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Table 1 List of traditional medicinal plant species used to treat human ailments in the prehistoric Harla and Dengego valleys

From: Ethnomedicinal plants used to treat human ailments in the prehistoric place of Harla and Dengego valleys, eastern Ethiopia

Voucher No.

Scientific name

Family

Vernacular name

Habit

Disease treated

PU

Method of preparation & part administered

AHU167

Abutilon bidentatum

Malvaceae

Muka Adi

HA

Headache

L

Boiled in hoja and served like a tea

(Hochst.) A. Rich.

   

Rh disease

L

Decoction taken orally

    

Mineral deficiency in children

L

Infusion taken oral

AHU212

Acacia nilotica (L.)

Fabaceae

Serkema

T

Bad breath/halitosis

B

Chew and spit

Willd. ex Del.

      

AHU197

Acalypha fruticosa

Euphorbiaceae

Dhirii

Sh

Heart disease

L

Decoction is taken oral

Forssk.

   

Kidney infection/Nephropathy

L

Decoction is taken oral

AHU171

Acanthospermum

Asteraceae

Kumutu Adi

HA

Itching skin

Ap

Concoction is drenched

hispidum DC.

      

AHU33

Acokanthera schimperi

Appocynaceae

Qarari

Sh

Tonsillitis

St, L

Concocted, gargling and rinsing the throat

(A. DC.) Schweinf.

   

Malaria

Ap

Dried & smoke is used as mosquito repellent

AHU117

*Aloe harlana Reynolds

Aloaceae

Hargesa

Sh

Snake bite, liver swelling & spleen swelling/Splenomegaly

L

Crushed and filtrate taken oral in all cases

Colon cleaner

Sa

Crystallized, powdered and juice taken oral

Skin fungus, hair fungus & skin inflammation

J, L

Concocted together and used as ointment and wash the hair

Sa, J

AHU161

*Aloe mcloughlinii Chris.

Aloaceae

Hargesa

Sh

Eye infections

Sa

Extract the sap and drop in the eye

AHU162

Aloe megalacantha Baker

Aloaceae

Hargesa Guracha

Sh

Colon cleaner

J, Sa

Crystallized & Juice made/sibri, taken oral

AHU160

Aloe retrospiciens

Aloaceae

Hargesa Adi

Sh

Colon cleaner

J, Sa

Crystallized & Juice made/sibri, taken oral

Reynolds & Bally

      

AHU153

Asparagus africanus Lam.

Asparagaceae

Hida Sere

Sh

Swelling and infection on the head (korokor)

L

Crushed and put on hot plate and applied on the head while warm

AHU201

Asparagus racemosus Willd.

Asparagaceae

Hida Sero Guracha

Sh

Body burning feeling and mentally disturbed

Br

Concocted and taken oral and drenched

Itching the whole skin

R

Crushed and the filtrate is drenched

AHU213

Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

Meliaceae

Kinina

T

Malaria

S, L

Mixture of leaf infusion and oil extracted from seed taken oral

Intestinal parasites

S, L

Mixture of leaf infusion and oil extracted from seed taken oral as anthelmintics

AHU207

Bidens pilosa L.

Asteraceae

Xiye

HA

Difficulty of blood clotting

St, L

Crushed and bandaged on bleeding part

AHU112

Cadaba rotundifolia Forssk.

Capparidaceae

Delensisa

Sh

Extended flow of menstruation/Menometrorrhagia

B, L

Concocted together with Withania somnifera and a cup of filtrate is taken oral

AHU178

Cadia purpurea (Picc.) Ait.

Fabaceae

Cheeka

Sh

Gastritis

N

Collect from the flower and taken oral

Heartburn/Pyrosis

N

Sucked from flower and used as carminative

AHU146

Capparis tomentosa Lam.

Capparidaceae

Gemora

CP

Nipple pores remain closed after birth

R, L

Concoction taken oral to facilitate opening of nipple pores

AHU111

Caralluma speciosa N.E. Br.

Asclepiadaceae

Ya’ii Bera

HP

Skin cyst & tumour locally known as keledo

St

Crushed with Gloriosa superba and put on the tumour

Gangrene

St

Powdered with Gloriosa superba and turtle bone then put on the starting point

Swollen body part-gofla

St

Crushed and bandage on swollen part

Anti poison

Sa

Diluted sap taken orally

Wound

Sa

Sap extracted and used as ointment

Itching skin

Sa

Sap extracted and used as ointment

AHU154

Carissa spinarum L.

Apocynaceae

Agamsa

Sh

Premature ejaculation

F

Decoction of unripened fruit is served as a tea and wash the body with the infusion

AHU199

Cissampelos mucronata A. Rich.

Menispermaceae

Bal-Toke

CP

Sudden illness locally called dingetegna

R

Chew & swallow to stop sudden vomiting, abdominal pain and discomfort

AHU204

Coccinia sp. Burger

Cucurbitaceae

Hanchota

CH

Kidney disease

Tu

Infusion taken oral

AHU214

Commelina stephaniniana Chiov.

Commelinaceae

Hola gebis

HA

Skin fungus around the neck and face

Sa

Extract creamy sap and use as an ointment

AHU187

Commicarpus sinuatusMeikle

Nyctaginaceae

Kontom

HP

Gonorrhoea

L

Concoction with leaf and fruit of Cucumis dipsaceus and taken oral

Skin fungus around the neck and face

L

Leaf paste mixed with oil and used as ointment

AHU184

Craterostigma plantagineum Hochst.

Scrophulariaceae

Roba Enjire

HA

Liver disease

R, L

Concoction taken oral

Diarrhoea

R, L

Concoction taken oral

AHU158

Croton macrostachyus Del.

Euphorbiaceae

Bekenisa

T

Liver disease/Jaundice

B

Concocted with bark of Terminalia brownii and drink a cup of infusion

AHU108

Cucumis dipsaceus Ehrenb. ex Spach

Cucurbitaceae

Hare Goge

CH

Gonorrhoea

F, L

Concocted with Commicarpus sinuatus leaf and taken oral

Urinary retention/Ischuria

L

Crushed and filtrate taken oral

Skin fungus

F

Rub the affected part with warm fruit

AHU108B

Cucumis ficifolius A. Rich.

Cucurbitaceae

Hare Goge

CH

Swelling due to poisonousthorn

F

Put on hot plate and bandage on the swollen part while warm

AHU217

Cucumis prophetarum L.

Cucurbitaceae

Hidi

CA

Wound and Swollen body part

F

Make it warm and bandage on wound/ swollen part while warmth

AHU114

Cynoglossum coeruleum Hochst. ex A. DC.

Boraginaceae

Mexene Tiro

HA

Kwashiorkor

Ap

Concocted with Verbascum sinaiticum and taken oral

AHU149

Datura stramonium L.

Solanaceae

Qamaxari

HA

Ear infections/Otitis externa & media

F, L

Dried, ground together and mix with oil and drop in the ear

Worms created in the tooth gum

F

Boiled and put on the gum area

AHU159

Dodonaea angustifolia L.f.

Sapindaceae

Edecha

Sh

Hair fungus Swelling and bursting on the head (korokor)

L

Dried, powdered and mixed with oil and used as an ointment

Malaria

F

Fresh fruits are eaten

Intestinal parasite

L

Fresh leaf extract taken oral as anthelmintics

AHU164

Echidnopsis dammanniana Spren.

Asclepiadaceae

Muka Mesqa

HA

Snake bite poison

St

Crushed and tie on the snake bite

AHU209

Echinops macrochaetus Fresen.

Asteraceae

Qore Hare

HA

Toothache

R

Crushed and put on the painful teeth

AHU196

Erianthemum aethiopicum Wiens & Polhill

Loranthaceae

Digelo Serkema

E

Breast swelling/Mastitis

St, L

Concoction taken oral

AHU192

Erucastrum arabicum Fisch. & Mey.

Brassicaceae

Rafu Shimbiro

HA

Skin fungus around the neck and face

P, S

Dried, powdered, mix with oil and use as an ointment

AHU118

Euclea racemosa Murr. subsp. schimperi

Ebenaceae

Miesa

Sh

Snake bite poison

L

Crushed with Aloe sp. and filtrate taken oral

Liver swelling

L

Crushed with Aloe sp. and filtrate taken oral

Spleen swelling/Splenomegaly

L

Crushed with Aloe sp. and filtrate taken oral

AHU163

Eulophia petersii Rchb.f

Orchidaceae

Shunkurta Gara, Ejiji

HA

Swollen body part-gofla

Bu

Cooked bulb eaten

Abdominal pain/kurtet

Bu

Soup made from bulb taken oral

AHU110

Gloriosa superba L.

Colchicaceae

Harmel Kubra

Sh

Toothache

L

Crushed leaf applied on painful teeth

Epilepsy

L

Crushed leaf filtrate taken oral

Skin cyst & tumour/keledo

L

Crushed leaf is bandage on tumour/cyst

Gallstone

L

Immersed in water and infusion taken oral

Gangrene

L

Crushed with succulent Caralluma speciosa and tie on the starting point

AHU126

*Gomphocarpus purpurascens A. Rich.

Asclepiadaceae

Ari-Yuyo

HA

Itching skin

L

Roasted and powdered leaf is mixed with oil & used as ointment

Evil eye

L

A cup of Infusion taken oral & smoke bath with dry leaf

AHU145

Gossypium hirsutum L.

Malvaceae

Jibri Boke

Sh

Small swelling with oozing pus in the vagina/Vaginitis

L

Concocted with Acokanthera schimperi and kurunfud and wash the affected part

AHU177

Grewia bicolor Juss.

Tiliaceae

Deka

Sh

Small swelling with oozing pus/skin ulcer

L

Crushed leaf in bandage on it

Epidermal drying

L

Extract is applied on skin as emollients

Bad breath (Halitosis)

St

Used as a toothbrush

AHU144

Heliotropium aegyptiacum Lehm.

Boraginaceae

Harma Deysa

HA

Leech attached on throat

L

Crushed and filtrate is used for gargling the throat

AHU166

Heliotropium steudneri Vatke

Boraginaceae

Muka Michii

HA

mich

L

Crushed and filtrate is drenched

Skin fungus

L

Fresh leaf rubbed on affected part

AHU169

Indigofera amorphoides Jaub. & Spach

Fabaceae

Muka Adi

HP

Heart disease

Ap

Decoction taken oral

AHU176

Indigofera sp.

Fabaceae

Muka Aroo

HA

Herpes zoster

L

Dried, powdered, roasted and mixed with oil to be used as ointment

AHU174

*Indigofera ellenbeckii Bak. f.

Fabaceae

War

HP

Mouth infection

L

Crushed leaf filtrate is used to wash mouth

AHU189

Jasminum grandiflorum L.

Oleaceae

Bilu

Sh

Chapped lips

L

Paste of fresh leaf used as emollient on lips

Tooth gum infection/Gingivitis

L

Crushed and applied on the gum in the mouth

AHU152

Jatropha curcas L.

Euphorbiaceae

Hambete Muluk

Sh

Constipation

S

Decocted and oily fluid taken oral as laxative

AHU203

Kalanchoe marmorata Bak.

Crassulaceae

Chophi Gurati

HP

Eye infection

St

Extracted sap is boiled, cooled & dropped

Ear infections/Otitis

St

Sap extracted, boiled, cooled & dropped

Swelling with pus due to spine

St, L

Crushed with Ricinus communis seed and bandage on to remove the pus and spine

AHU200

Kleinia abyssinica (A. Rich.) A. Berger

Asteraceae

Abrasha

HA

Sexual dysfunction

Rh

Aphrodisiac fresh rhizome is eaten few hours before sexual performance

AHU202

Kleinia odora (Forssk.) DC.

Asteraceae

Luko

HP

Nerve case

L

Oily extract is boiled, mixed with Cadaba rotundifolia and used to massage

AHU205

Kleinia pendula (Forssk.) DC.

Asteraceae

Afrasha

HP

Swollen body part

St

Decoction of fresh succulent is bandaged on swollen part while warm

AHU206

Kleinia squarrosa Cufod.

Asteraceae

Luko

Sh

Intestinal parasite

St

Crush and taken oral as anthelmintics

Swelling on gum and toothache

St

Used as toothbrush

AHU195

Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.

Cucurbitaceae

Buqee

CA

Obstructed labour/Dystocia

L

Crushed and filtrate taken oral in a traditional assisted delivery

AHU173

Leucas minimifolia Chiov.

Lamiaceae

Muka Adi

Sh

Eye diseases

L

Crushed and filtrate dropped in the eye

Closing of the eye in the morning specially children

L

Crushed and filtrate dropped in the eye

AHU175

*Leucas stachydiformis (Hochst. ex Benth.) Briq.

Lamiaceae

Muka Bofta

HA

Mouth infection

L

Decoction taken oral

Nose infection

L

Decoction taken oral

AHU150

Lawsonia inermis L.

Lytheraceae

Hina

Sh

Infection after haemorrhage & skin tumour removal

L

Crushed fresh leaf is applied external as antiseptic

L

Fever

L

Crushed and wash the head

AHU148

Maerua triphylla A. Rich.

Capparidaceae

Qanqalcha

Sh

Stomach gofla

L

Concocted and taken oral

AHU127

Melhania zavattarii Cufod.

Sterculiaceae

Muka bira

Sh

Kidney infection

F, L

Concoction taken oral

AHU179

Ocimum basilicum L. var. thyrsiflorum (L.) Benth.

Lamiaceae

Rahan

HP

sirkita

L

Crushed and filtrate taken oral

AHU140

Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. ex Benth.

Lamiaceae

Rahana, Riroo

Sh

mich

L

Crush and squeeze the solution to drench and drink a teaspoon of it with tea or coffee

Eye infection

L

Immerse in water and wash the eye with diluted infusion

AHU215

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller

Cactaceae

Tini

Sh

Hair fungus

J

Extracted and wash the hair

AHU210

Osyris quadripartita Decn.

Santalaceae

Wato

Sh

Malaria

R, L

Reddish infusion resulted after 24 hours immersion is taken oral

AHU105

Phyllanthus maderaspatensis L.

Euphorbiaceae

Harmel Xixiqaa

HA

Heart disease

Ap

Concocted and taken oral

AHU147

Plumbago zeylanica L.

Plumbaginaceae

Merxes

HA

Low level swelling under skin

R, L

Decoction taken oral

AHU216

Portulaca oleracea L. subsp. oleracea

Portulacaceae

Merere Haree

HA

Constipation

L

Cooked and served as laxative vegetable

Cough

L

Cooked and eaten as a demulcent agent

AHU142

Pouzolzia parasitica (Forssk.) Schweinf.

Urticaceae

Dirba

HA

Infertility in female

R, L

Concoction taken oral to increase the chance

of fertility

AHU142

Pouzolzia parasitica (Forssk.) Schweinf.

Urticaceae

Dirba

HA

Diarrhoea

Tu, L

Crushed together and infusion taken oral

Haemorrhage

L

Washing of anal opening with the infusion

Hair fungus

Tu, L

Concocted to wash the hair

AHU151

Prunus persica (L.) Batsch

Rosaceae

Kuki

T

Snake bite poison

L

Crushed and filtrate taken oral

Liver swelling

L

Infusion taken oral

Spleen swelling/Splenomegaly

L

Infusion taken oral

AHU208

Punica granatum L.

Lythraceae

Roman (Am)

T

Swollen body part/gofla

F

Decoction serves like a tea

AHU172

Pupalia lappacea (L.) A. Juss.

Amaranthaceae

Metene

HA

Urinary retention/Ischuria

Ap

Concoction taken oral

AHU194

Reichardia tingitana (L.) Roth

Asteraceae

Wachara Haree

HA

Liver disease/swollen and create fluid sacs

L

Decoction with sugar taken like a tea

AHU109

*Rhynchosia erlangeri Harms

Fabaceae

Harmel

Sh

Mental problem

L

Crushed leaf filtrate taken oral

Heart disease

L

Concocted mix with honey and taken oral

AHU119

Ricinus communis L.

Euphorbiaceae

Qobo

T

Constipation

S

Extracted oil taken as oral laxative

AHU182

Senna italica Mill.

Fabaceae

Tenemeki

HA

Colon cleaner

L

Concocted with the fruit of Tamarindus indica and sugar and used as laxative

AHU181

Steganotaenia araliacea Hochst. ex A. Rich.

Apiaceae

Harfetu

T

Body burning feeling and mentally disturbed

L

Concocted with Grewia sp. and Cissampelos mucronata and taken oral

AHU183

Tamarindus indica L.

Fabaceae

Roka

T

Colon cleaner

F

Concocted with Senna italica and sugar and used as laxative

AHU155

Terminalia brownii \Fresen.

Combretaceae

Bireysa

T

Liver disease/Jaundice

B

Concocted with bark of Croton macrostachyus and drink a cup of infusion

AHU157

Tragia plukenetii A. Rodel.-Smith

Euphorbiaceae

Dobi

HA

Nipple opening remain closed after birth

R, L

Concocted and filtrate is taken oral

AHU185

Tribulus terrestris L.

Zygophyllaceae

Qumutu Gala

HA

Heart disease

Ap

Concoction taken oral

AHU143

Verbascum sinaiticum Benth.

Scrophulariaceae

Muka loni, Gura Haree

Sh

Kwashiorkor

Ap

Concocted with Cynoglossum coeruleum and taken oral

AHU156

Vernonia amygdalina Del.

Asteraceae

Ebicha

T

Liver disease/Jaundice

B

Immerse in water and drink the infusion

AHU141

Withania somnifera (L.) Dun. in DC.

Solanaceae

Hidi Bude

Sh

Extended flow of menstruation/Menometrorrhagia

B, L

Concocted together with Cadaba rotundifolia & a cup of filtrate is taken oral

Gallstone

R, L

Concoction taken oral

Evil eye

Br

Dried and smoke bath

AHU188

Zinnia peruviana (L.) L.

Asteraceae

Muka Ilili

HA

Depigmentation of section of skin/Vitiligo

R, L

Concocted and applied on affected part

AHU104

Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.

Rhaminaceae

Kurkura

T

Haemorrhage

L

Crushed and bath the anal opening

     

Headache

L

Concocted and used to wash the head

  1. Habit: Sh-shrub, T-tree, CA-climber/annual, CP-climber/perennial, HA-herb/annual, HP-herb/perennial, E-Epiphyte, CH– creeper herb, Part Used (PU), AP-All parts, B-bark, Br-branches, Bu-Bulb, St-stem, Sa-sap, J-jel, R-root, F-fruit, L-leaf, S-seed, Tu-tuber, P-Pod, Rh-rhizome and N-nectar.
  2. *Endemic species.