ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED TO TREAT HUMAN AND LIVESTOCK DISEASES IN SUDE WOREDA, ARSI ZONE, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

<strong>ABSTRACT</strong>: Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants was carried out between June 2022 and January 2023 in Sude Woreda, Arsi Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia. There was a lack of documented ethnobotanical knowledge in this area. Hence, the aim of the study was to investigate and document medicinal plants and associated indigenous knowledge. The area lies between 7°40'24"N to 8°21'36"N latitude and 39°40'0"E to 40°20'0"E longitude. From 12 sampled kebeles, 388 informants were selected randomly and 46 key informants were purposively selected based on recommendation from elders. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, focus groups discission, guided field walk and market survey. Data analysis methods included preference ranking, informant consensus, direct matrix ranking, fidelity level, and descriptive statistical analysis were uesd. 82 medicinal plants from 38 families and 76 genera, used to treat 38 human and 15 livestock diseases were documented. The majority of Plants that identified were wild 60.98%. The Asteraceae family, which contains 10 species, appears to be the most dominant in terms of species diversity. Herbs were the dominant habit and plants parts that are utilized most frequently were leaves (42.68%). Crushing (29.82%) and squeezing (21.93%) were the two most frequently utilized techniques of remedy reparation. The fresh version of several of these therapeutic herbs was employed. The most frequent method of administration was shown to be oral (58%) and the most frequent used application of medicinal plant was drinking (25%) followed by put on (19%). Ranking of preferences revealed that Croton macrostachyus was preferred by locals for the treatment of wounds. 52 informants gave the plant Croton macrostachyus as having the highest informant consencus and the disease categories such as rabies have higher informant consencus factor value of 0.86. According to a market study, plant species utilized for traditional purposes are not only marketed for medical purposes but also for usage in food and spices. Construction, firewood collecting and agricultural growth pose the greatest dangers to plants overall and medicinal herbs in specific. As a result, Sude Woreda Agricultural Office should take action to minimize, and control timber production, Charcoal, firewood and agricultural expansion in the study area are recommended.