JOURNAL OF NATURAL REMEDIES Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants By the Ethnic Groups of Gondar Zuria District, North-western Ethiopia

Zewdu Birhanu* Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, PO Box 196, University of Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract The aim of the study was to document informati on on medicinal plants and to describe the traditi onal health care practi ces of Gondar Zuria district, North-west Ethiopia. Field trip was made in each village of the district to collect ethnomedicinal informati on from the traditi onal healers by using semi-structured questi onnaire and fi eld observati on. Forty-two plant species representi ng forty-one genera and thirty-one families were encountered during the study. Results of the study were analysed using two quanti tati ve tools: informant consensus factor for the analysis of general use of medicinal plants and fi delity level for calculati ng the most frequently occurring diseases for the categories with the highest informant consensus factor. The result of the informant consensus factor showed that the general health category had the greatest agreement followed by the respiratory, malarial, and gastrointesti nal categories. The present study has documented curious ethno medicinal facts on the plant therapies currently uti lised in Gondar Zuriadistrict. Evaluati on of the pharmacological acti vity for the promising medicinal plant is suggested.

Key words: Medicinal plants, traditi onal healers, Gondar Zuria district, Ethiopia

1. Introduction provide a vital contribution to human and livestock health care needs in the country.Th ere are 6,500 species It is estimated that about 25% of all modern medicines of higher plants in Ethiopia, making the country one are directly or indirectly derived from higher plants. of the most diverse fl oristic regions in the world. Led by instinct, taste, and experience, primitive men Ethiopian traditional life is painted with the hallmark of and women treated illness by using plants, animal parts, widespread use of medicinal plants with various levels and minerals that were not part of their usual diet. of sophistication within the indigenous medicinal lore, Indeed, well in to the twentieth century, much of the and the vast knowledge on traditional use ofmedicinal pharmacopoeia of scientifi c medicine was derived from plants is not fully documented; most of the knowledge is [1] the herbal lore of native people . conveyed from generation to generation through word In Ethiopia, 70% of human and 90% of livestock of mouth. Like many other Ethiopians, people in Gondar population depend on traditional medicine; Ethiopian Zuria district use plants for their primary healthcare. plants have shown very eff ective medicinal value for As is happening elsewhere in Ethiopia, the traditional some ailments of both human and domestic animals, knowledge as well as the plants used by these people is thus medicinal plants and knowledge of their use under threat mainly due to deforestation, degradation,

*Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Zewdu Birhanu 47 and cultural shift [2–7]. With this background, a survey the interviews, demographic characteristics of the was conducted to document the indigenous knowledge participants and local names, used parts, and preparation of traditional healers in Gondar Zuria district. methods of eachmedicinal plant were recorded. In addition, the participants were asked to show the 2. Ethnography researcher these medicinal plants, and specimen of these plants were pressed in the fi eld and prepared for Gondar Zuria is one of the districts in north Gondar identifi cation. During the course of the study, each administration zone of Amhara regional state in North- informant was visited three times in order to verify the western Ethiopia. Gondar Zuria is bordered on the reliability of data obtained. If what was said during the south by the Debub Gondar zone, on the south-west fi rst visit concerning the use of a particular medicinal by Lake Tana, on the west by Dmbia, on the north by plant by an informant did not agree with what was said Lay Armachiho, on the north-east by Wogera, and on during the second or third visit, the information was the south-east by Mirab Belessa. Th e district has a considered unreliable and was rejected. Repeated visits total population of 1,91,394 of whom 97,388 are men also helped to gather additional information that was and 94,006 women, and 18,377 or 9.60% are urban not mentioned during earlier interviews. Th e interview inhabitants. With an area of 1,108.53 square kilometres, and discussions were conducted in Amharic.Th e plant with a population density of 172.66 which is greater than specimens implicated were identifi ed and stored in the zone average of 63.76 persons per square kilometre. the department of pharmacognosy.Vernacular names Th e majority of the inhabitants practised Ethhiopian for each medicinal plant were given in Amharic. Th e Orthodox Christianity (94.8%) and the rest being Muslim relative popularity of each medicinal plant species was (5.2%). Th e capital city of thedistrict is Makisegnet evaluated based on the proportion of informants who situated at 40 kilometres from Gondar, the capital city of independently reported its medicinal use (informant North Gondar administrative zone in Amhara regional consensus) in the area. For each species, the proportion state of Ethiopia. Th e district has an altitude range of of informants who independently reported its use against 1,740 to 2,080 metres above sea level. Th e major part a particular disease/disease category was also assessed of the district is rounded by hills and gentle slopes and fallowing[10,11]. partially surrounded by higher elevation. Th e offi cial language of the district is Amharic, the offi cial language 3.2 Quantitative Ethnobotany of the country.Th edistrict receives bimodal rainfall, with FIC (informant consensus factor) was used for the the short rains from March to May and the long rains analysis of general use of medicinal plants; the illnesses from June to September. However, most of the rainfall is were classifi ed into broad categories as follows: [8,9] received during the months of July and August . respiratory (asthma, common cold, cough, tonsillitis), gastrointestinal (amebiasis, ascariasis, tapewormand 3. Methodology other intestinal parasites, diarrhoea, PUD, gastritis, colic and cramp in GIT, stomachache), reproductive 3.1 Data Collection Process (impotence, abortion, gonorrhoea, oxytocic), Survey on medicinal plants was conducted from dermatological (wound, skin problem(chirt), wart, 21 September 2011 to 23 February 2012 to collect dandruff , tick and lice), cardiovascular (hypertension, ethnomedicinal information from traditional healers by oedema, bleeding), general health (general well-being, using semi-structured questionnaire [12]. In each village, condiment, nutritive, tissue builder), pain (headache, the local community leaders and all the informants were fracture, arthritis, fever, infl ammation), anti-venom informed about the purpose of the survey, and each (snakebite), malaria,rabies, diabetes mellitus, cancer, informant participated in the study with his own full and evil eye. consent. Th e questionnaire was administered only to Th e FIC was calculated as the number of use citations people who had knowledge of medicinal plants. During in each category (nur) minus the number of species

Journal of Natural Remedies | ISSN: 2320-3358 www.jnronline.com | Vol 13 (1) | January 2013 48 Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants By the Ethnic Groups of Gondar Zuria District, North-western Ethiopia

used (nt) and divided by number of use citations in each annum (eleven mentions),Withania somnifera (seven [11] category minus one .Th erefore, FIC=nur−nt/nur−1. mentions),and Triticum aestivum(three mentions) Th e fi delity level (FL), which is the ratio between the (FL=100 each) for the general health category. Zehneria number of informants who independently suggested scabra, Eucalyptus globules, Rhamnus prinoides, and the use of a species for the same major purpose and Citrus limon (FL=100 each) for the respiratory category. the total number of informants who mentioned the Th e most important species in the gastrointestinal plant for any use, was calculated for the most frequently category were Hagenia abyssinica, Bersama abyssinica, occurring diseases or ailments for the categories with the and Cucurbita pepo (FL=100 each). Datura stramonium

highest FIC. and Catha edulis were the most important species for the dermatological and reproductive categories, respectively FL (%) = Np/N × 100 (FL=100 each). Here,Np is the number of informants that claimed a use of a plant species to treat a particular disease and N is the number of informants that used the plant as a 4.2 Correlation between Number of medicine to treat any given disease[12]. Uses Mentioned and Fidelity Level Th ese two tools helped to determine illness categories Th e categories of plants with the higher number of uses

with higher representation (using FIC)and the plants mentioned (for one purpose) were correlated with their with major fi delity (using the FL). fi delity level (Table 1). Th e plants with higher number of uses mentioned for all categories were Zehneria scabra 4. Result and Discussion (twenty-one mentions) for febrile conditions and runny nose for the respiratory category, Hagenia abyssinica Th e present study has documented forty-two medicinal (four reports) for the gastrointestinal category,Datura plant species representing forty-one genera and thirty- stramonium (seven reports) for the dermatological one families that are frequently employed in the category, Catha edulis (three reports) for the reproductive healthcare delivery system of the people of Gondar Zuria category, Buddleja polystachya (fi ve reports), Guizota district, North Gondar administrative zone, north- abyssinica (two reports ), Rumex nervosus (three reports) western Ethiopia. for malaria, rabies, and cardiovascular categories, Th e plants with the highest number of uses mentioned respectively.Capparis tomentosa for impotence, Carissa for any disease were general health (sixty-nine), spinarum for snakebite, Cucumis fi cifoliusfor arthritis, respiratory (fi ft y-one), and gastrointestinal (twenty- Maytenus senegalensis for cancer, Nigella sativa for colic eight). Th e complete data arepresentedin Table 1. in GIT, Osyris abyssinica for wart, Phytolocca dodecandra for abortion, and Taverniera abyssinica for stomachache 4.1 Factor Informant Consensus were mentioned once that is considered low fi delity. and Fidelity Level Th e result of the FIC showed that the general health 5. Conclusion category had the greatest agreement with an FIC of 0.91 followed by respiratory disorders (0.88), malaria Th e present study has documented curious (0.8), and gastrointestinal (0.63). Within the general ethnomedicinal facts on the plant therapies currently health category, the main reported use of plants was utilised in Gondar Zuria district. Some of these condiment (seventy reports); the main reported ailment medicinal plants are also widely used elsewhere in the in the respiratory disorders was febrile conditions and country for their medicinal value (some of them even runny nose (twenty-one reports). Similarly, within the for the same medicinal purpose). Th e wide use of these gastrointestinal category, there were eight reports of medicinal plants, other than Gondar Zuria district, could colic and each seven reports of ascaris and tapeworm. be attributed to their eff ectiveness in their medicinal use. Th e most important species according to fi delity Evaluation of pharmacological activity for the promising were Coriandrum sativum(fi ft een mentions), Capsicum medicinal plants is suggested.

Journal of Natural Remedies | ISSN: 2320-3358 www.jnronline.com | Vol 13 (1) | January 2013 Zewdu Birhanu 49 (1, 50) Dandruff ected area ected to animal to applied on the penis (glans)

(topical) Powder healing (1, 50) Wound Fresen. Fresen. in empty Juice stomach Malaria (5,100)

Lam. with butter paste Powder (1,100) Male impotence Fressen. Fressen. leaf past taken in Fresh (3, 100) Ascariasis

L. (Solanaceae), Powder (11, 100) Condiment L. on Applied topically (1, 100) Snakebite L. (Alliaceae), L. (Alliaceae), bulb after Chewing fresh Hypertension (1, 3.8) (Alt.) Benth. (Alt.) menstruum swallowed Root chewed, Amoeba (1, 50) L. (Caricaceae), L. (Caricaceae), paste made to Powder (1,50) Ascaris (Vahl) Forsk. (Vahl) Forsk. Decoction (3, 100) Male impotence and ailments treated by traditional healers in Gondar Zuria district traditional healers in Gondar Zuria by and ailments treated Medicinal plant species with their Amharic vernacular names, plant parts names, Medicinal plant species with their Amharic vernacular used, Wild, Sensel, ZE16, L Sensel, Wild, Allium sativum Nech shinkurt, Cultivated, ZE20, B external scales removing of external bulb devoid The scales is crushed and mixed (3, 11.5) General well-being (10, 38.5) Asthma (11, 42.3) Condiment Hochst.ex. (Acanthaceae), Plant name specimen code Voucher partUsed schimperiana Adhathoda (application) Mode of preparation of uses mentioned and FL) (No. Ailment treated/use, Table 1: Table 1 contd. Table (Melianthaceae), Wild, (Melianthaceae), Wild, ZE17, L Azamir, Buddleja polystachya empty stomach Bersama abyssinica ZE4, L Wild,Amfar, (Loganiaceae), aurea Calpurnia tomentosa Capparis Wild, (Capparaceae), ZE24, R Gimero, annum Capsicum Papaya, Cultivated, ZE29, S with honey and taken in empty spinarum Carissa malaria and treat to stomach Wild, (Apocynaceae), ZE27, L Agam, edulis Catha Cultivated, (Celastraceae), Chat, ZE36, L Malaria (1, 3.8) asthmatic conditions sweetening by followed aff with honey Abortion (1, 50) (Fabaceae), Wild, Wild, (Fabaceae), ZE23, R, L Zigitta, Berberie, Cultivated, ZE35, F papaya Carica decoction applied topically Leaf (1, 50) and lice Ticks

Journal of Natural Remedies | ISSN: 2320-3358 www.jnronline.com | Vol 13 (1) | January 2013 50 Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants By the Ethnic Groups of Gondar Zuria District, North-western Ethiopia on poured ltrate Skin problem/chirt (3, 75) ected area ected ected area ected Powder Condiment (15,100) Condiment Powder skin for topically juice Leaf the aff over Decoction Smoke days) a mad dog (within seven by Gonorrhea (1, 33.3) Antiseptic (1, 33.3) (L.f.) (L.f.) leaves Fresh (1, 33.3) Fracture

Hochst. and bark chipped boiled with Stem Migraine headache (1, 25)

L. L. applied topically juice Leaf infection(Solanaceae), Fungal Labill. Labill. boiled in leaves Fresh Respiratory problems(Myrtaceae),

Willd. Willd. mixed Dried seed powder (4, 100) Tapeworm (L.f.) Cass. Cass. (L.f.) Oil (in empty stomach) (1, 33.3) Cough L. Sap locally applied healing (4, 100) Wound A.Rich applied topically Root paste Arthritis (1, 100) L. Decoction in empty stomach and ascaris (3,100) Tapeworm

L. (Rubiaceae) L. (Rubiaceae) topically powder Roasted healing (2, 40) Wound

(L.)Burm.F. (L.)Burm.F. (fruit) Juice (3, 100) cold Common ee Arabica ee Yemidir embuay, ZE3, R embuay, Yemidir pepo Cucurbita Cultivated, (Cucurbitaceae), Duba, ZE2, S stramonium Datura Astenagir, ZE32, L Astenagir, Dodonaea angustifolia of the head (7, 100) Wild, (Sapindaceae) (Euphorbiaceae), (Euphorbiaceae), fi cooled,and water, (Apiaceae), ZE39, F Dinbilal, Cultivated, macrostachyus Croton Missana, Wild, S ZE25, L, B, cifolius fi Cucumis headache migraine the head for fungal infection (chirt) Cultivated, Bunna, ZE38, S Cultivated, sativum Coriandrum with honey powder Roasted wild (Cucurbitaceae), in empty stomach Diarrhea (3, 60) Table 1 contd. Table Citrus limon Lomei, Cultivated, (Rutacea), ZE37, J Coff 1 contd. Table (Euphorbiaceae), Wild, Kinchib, Kinchib, Wild, (Euphorbiaceae), Cultivated (Asteraceae), ZE13, S Nug, on the aff soon after bitten preventive Rabies (2, 66.6) Kitkita, Wild, ZE8, L Wild, Kitkita, globules Eucalyptus Cultivated ZE18, L Nechbahirzaf, tirucalli Euphorbia ZE12, Milky Sap Guizota abyssinica Hagenia abyssinica Kosso, Wild, (Rosaceae), inhaled and steam water and takenZE28, S with water (11,100) cold including common orally in empty stomach

Journal of Natural Remedies | ISSN: 2320-3358 www.jnronline.com | Vol 13 (1) | January 2013 Zewdu Birhanu 51 (2, 100) ammation (1, 50) ectedZE41, RRF ectedZE41, part is taken orally ltrate taken in empty stomach Ripe topically fruit juice wart Common (1, 100) Juice bleeding during arrest To (3, 100) male circumcision and fi

stomach Hypertension (2, 50) , L. in empty juice stomach Leaf Abortion (1, 100)

(Lam.) Exell (Lam.) Exell Paste (1, 100) Cancer

(Forssk.) Pers. Pers. (Forssk.) heated leaf moderately Fresh Edema (1, 50) Benth. in empty Juice stomach in GIT (2, 66.6) Colic

L. and Moderately roasted PUD and Gastritis (2, 50)

L.Her. L.Her. Juice (2, 100) Tonsillitis Jacq Jacq Decoction in empty mellitus (2, 50) Diabetes L. (paste) with butter Dried leaf powder Dandruff Hochst. Ex A.Rich Vahl. Linn. Seeds infused in H2O Hypertension (2, 100) L. Boiled with water in GIT (1,100) Colic Table 1 contd. Table Kalanchoe lanceolata (Crassulaceae), Cultivated, (Fabaceae), on and applied topically Infl 1 contd. Table (Linaceae), Cultivated, Cultivated, (Linaceae), ZE31, S Telba, albus Lupinus then and cooled, boiled in water gelatinous mass taken Amoeba (1, 25) in empty stomach Oxytocic aid delivery) (to (1, 25) Wild, Endahula, ZE40, L Wild, Linum usitatissimum part the injured (Rhamnaceae), Cultivated, (Rhamnaceae), Cultivated, ZE6, L Gesho, Rumex abyssinicus leaf (crushed fresh jaws) between placed Gibtto, ZE30, S Gibtto, Maytenus senegalensis ZE9, L Atat, Wild, (Celastraceae), Myrtus communis (Myrtaceae), Wild, ZE15, L Ades, Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae),Cultivated ZE7, S Tikurazmud, Osyris abyssinica Qeret, Wild, (Santalaceae), Otostegia integrifolia Wild, (Lamiaceae), ZE14, L Tingut, dodecandra Phytolacca Wild, (Phytoloccaceae), ZE19, L Endod, with honey and or mixed Rhamnus prinoides applied on the aff Wild, Mekmoko (Polygonaceae), ZE10, R Rumex nervosus Wild, (Polygonaceae), ZE5, L Enbacho, mellitus (1, 33.3) Diabetes

Journal of Natural Remedies | ISSN: 2320-3358 www.jnronline.com | Vol 13 (1) | January 2013 52 Traditional Use of Medicinal Plants By the Ethnic Groups of Gondar Zuria District, North-western Ethiopia Leaves boiled in water boiled in water Leaves nose (21,100) and runny conditions Febrile L. with mixed Seed powder (4, 66.7) condiment Nutritive

A.Rich Chewing and swallowing (1, 100) Stomachache (L.) Duna. decoction Leaf (7, 100) General well-being Roscoe. Roscoe. Decoction (3, 37.5) cold Common L. (Poaceae), L. (Poaceae), slurry to Seed powdered Cultivated, builder in childrenAjja, Tissue L. (Rutaceae) L. (Rutaceae) powder Fruit (11, 61.11) Condiment L. applied topically paste Leaf healer (3,100) Wound [L.f.] Sond. [L.f.] ower, L=leaf, Rh=rhizome, R=root, S=seed, J=juice, PUD=peptic ulcer disease, GIT=gastrointestinal tract GIT=gastrointestinal disease, PUD=peptic ulcer J=juice, S=seed, R=root, Rh=rhizome, L=leaf, ower, cinale Malvaceae), Wild, Wild, Malvaceae), on the wound (Leguminosae), Wild, Wild, (Leguminosae), ZE42, R Dingetegna, foenum-graecum Trigonella (Leguminosae), Abish, Cultivated, ZE21, S aestivum Triticum the menstruum (juice) with and sweetened water sugar (empty stomach) PUD and gastritis (1, 16.6) mellitus (1, 16.6) Diabetes Table 1 contd. Table Ruta chalepensis Tennadam, Cultivated, ZE34, L,F. Sida rhombifolia ( ZE26, L Gurgegit, abyssinica Taverniera juice Leaf ZE33, S somnifera Withania (Zingiberaceae), Cultivated Zingible, ZE22, Rh F=fl B=bulb, (2, 11.11) eye Evil with heat,and sugar (honey) sweeten is added to in GIT (5, 27.7) Colic and after delivery (3,100) (5, 62.5) Condiment (Solanaceae), Cultivated, ZE11, L Gizewa, scabra Zehneria (Cucurbitaceae), Wild, Wild, (Cucurbitaceae), ZE1, L Haregresa, Zingiber offi inhaled and steam

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6. Acknowledgements 5. Mesfi n T, Hunde O, Getachew Y, Tadesse M. Survey of medicinal plants used for treatment of human diseases Th e research was funded by a grant fromUniversity of in Seka Chekorsa. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2005; 15(2):90-95. Gondar.I am also grateful to all the community leaders 6. Debela H. Use of traditional medicinal plants by people of the study area in convincing the traditional healers of Bosa sub district. J Health Sci. 2006; 16:141-154. to give their information overtly by staying by my 7. Birhanu Z. Ethnobotanical survey on medicinal plants side until the end of the survey. I am also thankful to used by ethnic groups of Denbia district, north- pharmacognosy department members for their direct western Ethiopia. Journal of Natural Remedies. 2011; and indirect help in plant identifi cation and herbarium 11(2):119-123. preparation. 8. Briggs P. Guide to Ethiopia. Ethiopia: Bradt Publications; References 2009. 9. Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) of 1. Toma M, Grcioso JS, Hiruma-Lima CA, Andrade Ethiopian Farmers. Metema Pilot Learning Site. 2005. F.D, Vilegas L, Brito AS. Evaluation of analgesic and antiedematogenic activities of Quassia amara bark 10. Martin GJJ. Ethnobotany: A methods manual. London: extract. J Ethnopharmacol. 2003 Mar; 85(1):19-23. Chapman and Hall; 1995. 2. WHO drug information. Geneva: Proposed INN list; 11. Heineric M, Ankli A, Frei B, Weimann C, Sticher O. 2002. Medicinal plants in Mexico: Healers’ consensus and 3. Okigbo, Anuagasi CL, Amadi JE. Advances in selected cultural importance. Social Science and Medicine. 1998; medicinal plants and aromatic plants indigenous to 47(11):1859-1871. Africa. J Med Plant Res. 2009 Feb; 3(2):86-95. 12. Friedman J, Yaniv Z, Dafni A, Palewith D A preliminary 4. Gedif T, Hahn HJ. Herbalist in Addis Ababa and classifi cation of the healing potential of medicinal plants, Butajira, Central Ethiopia: Mode of service delivery and based on a rational analysis of an ethnopharmacological traditional pharmaceutical practice. Ethiopian Journal fi eld survey among Bedouns in the Negev desert, Israel. of Health Development. 2002; 16(2):191-197. J Ethnopharmacology. 1986 June; 16(2-3):275-287.

Journal of Natural Remedies | ISSN: 2320-3358 www.jnronline.com | Vol 13 (1) | January 2013