Medicinal plants used in the treatment of human ailments in Kulbo forest, Maji district, southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Kulbo Forest in southwestern Ethiopia harbours a rich diversity of medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. Despite its importance for local healthcare, ethnobotanical information from the area remains largely undocumented. Methods: A cross-sectional ethnobotanical study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with 138 informants. Additional information was gathered through focus group discussions, guided field walks, and market surveys. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), and preference ranking techniques. Results: A total of 70 medicinal plant species belonging to 37 families were documented for the treatment of 55 human ailments. Asteraceae was the most represented family, accounting for 14.3% of the recorded species. Herbs constituted the dominant growth form (61.4%), while leaves were the most frequently utilized plant parts (39.3%). Oral administration was the primary route of remedy application (54.6%). Informant Consensus Factor values were highest for respiratory ailments (ICF = 0.92) and skin diseases (ICF = 0.83), indicating strong agreement among informants regarding treatments for these conditions. Most medicinal plants (68.2%) were harvested from wild habitats, and agricultural expansion was identified as the leading threat to medicinal plant resources. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate the continued importance of medicinal plants and indigenous knowledge in supporting primary healthcare in rural communities. However, increasing anthropogenic pressures threaten both medicinal plant diversity and associated traditional knowledge. Conservation measures, sustainable harvesting practices, and further phytochemical and pharmacological investigations are needed to ensure the long-term sustainability and utilization of these valuable resources. Keywords: Ethnobotany; Indigenous knowledge; Medicinal plants; Traditional medicine; Kulbo Forest; Ethiopia.