Use and Conservation of Medicinal Plants by Indigenous People of Gozamin Wereda, East Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia: An Ethnobotanical Approach
Table 2
List of medicinal plants used for treating human ailments in the study area with scientific name, family, local name, habit (Ha), shrub (S), tree (T), herb (H), climber (Cl), seed (Se), fruit (Fr), flower (Fl), shoot (Sh), collection number (Coll. No.) source, condition of preparation (fresh/F and dry/D), parts used (PU), root (R), leaf (L), latex (La), stem (St), bulb (Bu), bark (Ba), and rhizome (Rh).
Scientific name, family
Local name (Amharic)
Ha
Disease treated
PU
Preparations, conditions of plants used, and mode of applications
Route
Voucher number
Achyranthes aspera Lam.
Telenj
H
Hemorrhoids
R
Fresh roots pounded and applied on the infected part.
Anal
NA10
Acmella caulirhiza Del. (Asteraceae)
Yemidir berbere
H
Tonsillitis Toothache
Fl
Fluid extract from the leaf is drunk (one spoon). Flower is chewed for few minutes and spit out.
Oral
NA2
Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae)
Shinkurt
H
Cough
Bu
Its bulb and fruit of Capsicum annum areboiled with butter and drunk continuously.
Oral
NA7
Aloe macrocarpa Tod. (Alliaceae)
Ret
H
Stomachache
La
The latex of the species is squeezed and taken once.
Oral
NA20
Arisaema schimperianum Schott. (Araceae)
Amoch
H
Birth difficulty
R
Fingertip size fresh root is squished and mixed with alcohol (local arki), and then one cup is drunk.
Oral
NA80
Artemisia afra Jacq. ex Wilk (Asteraceae)
Chiqugn
H
Evil eye Malaria
L
Fresh leaf and Allium sativum bulb squeezed and wrapped together in a piece of cloth and sniffed through nose. Fresh leaf crushed and pounded with water and then filtered and drunk in one tea cup.
Nasal Oral
NA75
Asparagus africanus Lam. (Asparagaceae)
Yeset qest
S
Impotency
R
The root powder along with Premna schimperi is given with one cup of local alcohol (tella).
Oral
NA9
Brassica carinata A. Br.
Gomen
H
Skin rash
Se
The powder is mixed with water and applied on the skin.
Dermal
NA60
Brassica nigra (L.) Koch (Brassicaceae)
Sinafich
H
Abdominal pain
Se
Powder of dried seeds with seeds of Lepidium sativum mixed with water and one cup is drunk.
Dry root is crushed and dissolved in water or the leaf is squeezed and 1/2 of coffee cup is drunk. Dried fruit finely crushed and applied on wounds. Dried seed crushed, added with wheat flour, and then applied on wounds.
Oral Dermal Dermal
NA1
Buddleja polystachya Fresen. (Loganiaceae)
Anfar
S
Wound
L
Dried leaf finely crushed and mixed with Lepidium sativum and applied on wounds.
Dermal
NA22
Calpurnia aurea (Ait.) Benth. (Fabaceae)
Ligita
S
Hepatitis Wound
L
The leaves are boiled with a cup of water and then drunk for 6–10 days. Fresh leaves pounded and applied on the wounds.
Dermal/oral Oral
NA90
Capparis tomentosa Lam.
Gumero
S
Evil sprit
R
Dry root crushed and boiled with water and then fumigated or inhaled.
Nasal/oral
NA6
Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae)
Qaria
H
Dysentery, vomiting
Fr
Its fruits with Allium sativum, Zingiber officinale, and Nigella sativum are immersed in water for 2-3 days and drunk continuously.
Oral
NA28
Carduus schimperi Sch. Bip. ex A. Rich. (Asteraceae)
Kosheshila
H
Fibril illness
R
The root is pounded, squeezed, and drunk.
Oral
NA30
Carica papaya L. (Cucurbitaceae)
Papya
Cl
Gastritis Malaria Diarrhea
Se L Se
The seed can be eaten together with the fleshy part. Freshly crushed, boiled, and drunk. Ingest a few seeds with “Injera” for three days.
Oral
NA17
Carissa spinarum L. (Apocynaceae)
Agam
S
Evil eye
R
Dried root bark powder is added on fire and allowed to be inhaled.
Nasal/oral
NA51
Clutia abyssinica Jaub. and Spach (Euphorbiaceae)
Fiyele-fej
S
Dysentery
St
Crush fresh stem making it powder and then drink.
Oral
NA59
Coffea arabica L. (Rubiaceae)
Bunna
S
Wound
Se
Seeds roasted, powdered, and put on the infected skin.
Dermal
NA3
Cordia africana Lam. (Boraginaceae)
Wanza
T
Vomiting
Fl
Flowers crushed or smashed and swallowed.
Oral
NA4
Croton macrostachyus Del. (Euphorbiaceae)
Bisana
T
Stomachache Ringworm Malaria
L La L
Squeezing the fresh leaf and drinking the droplet. Sap applied topically on the skin. Boil fresh leaf in water, filter, and drink with milk or tea.
Oral Dermal Oral
NA12
Cucumis ficifolius A. Rich (Cucurbitaceae)
Yemidir Embuy
Cl
Cough
R
Fresh roots are washed, smashed, and mixed with water overnight. Then, mix the suspensions with honey and milk and drink one glass.
Oral
NA46
Cynoglossum coeruleum (Hochst. A. Rich.) DC
Shimgug
H
Stomachache Sun-strike
R L
The root is washed and cleaned, and then the liquid is chewed and taken. Leaf is squeezed and applied on the entire body.
Oral Dermal
NA56
Dodonaea angustifolia L. f. (Sapindaceae)
Kitkita
S
Sore/eczema
L
Dry leaves along the leaves of Citrus lemon arepowdered and mixed with butter and then applied on the affected part.
Dermal
NA63
Datura stramonium L. (Solanaceae)
Astenagir
H
Dandruff
L
Fresh leaves pounded and smashed with hand and then applied on the head like ointment.
Dermal
NA61
Dracaena steudneri Engl
Merqo
T
Emergency (“dingetegna”)
R
The root is crushed and mixed with water; one cup is given to drink.
Oral
NA67
Echinops kebericho Mesfin
Qebercho
H
Scabies
R
The root is powdered and applied on the affected area at bedtime.
Dermal
NA69
Embelia schimperi Vatke
Enqoqo
S
Tapeworm
Fr
Dried fruit is powered and dissolved by water and then one glass water is drunk.
Oral
NA73
Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter
Dawa tef
H
Bone fracture
Se
Flour of teff is mixed with different spices and then eaten continuously.
Oral
NA83
Erica arborea L. (Ericaceae)
Asta
S
Circumcision
L
Fresh leaf is mixed with leaves of Verbascum sinaiticum and pounded together and then powder is put on affected part.
Dermal
NA5
Erythrina brucei Schweinf.
Korch
T
Eczema
L/ba/R
The powders of dried leaf, bark, and root are mixed with cheese and then applied.
Dermal
NA25
Eucalyptus globulus Labill. (Myrtaceae)
Nech bahir zaf
T
Asthma Athlete’s foot
L L/Sh
The young leaf is boiled with water and the steam is inhaled. Washing the sol with young shoot or putting under the sock.
Nasal/oral Dermal
NA87
Euphorbia abyssinica Gmel
Qulqual
T
Jaundice, rabies
Sap
Few droplets of the milky latex are mixed with the powder of wheat and teff and then baked and eaten.
Oral
NA91
Ficus sur Forssk. (Moraceae); NA55
Sholla
T
Dysentery
La
About one spoon of sap is taken.
Oral
NA55
Foeniculum vulgare Miller (Apiaceae)
Ensilal
H
Abdominal pain
Se
The leaves boiled with tea or coffee and then drunk.
Oral
NA35
Hagenia abyssinica (Bruce) J.F.Gmel (Rosaceae)
Kosso
T
Tapeworm
Se
Dry seed ground into powder, mixed with local alcohol (“tella”), and drunk.
Oral
NA37
Hordeum vulgare L. (Poaceae)
Gebis
H
Gastritis
Se
The roasted powder is boiled in water and drunk until relief.
Oral
NA39
Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae)
Jatrofa
T
Wound
La
The latex is applied on the wound.
Dermal
NA78
Jasminum abyssinicum L. (Oleaceae)
Tenbelel
Cl
Tapeworm
L
Fresh leaves crushed, squeezed mixed with water, and decanted and then drunk without having food.
Oral
NA14
Justicia schimperiana (Hochst. ex Nees) T. Anders
Smiza
S
Wound Abdominal parasite
L
The fresh leaf paste is applied over infected area of skin. Dry leaves are crushed and pounded with water and then one glass is drunk.
Dermal Oral
NA15
Kalanchoe petitiana A. Rich. (Crassulaceae)
Andahula
H
Swelling Tonsil
L/St R
Fresh leaves or stem heated with fire and put on the swollen part. Fresh root is put on the nostril.
Dermal Nostril
NA53
Laggera integrifolia Sch. Bip. ex A. Rich
Gimmie
H
Common cold Toothache
L
Leaf is inhaled for sometimes through nose. Crushed and put b/n teeth for 5–10 minutes and then spit out.
Nostril Mouth
NA8
Leonotis ocymifolia (Burm F.) A. Iwarsson. (Lamiaceae)
Feres zeng
H
Diarrhea
Fr/L
Powder of dried fruit and leaf is mixed with honey and then given.
Oral
NA23
Linum usitatissimum L. (Linaceae)
Telba
H
Gastritis
Se
Few seeds immersed in water over night and one glass drunk continuously.
Oral
NA24
Lepidium sativum L.(Brassicaceae)
Feto
H
Diarrhea
Se
Seeds ground into paste-like food and then eaten or mixed with butter and water and drunk.
Oral
NA74
Lippia adoensis Hochst ex. Walp.
Kesiy
H
Gastritis
L
Fresh leaves chewed.
Oral
NA26
Lobelia rhynchopetalum (Hochst) Hemsl.
Jebera
T
Evil sprit
R
The dried root fumigated.
Nasal/oral
NA40
Lupinus albus L. (Fabaceae)
Gibto
H
Hypertension
Se
Soaking with water for 3–5 days, decanting the water, and eating and/or preparing in the form of alcohol and drunk.
Dry root is boiled in water and body is washed with it
Dermal
NA76
Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Bak.
Birbira
T
Skin infection Goiter
Fr
Dry fruit powder is mixed with butter and salt and then applied to the infected skin. Chewing the fruit for goiter.
Dermal Oral
NA77
Momordica foetida Schumach. (Cucurbitaceae); NA33
Yamora misa
Cl
Toothache Wound
L
Fresh leaf is chewed for sometimes and spit out. Fresh leaf is crushed and pasted.
Oral Dermal
NA33
Myrica salicifolia A. Rich. (Myricaceae)
Shinet
T
Leishmaniasis
Ba
The powder is mixed with butter and applied on the contaminated part.
Dermal
NA32
Myrtus communis L. (Myrtaceae)
Ades
S
Ringworm
L
Leaf powder is mixed with butter and is being applied on the infected part continuously.
Dermal
NA31
Nigella sativa L.(Apiaceae)
Tiqur-azmud
H
Common cold Asthma
Se Se
The seeds ground into powder and covered with a piece of cloth and inhaled three to four times per day. Seeds are put in boiling water and steam is inhaled.
Nasal Nasal/oral
NA34
Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae)
Ziqaqibie
H
Dysentery
L
Leaf is pounded, mixed with water, and drunk.
Oral
NA49
Ocimum lamiifolium Hochst. ex Benth. (Lamiaceae)
Dama kesy
H
Sun-strike
L
From three places the leaves are cut and crushed, squeezed, and drunk.
Oral
NA48
Olea europaea L. subsp. cuspidate (Wall. Ex G. Don) Cif. (Oleaceae)
Woira
T
Toothache
St
Dry/fresh branches used as tooth brush.
Oral
NA68
Otostegia integrifolia Benth. (Lamiaceae)
Tinjut
S
Abdominal pain
L
Pounding and squeezing the fresh leaf and mixing with water then drinking.
Oral
NA47
Phytolacca dodecandra L’Herit. (Phytolaccaceae)
Endod
S
Abortion
L
The leaf is crushed, mixed with water, filtered, and drunk.
Oral
NA11
Plantago lanceolata L. (Plantaginaceae)
Gorteb
H
Cut
L
Crush and apply it on the cut part.
Dermal
NA13
Plumbago zeylanica L. (Plumbaginaceae)
Amera
H
Wounds
R
Dried root finely crushed and applied or rubbed on wounds.
Dermal
NA18
Podocarpus falcatus (Thunb.) R. B. ex. Mirb. (Podocarpaceae)
Zigba
T
Swelling
L
Fresh leaf is crushed and tied with a piece of cloth on the contaminated skin.
Dermal
NA19
Prunus africana (Hook. F.) Kalkman (Rosaceae)
Homma
T
Wound
Ba
Powdered and tied for 5–7 days.
Dermal
NA16
Ranunculus oligocarpus Hochst. ex A. Rich. (Ranunculaceae)
Etsesiol
H
Eczema
L
Crushing and tying the infected part with a piece of cloth for two hours.
Dermal
NA29
Rhamnus prinoides L’Herit
Gesho
S
Tonsillitis Skin infection Dysentery
Fr L L
The dry fruit of the plant is made as powder and mixed with water and then drunk. It is rubbed with the fresh leaves on the infected skin as gel. Fresh leaves are squashed and mixed with water, and about one cup is drunk.
Oral Dermal Oral
NA27
Rumex nepalensis Spreng (Polygonaceae)
Tult
H
Blood pressure Stomachache
R
About the size of fingertip of root is chewed and the juice is taken daily. Chewing and taking the sap.
Oral Oral
NA38
Rumex nervosus Vahl (Polygonaceae)
Enbuacho
S
Burn
St
The powder of roasted stem is mixed with butter and applied on the skin.
Dermal
NA43
Ruta chalepensis L. (Rutaceae)
Tila-adam
H
Common cold Stomachache
St and L L
Fresh stem and leaf are boiled with coffee or tea then drunk. The fresh leaf is immersed with cold water for 24 hrs and drunk.
Oral Oral
NA42
Sida schimperiana Hochst. ex A. Rich. (Malvaceae)
Chifrg
S
Dysentery
L
The dried leaf is ground and mixed in a cup of water. Drink two spoon solutions after shaking.
Oral
NA50
Solanum anguivi Lam. Hochst ex A. Rich. (Solanaceae)
Zercho enbuay
S
Eczema
Fr
The fruits along with Myrtus communis and spices are crushed, mixed with butter, and stained for consecutive days.
Dermal
NA41
Solanum marginatum L.f.
Enbuay
S
Toothache
Fr
The fruit sap is applied on affected tooth drop by drop.
Oral
NA44
Solanum nigrum L. (Solanaceae)
Awit
H
Itching
Fr
Watery/fluid of the fruit is applied on the skin part.
Dermal
NA85
Stephania abyssinica (Dill. & A. Rich.) Walp. (Menispermaceae)
Yayit jero
Cl
To increase mental activity
R
Dry smashed root is mixed with “Abish” and then drunk with one cup of coffee.
Oral
NA86
Urtica simensis Stedel
Samma
H
Gastritis
L Sh
Prepare in the form of stew and eat with bread (“Injera”)
Oral
NA88
Verbasicum siniaticum Benth.
Qetentina
H
Gastritis
R
Juice is extracted from fresh root and then drunk.
Oral
NA70
Verbena officinalis L. (Verbenaceae)
Atuch
H
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, stomachache Heartburn
R
Sap of the fresh root is chewed and swallowed for three days. Root is crushed, squeezed, and given to the patient.
Oral
NA71
Vernonia amygdalina Del. (Asteraceae)
Girawa
S
Stomachache Intestinal parasite
L
Fresh leaf is mixed with water, crushed, and squeezed, decanted, and drunk. Juice is extracted from fresh leaf and taken orally (one cup).
Oral
NA92
Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (Solanaceae)
Gizewa
S
Fibril illness
L
Its leaf is crushed along with Allium sativum and the whole body is rubbed or the leaf is boiled with water and the vapour is inhaled.
