Table 2 Medicinal plants, with family, scientific and local name, for selected ailments of human and/or veterinary importance, with parts used and preparations, as claimed by informants of the three ethnic groups from South Omo zone, Southern Ethiopia
Family | Scientific name | Local name* | Voucher number | Use(s) | Parts used and preparation | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amaranthaceae | Achyranthes aspera Linn. | Busino (M) | KTG28 | Abdominal pain and tonsillitis | Root chopped and mixed with water and taken orally. Leaf chewed and the extract kept near the inflammation area | Human |
Lamiaceae | Achyrospermum africanum Hook.f. ex Baker | Kebit buda (A) | KTG54 | Evil eye | Leaf and root chopped and soaked with water | Human |
Achyrospermum schimperi (Hochst. ex Briq.) Perkins | Abasanga medihanit (A,Amh) | KTG65 | Anthrax | Leaf and flower chopped and soaked with hot water and drenched | Veterinary | |
Scrophulariaceae | Alonsoa acutifolia Ruiz & Pav. | Shosha tesha (M) | KTG66 | Snake bite/poison | Root chopped and mixed with Plectranthus glandulosus in water and the filtrate drenched | Human and Veterinary |
Barthlottia madagascariensis E.Fisch. | Unkown (A) | KTG18 | Snake bite/poison | Concoction | Human and Veterinary | |
Fabaceae | Calpurnia aurea (Aiton)Benth. | Kaino(M) | KTG91 | Flea and louse infestation | Freshly chopped or dried and ground leaf mixed with water and applied to the flea and louse infested areas | Veterinary |
Apocynaceae | Carissa carandas L. | Goiti(B),ebab medihanit (Amh) | KTG45 | Snake bite/poison | The leaf chopped, mixed with water taken orally | Human and Veterinary |
Rubiaceae | Carphalea glaucescens (Hiern) Verdc | Wariamo (M) | KTG31 | Anaemia (known as Airo) | Leaf powdered mixed with Ipomoea kiwuensis smoked for three days | Human |
Recedaceae | Caylusea abyssinica (fresen.) Fisch. & Mey | Giesilla (M) | KTG64 | Rabies (effective even when clinical signs are present) | Root chopped and mixed with cold water and drenched | Human and Veterinary |
Apiaceae | Centella asiatica - (L.)Urb. | Busino (M) | KTG87 | Abdominal ache | Root dried, ground and mixed with cold water when needed (on cup or glass full) | Human |
Menispermaceae | Chasmanthera dependens (Hochst) | Moshito (M) | KTG33 | Black leg | Root bark and leaf dried and ground and given to emaciate calf as much as possible | Veterinary |
Chasmanthera welwitschii Troupin | Heilho (M) | KTG27 | Antiamoeba | Root bark and leaf dried and ground and given to emaciate calf as much as possible | Veterinary | |
Lamiaceae | Chelonopsis moschata Miq. | Kebit buda (A) | KTG47 | Evil eye | Leaf and root chopped and soaked with water | Human |
Menispermaceae | Chlaenandra ovata. Miq. | Eincht (A) | KTG73 | Abdominal ache | Root chopped and mixed with water and drenched | Human |
Cissampelos capensis L.f. | Wontin kanna (A) | KTG76 | Abdominal cramp | Root chopped, powdered, soaked with water, filtered and drenched | Human | |
Cissampelos mucronata A.Rich. | Kawuro (M) | KTG37 | Anaemia with jaundice | Leaf collected, dried, ground and mixed with hot water and two spoonful taken at once | Human | |
Cissampelos pareira L. | Shelindo (M) | KTG70 | Broad spectrum anti- helminthiasis | Root ground mixed with large amount of water and drenched. It causes fever diarrhea then animals are cured | Veterinary | |
Cissampelos spp. | Kawto (M) | KTG32 | Anaemia like syndrome with jaundice | Leaf collected, dried, ground with local mill and mixed with hot water and two spoonful taken at once (bitter) | Human | |
Vitaceae | Cissus quadrangularis L. | Bararo (M) | KTG20 | Evil eye | Tied under belly | Veterinary |
Euphorbiaceae | Claoxylopsis andapensis Radcl.-Sm. | Dorba (A) | KTG43 | Snake bite/poison | Bark and leaf chopped, soaked in water and drenched | Human |
Nyctaginaceae | Colignonia ovalifoliaHeimerl | Afesha (A) | KTG41 | Evil eye | Leaf squeezed and inhaled | Human |
Araceae | Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott | Haleko (A,M,BT) | KTG77 | To detach retained fetal membrane | Root dried, ground and mixed with powdered root of Momordica spp. and all soaked in warm water and one cupful drenched | Veterinary |
Nyctaginaceae | Cryptocarpus spp. | Afei tesha (M) | KTG23 | Evil eye | Root chopped and mixed with cold/hot water | Human |
Solanaceae | Datura stramonium L. | Onidod (A) | KTG05 | Coughing (for horses, mules and donkeys) | Leaf chopped and mixed with cold water and drenched via nose | Veterinary |
Papilionaceae | Desmodium dichotomum (Willd.) DC. | Muasii (A) | KTG07 | Epizootic lymphangitis (tushita) | Root chopped, mixed with cold water and drenched via nose | Veterinary |
Desmodium delotum J.F. Macbr. | Not known (A) | KTG42 | Eye illness | Leaf apex chopped, soaked in water, applied to sick eye | Human and Veterinary | |
Salvadoraceae | Dobera spp. | Mitch medihanit (A, Am) | KTG89 | Mitch | Leaf boiled with water and inhaled | Human |
Sterculiaceae | Dombeya spp. | Bata (A) | KTG15 | Anthrax | The leaf is chopped and mixed with Tragia doryodes and the filtrate taken orally | Human and Veterinary |
Flacortiaceae | Dovyalis spp. | Mukale (M) | KTG85 | To detach retained placenta | Leaf chopped and mixed with hot water and given as ad libtum | Veterinary |
Urticaceae | Droguetia debilis Rendle | Megagna medanit (Amh) | KTG52 | Megagna | Leaf apex chopped and pasted on the pain area | Human |
Droguetia iners (Forssk.) Schweinf. | Yewoba medihanit (A) | KTG61 | Malaria | Leaf chopped and mixed with Premna oligotricha and boiled together one glassful drenched | Human | |
Caryophyllaceae | Drymaria cordata (L.) Willd. ex Schult. | Yebuda medihanit (A, Amh) | KTG59 | Evil eye in animals | Leaf and root chopped mixed in water and the filtrate is sprayed on animal body and the sediments are drenched | Human and Veterinary |
Drymaria spp. | Unknown (A) | KTG17 | Evil eye | The leaf is chopped and mixed with water and the filtrate taken orally | Human | |
Asteraceae | Echinacea spp. | Unkown | KTG53 | Diarrhoea alone | Root chopped and soaked in warm water taken orally | Human and Veterinary |
Galinsoga parviflora Cav. | Midirberbere, (Amh) | KTG14 | Anaemia with jaundice | The flower is chopped and mixed with Monosonia longipes and warmed on and applied of gum of achy tooth | Human | |
Galinsoga quadriradiata Cav. | Mukala (M) | KTG74 | To detach retained fetal membrane and/or placenta | Leaf chopped and mixed with Plumbango zeylanica and then drenched | Veterinary | |
Geraniaceae | Geranium aculeolatum Oliv. | Abasanga medihanit (A, AM) | KTG72 | Anthrax | Leaf chopped and rubbed on wounded part | Veterinary |
Geranium arabicum Forssk. | Tushita (A) | KTG26 | Epizootic lymphangitis | Root chopped and mixed with chopped root of Laggera tomentosa and one bear bottle drenched through left nose of horse. | Veterinary | |
Poaceae | Hyparrhenia hirta (L.) Stapf | Goiti ebab” medihanit (B) | KTG46 | Snake bite/poison | Plant material chopped and soaked in hot water and the filtrate drenched | Human and Veterinary |
Fabaceae | Indigofera arrecta A.Rich. | Wareami (A) | KTG80 | Anaemia with jaundice | Leaf dried and smoked to patients | Human |
Indigofera trita L.f. | Wusis (A) | KTG01 | To improve milk production of cows | Root chopped, mixed with water and drenched | Veterinary | |
Convolvulaceae | Ipomoea eriocarpa R. Br. | Choko (M) | KTG40 | Endoparasite | Root chopped and mixed with water, then the filtrate is drenched and rest sediments are poured on the wound part | Veterinary |
Acanthaceae | Justica dianthera Vell. | Mitch(A, Amh) | KTG51 | Mitch | The leaf apex boiled with water and the vapor inhaled and/or the filtrate drenched | Human |
Justicia diffusa Willd. | Makaiso (A) | KTG04 | For coughing of equines | Leaf chopped and mixed with cold water and drenched via nose | Veterinary | |
Cucurbitaceae | Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. | Busino (M) | KTG35 | Diarrhoea and vomiting | Leaf chopped and ground and the drench the filtrate | Human |
Asteraceae | Laggera tomentosa Schultz Bip. | Tushita (A) | KTG71 | Epizootic lymphangitis | Root chopped and mixed with chopped root of Geranium arabicum and one bear bottle drenched through horses nose | Veterinary |
Verbenaceae | Lantana Trifolia L. | Yewoba medihanit (A) | KTG55 | Malaria (shivering type, vivax) | Root chopped and soaked with water and mixed with local alcoholic drink (Areke) | Human |
Lamiaceae | Leucas stachydiformis (Benth.) Hochst. ex Briq. | Businae (M) | KTG19 | Anaemia with jaundice | Leaf and bark chopped and drench the filtrate or inhalation | Human |
Onagraceae | Ludwigia abyssinica A.Rich. | Yechira ebab medihanit (Amh) | KTG44 | Snake bite/poison | Stem and root mixed with other plants and applied orally | Human |
Cucurbitaceae | Momordica foetida Schumach. | Chekko (M,B) | KTG03 | Black leg | Root chopped, soaked in water for half a day and a filtrate is drenched | Veterinary |
Momordica charantia L. | Unknown (A) | KTG90 | Diarrhea and vomiting | Leaf and root ground well and mixed with milk and taken orally | Human | |
Momordica spp. | Kill (M) | KTG79 | To detach fetal membrane | Root dried, ground and mixed with Colocasia esculenta, all soaked in warm water and one cupful filtrate drenched | Veterinary | |
Geraniaceae | Monsonia parvifolia Schinz | Not known (A) | KTG58 | Tooth ache | Seed and leaf crushed and mixed with salt and Galinsoga parvifolia; made hot on fire with “enset leaf” and applied on gum. | Human |
Papilionaceae | Mucuna melanocarpa Hochst | Salabano (M) | KTG86 | For calf Ascariasis | Leaf ground and mixed with water and drenched that induces diarrhea | Veterinary |
Solanaceae | Nicotiana tabacum L. | Bangiso(M) | KTG78 | Tick infestation | Root chopped and mixed with water and dressed to the tick infested area on cow and calf | Veterinary |
Anacardiaceae | Operculicarya gummifera (Sprague) Capuron | Dorba (M) | KTG38 | Snake bite/poison | Orally taken butt its preparation is not specified due to unwillingness of the respondent | Human and Veterinary |
Lamiaceae | Orthosiphon sarmentosus A.J. Paton & Hedge | Zititu (A) | KTG67 | Ascariasis | Leaf chopped, soaked in water and a glass full filtrate drunken | Human |
Oxalidaceae | Oxalis corniculata L. | Dani (M) | KTG02 | Toxic | Root chopped, cooked for two days and more and the paste rubbed on arrow tip to hunt wild animals | Human and veterinary |
Anacardiaceae | Ozoroa insignis Delile | Bussa (M) | KTG39 | For coughing of equines | Bark dried, powdered and mixed with cold water and the filtrate drenched | Veterinary |
Geraniaceae | Pelargonium alchemilloides (L.) Aiton | Unkown | KTG13 | Constipation | Root chopped and soaked in warm water taken orally | Human |
Rubiaceae | Pentas suswaensis Verdc. | Haromato (M) | KTG63 | Aba gorba “Black leg” | Leaf chopped and mixed with boiled water and the filtrate is drenched | Veterinary |
Lamiaceae | Plectranthus glabriflorus P.I.Forst. | Gullo/Karika (A) | KTG09 | Evil eye | Leaf soaked in hot water and drunken | Human |
Plectranthus globosus Ryding | Chambuase (M) | KTG60 | Snake bite/poison | Leaf chopped mixed with Alectra sessiliflora mixed in cold water and taken orally | Human | |
Plumbaginaceae | Plumbago auriculata Lam. | Masilok (M) | KTG81 | For animal evil spirit | Leaf chopped and soaked in water and the filtrated drenched and the remaining sediments pasted on the body | Human and Veterinary |
Plumbago caerulea Kunth | Wugat medihanit (Amh) | KTG68 | Back and side pain | Root and seed are chopped and mixed with hot water and onion | Human | |
Plumbago pulchella Boiss. | Not known (A) | KTG12 | Snake bite/poison | Fresh leaf chopped and mixed with cold water | Human and Veterinary | |
Plumbago spp. | Misirich (M) | KTG49 | Evil eye in animals | Leaf chopped and soaked in water and the filtrated drenched and the remaining sediments pasted on the body | Veterinary | |
Plumbago zeylanica L. | Telba (M) | KTG75 | To detach retained fetal membrane | Seed ground by traditional mortar mixed with Galinsoga Parviflora and boiled with water and drenched | Veterinary | |
Lamiaceae | Premna oligotricha Baker | Yewoba medihanit (A) | KTG34 | Malaria (non-shivering type, falciparium) | Leaf collected and ground and mixed with water | Human |
Premna schimperi Engl. | Bangizo(M) | KTG21 | Dermatophilous and mite infestation | Root chopped and soaked in warm water over night and filtrate applied topically to treat dermatophytes and tick mite infestations | Veterinary | |
Premna spp. | Anchiphi (M) | KTG57 | Diarrhea in calf | Leaf powdered and mixed with water and the filtrate drenched | Veterinary | |
Pycnostachys meyeri Gürke ex Engl. | Unkown (A) | KTG83 | Abdominal pain (children) | Fresh root chopped and mixed with cold water and drenched | Human | |
Rubiaceae | Rytigynia spp. | Golodo (M) | KTG30 | Typhoid (Micho) | Leaf chopped and mixed with water and taken orally | Human |
Lamiaceae | Salvia acuminata Ruiz & Pav. | Anchino (M) | KTG48 | Diarrhoea alone | Chewing the leaf | Human |
Fabaceae | Senna spp. | Diko (M) | KTG84 | Joint ache and breakage of bones | Leaf rubbed on affected parts and some leaf chopped and soaked in warm water and drenched | Human and Veterinary |
Malvaceae | Sida spp. | Moishita (M) | KTG25 | Anti-parasitic/ to fatten calf | Leaf chopped and soaked in water and the filtrate is drenched repeatedly | Veterinary |
Solanaceae | Solanum bellum S. Knapp | Ondod (M) | KTG22 | Coughing of equines(Busa) | Root chopped and mixed with cold water and the filtrate drenched either by nose or mouth | Veterinary |
Solanum acaule Bitter | Mushta (A) | KTG62 | Removes retained placenta | Root chopped and mixed with cold water and the filtrate is applied nasally | Veterinary | |
Solanum acuminatum Ruiz & Pav. | raki (A) | KTG82 | To detach retained placenta | Root chopped, mixed with cold water and drenched orally | Human and Veterinary | |
Solanum incanum L. | Garint (A) | KTG06 | Epizootic lymphangitis(tushita) | Root chopped and mixed with cold water and drenched via nose | Veterinary | |
Solanum spp. | Danni (M) | KTG50 | Poisonous to animals | Root chopped and concoction with water until paste is formed, rubbed on arrow tip & used for hunting | Human and Veterinary | |
Bignoniaceae | Stereospermum kunthianum Cham. | Addi (M) | KTG29 | Abdominal pain | Root chopped and mixed with water/coffee and taken in ad libitum | Human |
Asteraceae | Tagetes spp. | Businae (A) | KTG88 | Muscle cramp and joint pain | Leaf rubbed well and oils from the leaf are swabbed on areas where pain felt. Fumigation is also possible. Boiled filtrate is drenched | Human |
Tagetes minuta L. | Kawato (M) | KTG36 | Diarrhea and vomiting | Leaf chopped and ground and the drench the filtrate | Human | |
Euphorbiaceae | Tragia doryodes M.G.Gilbert | Anderta (A) | KTG16 | Anthrax | The leaf is chopped and mixed with Dombya spp. and the filtrate taken orally | Veterinary |
Caryophyllaceae | Vaccaria hispanica (Mill.) Rauschert | Sanba tesha (M) | KTG69 | For contagious bovine pleuropneumonia and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia | Root chopped and mixed with large amount of water. It gets bloody color (the bloody color indicates appropriate concentration), then drenched | Veterinary |
Verbenaceae | Verbena officinalis L. | Guni tesha (A) | KTG56 | Snake bite/poison | Leaf squeezed by hand and mixed with water and drenched by water | Human and Veterinary |
Solanaceae | Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal | Buto/wogare (M) | KTG24 | Night mare | Roots powdered and children smoked until they cough | Human |
Fabaceae | Zornia apiculata Milne-Redh. | Medhanit (A) | KTG10 | Abdomen ache and vomiting in children | Fresh root chopped and mixed with cold water and drenched | Human |
Zornia glochidiata DC. | Halimi (A) | KTG11 | Malaria | Root bark is chopped and boiled/concoction with local drinks and boiled coffee leaf | Human | |
Zornia latifolia Sm. | Medihanit (A) | KTG08 | Abdominal pain, vomiting | Fresh leaf chopped and mixed to form filtrate | Human |