Traditional medicinal plant based remedies for common ailments in Menz Keya Gebreal District, North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia.

backgroundTraditional medicinal plants are central to healthcare, nutrition, and cultural practices in rural Ethiopia, yet ethnobotanical knowledge is underdocumented and increasingly threatened. This study aimed to document medicinal plant diversity, usage, preference, and conservation status in Menz Keya Gebreal District, North Shewa Zone, to inform sustainable management and pharmacological research.

methodsData were collected from 80 informants using semi-structured interviews, guided field walks, focus group discussions, and field observations. Quantitative ethnobotanical analyses included Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Fidelity Level (FL), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Relative Popularity Level (RPL), Rank Order Priority (ROP), Cultural Value Index (CVI), paired and preference ranking, and direct matrix ranking. Similarity with other Ethiopian districts was assessed using Jaccard's and Rahman's indices. Statistical analyses, including t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and regression, were conducted using R to evaluate variation in knowledge across demographic groups.

resultsA total of 121 medicinal plant species from 61 families were documented, with Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Euphorbiaceae being the most represented. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part, and oral administration was the predominant route of remedy preparation. High ICF values were observed for skin (0.87) and digestive disorders (0.82). Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F.Gmel., Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. ex Benth., and Echinops kebericho Mesfin exhibited high FL, RFC, and ROP values, while Clutia abyssinica Jaub. & Spach and Euphorbia abyssinica J.F.Gmel.were prioritized for hepatitis treatment. Major threats to medicinal plants included agricultural expansion, overharvesting, and firewood collection. Ethnobotanical knowledge varied significantly by informant groups (P < 0.05). RSI and JSI revealed both shared and unique knowledge patterns across regions. Knowledge transfer occurred primarily within families, while sacred groves, home gardens, and cultural practices contributed to in situ conservation.

conclusionMenz Keya Gebreal District harbors rich medicinal plant diversity and traditional knowledge, but anthropogenic pressures threaten their persistence. Integrating community-based conservation, sustainable harvesting, pharmacological validation, and youth-focused knowledge preservation is essential to safeguard this ethnobotanical heritage.