ranged from 0.00 to 16.67%, reflecting localized ethnomedicinal knowledge.
Verbatim
e1“A total of 76 medicinal plant species belonging to 46 families were documented”
e6“High ICF values (up to 0.92) indicated strong informant agreement, while JSI (2.29-45.19%) and RSI (0.00-16.67%) reflected largely localized ethnomedicinal knowledge”
Claim · model-written summary
Asparagus africanus var. puberulus had a fidelity level of 83.3%.
- Taxon
- Asparagus africanus var. puberulus
Asparagus africanus var. puberuluse7 - Outcome
- fidelity levelse7
- Value
- 83.3%e7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“high fidelity levels for Asparagus africanus var. puberulus (83.3%), Rhamnus prinoides (75%), and Cucumis ficifolius and Euphorbia abyssinica (73.3%) underscore strong cultural consensus and priority for phytochemical validation”
Claim · model-written summary
Rhamnus prinoides had a fidelity level of 75%.
- Taxon
- Rhamnus prinoides
Rhamnus prinoidese7 - Outcome
- fidelity levelse7
- Value
- 75%e7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“high fidelity levels for Asparagus africanus var. puberulus (83.3%), Rhamnus prinoides (75%), and Cucumis ficifolius and Euphorbia abyssinica (73.3%) underscore strong cultural consensus and priority for phytochemical validation”
Claim · model-written summary
Cucumis ficifolius had a fidelity level of 73.3%.
- Taxon
- Cucumis ficifoliusCucumis ficifoliuse7
- Outcome
- fidelity levelse7
- Value
- 73.3%e7
Verbatim
e7“high fidelity levels for Asparagus africanus var. puberulus (83.3%), Rhamnus prinoides (75%), and Cucumis ficifolius and Euphorbia abyssinica (73.3%) underscore strong cultural consensus and priority for phytochemical validation”
Claim · model-written summary
Euphorbia abyssinica had a fidelity level of 73.3%.
- Taxon
- Euphorbia abyssinica
Euphorbia abyssinicae7 - Outcome
- fidelity levelse7
- Value
- 73.3%e7
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e7“high fidelity levels for Asparagus africanus var. puberulus (83.3%), Rhamnus prinoides (75%), and Cucumis ficifolius and Euphorbia abyssinica (73.3%) underscore strong cultural consensus and priority for phytochemical validation”
Claim · model-written summary
Rhamnus prinoides was the most preferred species for treating human tonsillitis.
- Taxon
- Rhamnus prinoidesRhamnus prinoidese1
- Outcome
- most preferred species for treating human tonsillitise1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Rhamnus prinoides was the most preferred species for treating human tonsillitis, whereas Euphorbia abyssinica was widely used for livestock swelling”
Claim · model-written summary
Euphorbia abyssinica was widely used for livestock swelling.
- Taxon
- Euphorbia abyssinicaEuphorbia abyssinicae1
- Outcome
- widely used for livestock swellinge1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e1“Rhamnus prinoides was the most preferred species for treating human tonsillitis, whereas Euphorbia abyssinica was widely used for livestock swelling”
Claim · model-written summary
Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata was the highest-ranked multipurpose species.
- Taxon
- Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata
Olea europaea subsp. cuspidatae2 - Outcome
- highest-ranked multipurpose speciese2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e2“Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata was the highest-ranked multipurpose species but faces increasing anthropogenic threats”