AN ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY LOCAL PEOPLE IN AND AROUND GOBA TOWN, BALE ZONE OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE SOUTHEAST ETHIOPIA.

This research was carried out to record and document the medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge of the local people in and around Goba town of Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants was conducted from April 20 to August 15, 2022. Ethnobotanical data were collected using semi-structured interviews, field observation, and group discussion. Preference ranking, paired comparison, direct matrix ranking and informant consensus factor were employed to analyze the importance of some medicinal plant species. A total of 60 informants (43 males and 17 females) were selected to collect information on medicinal plant use from six sampled kebeles. Of these,10 key informants were selected purposively based on the recommendation by local elders and authorities. A total of 50 medicinal plant species distributed in 46 genera and 33 families were collected and identified. Out of these, 41 species (80%) were used against human ailments, 5species (8%) were used against livestock ailments and the remaining 4 species (8%) were used to treat both human and livestock ailments. Of the total medicinal plant species, 42% were herbs, followed by 34% of shrubs, 20% of trees, and 4% of climbers. The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (50.9%) followed by seeds (15%)), roots (13.2%), fruit (5.7%), stems (3.8%), latex, (3.8%), bark (3.8%), flower (1.9%), and bulb (1.9%). The most widely used method of preparation was crushing (48%), squeezing (13%), and chewing (11.7%) of the different plant parts. The common route of administration recorded was oral (60.6%) followed by dermal (20.2%) application. Urbanization, firewood collection, and construction were reported as major threats to plants in the study area.5<br>