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Table 1 Medicinal plants used to treat both human and livestock diseases

From: An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in Kilte Awulaelo District, Tigray Region of Ethiopia

Scientific name Family name Voucher No. Tigrigna name Habit Part used 1Used for Preparation and application
Acacia etbaica Schweinf. Fabaceae AT00606 Seraw Tree Leaf Swelling Crush and mix with latex of Euphorbia abyssinica and rub the paste on the affected part
      Leaf Eye infection (livestock) Chew and spit on to the affected eye
      Stem Ring worm Place it on fire and apply liquid on the affected part
      Stem Haemorrhoids Burn and place it on the affected part
      Leaf Itching/ scabies Crush and rub
      Stem Anthrax (both) Burn and place it on the affected part
      Leaf Fire burn Crushed and apply on the burn
Achyranthes aspera L. Amaranthaceae AT00654 Muchele Herb Leaf Tonsillitis Crush it alone or with leaves of Cucumis ficifolius and place it on shaved head of child
      Root Eye infection (livestock) Chew and spit the liquid onto the infected eye
      Root Anthrax (both) Crush it with roots of Solanum incanum and whole part of Hypoestes forskaolii, add water and drink with cup of glass
      Root Urine retention Tie around the sex organ
      Leaf Eye infection Boil with leaves of Eucalyptus globulus, Withania somnifera and Zehneria scabra in water and inhale the vapour
      Root Snake bite Chew and swallow the fluid
      Leaf Wound Crush and place on the wound
      Root Babesia (livestock) Crush and apply into the nose
      Leaf Wound/sore Crush and rub the past on the wound
      Root Paralysis Crush, dry and put it on fire for fumigation
Aloe megalacantha Bark. Aloaceae AT00707 Ere Shrub Root Dislocated bone (livestock) Tie it on the ear
      Latex External wound Cut a leaf and spread latex on wound until healed
      Leaf Malaria, amoeba Crush leaves and squeeze juice, filter and drink
      Latex Ascariasis Squeeze latex, filter and drink
      Leaf Abdominal pain Crush leaves, filter and drunk the fluid
      Latex Ticks infestation (livestock) Cut leaf and apply latex on skin
      Leaf Evil eye Place leaf on fire and fumigate
      Root Impotence Crush root and mix butter and smear it on the penis
      Whole Snake bite (both) Crush the part and drink the juice
      Root Urine retention Tie it around the sex organ
Anethum graveolens L. Apiaceae AT00677 Shilan Herb Whole Urine retention (both) Crush, filter and drink the fluid
        Boil it in water and drink the fluid
Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton Asclepiadaceae AT00612 Ginda Shrub Leaf & latex External wound Crush it with leaves of Ficus palmata and smear paste on affected part until healed
      Latex Tinea capitis Cut leaf or stem and smear latex on affected part until healed
      Leaf Itching/skin rash Burn and grind leaves and spread on skin with butter
      Latex Swelling (livestock) Apply latex on affected part
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. Fabaceae AT00614 Hitsawts Tree Leaf Lice and ticks infestation (livestock) Crush and apply paste on skin
      Seed Diarrheal Grind part, mix it with milk product locally called (mancheba) and drink
      Leaf Abdominal pain Crush, filter and drink the fluid
      Leaf Herpes zoster Dry the leaves and mix them with leaves of Datura stramonium and leaves of Clutia abyssinica, grind them and make past with butter and apply on affected part
      Seed Haemorrhoids Grind and mix it with honey and milk and eat it
      Leaf Tinea capitis Crush and spread paste on the affected part
Chenopodium murale L. Chenopodiaceae AT00650 Hamli qiweo Herb Leaf Swelling (both) Crush part and apply on the affected part
      Leaf Fire burn Burn leaves in oven, grind, mix with butter and smear paste on affected part
      Leaf Anthrax (human) Placing around fire then after rubbing by the leaf to the affected part
      Leaf External wound Crush the part and apply it on the wound
      Leaf Dandruff Crush and smear on affected part
Clematis hirsuta Perr. & Guill. Ranunculaceae AT00680 Hareg Climber Root Anthrax (both) Crush roots with butter and apply the paste
      Leaf Herpes zoster Burn leaves in oven with leaves of Dodonaea angustifolia, grind, mix with butter and apply on the affected part
Clerodendrum myricoides (Hochst.) R.Br. ex Vatke Lamiaceae AT00643 Shiwha Shrub Root Urine retention (both) Crushed, add water, filter and drink
      Stem Snake bite burn stem and apply it on the affected part while hot
      Leaf Tinea captis Burn leaves in oven, grind, add butter and rub it on affected part
      Root Evil sprit Crush by mixing with roots of Withania somnifera, Carissa spinarum, Jasminum gratissimum and Maytenus senegalensis, put it on fire for fumigation
Clutia abyssinica Jaub. & Spach. Euphorbiaceae AT00659 Tewshealalito Shrub Leaf Tinea capitis Crush leaves and rub the paste on affected part or dry the crushed leaves, add butter and apply
      Leaf Ring worm Rubbing the affected part by the leaf
      Leaf Internal parasites infection (livestock) Crushed and drunk the fluid
      Leaf Herpes zoster Dry and mix leaves with dried leaves of Calpurnia aurea and Datura stramonium, grind, add butter and spread paste on affected part
      Leaf & bark Black spider bite Crush, filter and drink
      Leaf Leshimaniasis Crush and apply paste on affected part
Cucumis ficifolius A.Rich. Cucurbitaceae AT00642 Ramboambo Herb Leaf Anthrax (both) Crush the part with leaves of Dyschoriste radicans , mix it with honey and placed it on affected part
      Root Snake, scorpion and black spider bite Grind the part, mix with honey and eat it
      Fruit Wound/sore Apply fruit juice on the affected part
      Whole Jaundice/ hepatitis Crush, add water, filter and drink or Chew and swallow the product
      Leaf Tonsillitis Mix the leaves of the plant with leaves of Achyranthes aspera, crush and place the paste on shaved part of head of a sick child
      Root Toothache Chew part with the diseased teeth
      Root Joint pain Crush, filter and drink the fluid
      Root Abdominal pain (both) Mix root of the plant with bark of Croton macrostachyus, dry the paste, mix it with butter and drink it or chew the product and drink the fluid
      Root Vomiting Crush and drink the fluid
Cyphostema adenocaule (Steud. ex A.Rich.) Vitaceae AT00681 Aserkuca asergundi Climber Root Snake bite (both) Crush, filter and drunk the fluid
      Root Snake venation (repulsion) Tie it on the body
Cyphostemma junceum (Webb) Desc. Ex Wild & R.B.Drumm. Vitaceae AT00686 Etse zewye Herb Root bark Snake bite (both) Crush and eat the paste with honey
      Whole Toothache Chew and swallow the juice
      Whole Spider bite Chew and swallow fluid
      Leaf Evil eye Place part on fire for fumigation
Datura stramonium L. Solanaceae AT00672 Mestenagr Herb Leaf Itching/ scabies Crush and apply on affected part
      Leaf External wound Crush and apply on affected part
      Seed Toothache Place it on fire and inhale the smoke through mouth
      Leaf Herpes zoster Dried leaves of the plant and Calpurnia aurea and Clutia abyssinica are ground mixed powder with butter and apply on affected part
      Leaf Wound/sore Crush and apply on affected part
      Leaf Anthrax (livestock) Crush by mixing with leaves of Solanum mariginatum and Malva verticillata and apply paste on affected part
Dodonia angustifolia L.f. Sapindaceae AT00610 Tahses Tree Leaf Herpes zoster Dry the leaf of the plant alone or mixed with the leaf of Clematis hirsuta on hot stove, grind, add butter and rub affected part
      Seed Malaria Grind and eat it with honey
      Leaf Dislocated bone (livestock) Crush and apply on damaged part
      Leaf Eye infection Crush and apply droplets into the infected eye
      Leaf Fire burn Dry it in oven, grind, and butter sulphur and spread it on the affected part
Echinops Kebericho Mesfin Asteraceae AT00685 Dander Herb Root Dislocated bone (livestock) Tie it on damaged part
      Stem Haemorrhoids Place a burned stem and apply it on affected while hot
Euclea racemosa Murr. subsp. schimperi (A.DC.) F. White Ebenaceae AT00611 Keleaw Shrub Whole Evil eye Crush and tie powder around the neck
      Root bark Snake bite (both) Crush, add water and drunk the fluid
      Root Paralysis Crush and drink juice with milk
      Root Black spider bite Chew and swallow the fluid
      Root bark Abdominal pain Boil it in water and drink the fluid
      Root Toothache Chew part with the affect tooth
      Root Amoeba Remove bark of the root, boil it and drink the fluid with mancheba, milk product
Euphorbia abyssinica J.F.Gmel. Euphorbiaceae AT00706 Kulqual Tree Latex Ascariasis Mix part with locally made beer and drink it or mix it enjera (local food) and eat it
      Latex Abdominal pain Mix it with tihni (made from flour of roasted barley) and eat it
      Flower External wound Crush, mix with honey and apply it on affected part
      Latex Leprosy Smear latex on affected part
      Latex Swelling (both) Smear latex on affected part
Euphorbia petitiana A.Rich. Euphorbiaceae AT00687 Hindukduk Herb Latex Leshimaniasis Rub leaf on affected part until cure
      Root Dislocated bone (livestock) Tie around the damage part
Euphorbia tirucali L. Euphorbiaceae AT00682 Kinchib Shrub Latex Skin haemorrhoids Apply on affected part
Galium boreo-aethiopicum Puff Rubiaceae AT00621 Mendef adgi Herb Root Babesia (livestock) Crush and apply droplets through the nose
      Root Toothache Chew root with affected tooth
      Root Evil eye Placing it on fire for fumigation
      Root Abdominal pain Chew and swallow fluid
      Latex Ring worm Apply latex on affected part
      Latex Swelling (livestock) Smear latex on swollen part
Gomphocarpus purpurascens A.Rich. Asclepiadaceae AT00690 Tseba dimu Herb Root Abdominal pain Chew and swallow the fluid
      Whole Haemorrhoids Crush and apply on affected part
      Root Wound (livestock) Crush and apply on affected part
      Root Toothache Mix part with honey and chew
      Leaf Michi Place on fire for fumigation
Hypoestes forskaolii (Vahl) Roem. & Schult. Acanthaceae AT00603 Girbia Herb Root Babesia (livestock) Crush, mix with honey and eat
      Whole Anthrax Crushed it alone or by mixing with seeds of Lepidium sativum, roots of Solanum incanum, Achyranthes aspera and Verbascum sinaiticum, filter and drink the fluid
      Root Abdominal pain Chew and swallow the fluid
      Leaf Wound/sore Crush apply on affected part
      Root Ascariasis Boiling in milk with leaves of Lantana trifolia and drunk
      Root Cough Place it on fire for fumigation
Hypericum annulatum Moris. Hypericaceae AT00668 Aklti Herb Leaf Eye infection (both) Dry, Grind, add butter and apply on affected part
Justicia schimperiana (Hochst. ex Nees) T.Anders. Acanthaceae AT00632 Shimieya Shrub Leaf Dysentery Crush, add water and drink
      Leaf Jaundice Crush and eat it with enjera (local food) or add milk and drink it
      Leaf Wound Boiling with roots of Withania somnifera and washing
      Leaf Arthritis Boil it in water and wash body with it
Laggera tomentosa (Sch.Bip ex A.Rich.) Asteraceae AT00679 Kash koshe Shrub Leaf Leeches infestation (livestock) Crush and add juice through the nose
      Leaf Ring worm Rub it on affected part
Lepidium sativum L. Brassicaceae AT00708 Shimfa Herb Seed Wound/sore Crush seeds leaves of Dyschoriste radicans and bulb of Allium sativum and tie on affected part
      Seed Itching/scabies Crush seeds with leaves of Rumex nervosus and Withania somnifera and bulb of Allium sativum, sock it in water and wash body with it
      Seed Swelling (both) Crush and apply it on affected part
      Seed Abdominal pain Crush, add water and drink
      Seed Anthrax (both) Crush it by mixing it with whole part of Hypoestes forskaolii, roots of Solanum incanum and Verbascum sinaiticum, filter and drink the fluid
      Stem Haemorrhoids Burn it on fire add apply it on affected part while hot
      Leaf Michi Crush it with bulbs of Allium sativum and eat or rub it on the skin
Malva verticillata L. Malvaceae AT00625 Enkiaftha Herb Leaf External wound Crush and rub apply it on the affected part
  Leaf Anthrax (both) Crush it with leaves of Datura stramonium and Solanum mariginatum and apply it
Melia azadrachta L. Meliaceae AT00695 Limo, nim Tree Leaf External wound (both) Crush and apply it
Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller. Cactaceae AT00713 Beles (kulqual bahri) Shrub Leaf Anthrax Place it on fire and apply it on affected part while hot
      Leaf Lice or fleas infestation (livestock) Crush, rub on skin
      Leaf Dandruff Crush and rub it on affected part
Otostegia integrifolia Benth. Lamiaceae AT00652 Chiendog Shrub Leaf Ascariasis Crush, filter and drink the fluid
      Root Abdominal pain Chew and swallow the fluid
      Leaf Lice or fleas infestation (livestock) Place it on fire for fumigation
Premna oligotricha Baker Lamiaceae AT00633 Sasa Shrub Whole Synerosis celebralis (livestock) Place on fire for fumigation
      Leaf Toothache Chew it with affected tooth
Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae AT00688 Guile Herb Leaf External wound (both) Crush and apply it on the wound
Rumex nepalensis Spreng. Polygonaceae AT00618 Dengele, shembobata Herb Leaf Ring worm Rub it on affected part
      Root Fire burn Crush by mixing it with urine and apply it on damaged part
      Leaf Tinea capitis Mix it with fruit of Citrus aurantifolia and rub it affected part
Schinus molle L. Anacardiaceae AT00648 Tikur berbere Tree Leaf Jaundice Crush, filter and drink the fluid
      Leaf Diarrheal Crush, filter and drink the fluid
      Leaf Bloating (livestock) Crush and drink the fluid
      Leaf Tonsillitis Crush and drunk it with coffee
        Crush and apply it on shaved head of sick child
      Leaf Michi Crush, filter and drink the fluid
Sida schimperiana Hochst. ex A.Rich. Malvaceae AT00636 Tifraria Shrub Root Rh disease Crush, filter and drink a cup of fluid
      Root Paralysis Tie root around the affected part
      Root Dislocated bone (livestock) Tie it on tail of the affected animal
      Root Abortion (livestock) Tie it on tail of the animal
Solanum hastifollium Hochst. ex Dunal in DC. Solanaceae AT00641 Alalmo kalbi Shrub Root Abortion (livestock) Tie it on tail of the animal
      Root Evil eye Place it on fire for fumigation
      Leaf & fruit Anthrax (livestock) Crush and add honey and apply or squeeze it into affected part or crush, filter and drink
      Leaf Tonsillitis Crush by mixing it with leaves of Solanum incanum and place on shaved head of sick child
      Fruit Ear diseases Squeeze to produce juice, add goat butter and apply through the nose
      Leaf Cellulitis Crush and apply
      Root Toothache Chew with affected part
Solanum incanum L. Solanaceae AT00617 Niesheton engule Shrub Root Abdominal pain Chew and swallow the fluid
      Root bark External wound infection Dry, grind and apply on affected part
      Leaf Tonsillitis Crush by mixing with leaves of Solanum hastifolium and place it on the shaved head of sick child
      Root Anthrax (both) Crush by mixing with seeds of Lepidium sativum, whole part of Hypoestes forskaolii, roots of Achyranthes aspera and Verbascum sinaiticum, filter and drink fluid
        Crush and apply on affected part
Solanum mariginatum L.f. Solanaceae AT00716 Aby ungule Shrub Root Abdominal pain Chew and swallow the fluid or boil and drink the fluid
      Seed External wound infection Grind and apply on affected part
      Seed Cough Burn, grind, mix it with sugar or honey and swallow it
      Fruit Breathing problem (livestock) Crush apply through the nose
      Leaf Anthrax (both) Crush by mixing with leaves of Datura stramonium and Malva verticillata apply it on affected part or crush, filter and drink the fluid
      Root Ascariasis Crush by mixing with roots of Zehneria scabra, and Verbena officinalis, filter and drink the fluid
Trigonella foenum-graecum (Bunge) Gurke. Fabaceae AT00699 Abeake Herb Seed Abdominal pain Grind, add water and drink
      Seed Swelling (both) Grind by mixing with beans and rub paste on affected part
Verbascum sinaiticum Benth. Scrophulariaceae AT00634 Tirnake (handega) Herb Leaf Fire burn Crush and apply fluid on the burned skin
      Root Tonsillitis Crush, filter and drink with a cup
      Root Evil eye Place it on fire with sulphur for fumigation
      Root Toothache Chew it
      Root bark Haemorrhoids Crush, filter and drink
      Leaf External wound Crush and apply on affected part
      Root Anthrax (livestock) Crush with seeds of Lepidium sativum, roots of Solanum incanum and whole part of Hypoestes forskaolii, filter and drink the fluid
        Crush, mix with honey and eat it
      Root Dislocated bone Tie around the affected part
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal Solanaceae AT00630 Agol Herb Leaf Eye infection Boil it in water by mixing with leaves of Eucalyptus globulus, roots of Achyranthes aspera and Cynoglossum lanceolataum and leaves of Zehneria scabra and inhale the vapour
      Whole Evil eye Crush by mixing with roots of Carissa spinarum and put it on for fumigation
      Whole Michi Soak in water by mixing with leaves of Rumex nervosus and juices of Citrus aurantifolia and wash body with it
        Boil by mixing with Justicia schimperiana and wash the body with it
        Place it on by mixing with leaves of Zehneria scabra and Eucalyptus globulus and fumigate
      Leaf Itching/ scabies Crush by mixing with leaves of Rumex nervosus, seeds of Lepidium sativum and bulbs of Allium sativum, soak it in water and wash affected part with it
      Root Paralysis Place it on fire for fumigation
      Root Evil sprit Crush by mixing with roots of Clerodendrum myricoides, Carissa spinarum, Jasminum gratissimum and Maytenus senegalensis and place it on fire for fumigation
  1. 1Unless indicated, the disease is that of human.
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