Feyera Teka, Mekonnen Endalkachew, Wakayo Befekadu Urga, Assefa Solomon
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia.
Department of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jigjiga University, Jigjiga, Ethiopia.
BMC Vet Res. 2017 Aug 9;13(1):232. doi: 10.1186/s12917-017-1149-6.
In Ethiopia, plant based remedies are still the most important and sometimes the only source of therapeutics in the management of livestock diseases. However, documentation of this indigenous knowledge of therapeutic system still remains at a minimum level. The aim of this study was, thus, to document the traditional knowledge of botanical ethnoveterinary therapies in the agro-pastoral communities of Fafan Zone, Eastern Ethiopia.
The study employed a cross-sectional participatory survey. Purposive sampling technique was applied to select key respondents with desired knowledge in traditional animal health care system. Data were gathered from a total of 24 (22 males and 2 females) ethnoveterinary practitioners and herbalists using an in-depth-interview complemented with group discussion and field observation.
The current ethnobotanical survey indicated that botanical ethnoveterinary therapies are the mainstay of livestock health care system in the studied communities. A total of 49 medicinal plants belonging to 21 families, which are used by traditional healers and livestock raisers for the treatment of 29 types of livestock ailments/health problems, were identified in the study area. The major plant parts used were leaves (43%) followed by roots (35%). In most cases, traditional plant remedies were prepared by pounding the remedial plant part and mixing it with water at room temperature.
The various types of identified medicinal plants and their application in ethnoveternary practice of Fafan zone agro pastoralists indicate the depth of indigenous knowledge in ethnobotanical therapy. The identified medicinal plants could be potentially useful for future phytochemical and pharmacological studies.
在埃塞俄比亚，植物性疗法仍是家畜疾病防治中最重要且有时是唯一的治疗手段。然而，这种本土治疗体系知识的记录仍处于最低水平。因此，本研究的目的是记录埃塞俄比亚东部法凡地区农牧社区植物性民族兽医学疗法的传统知识。
本研究采用横断面参与式调查。采用目的抽样技术，挑选在传统动物保健系统方面有相关知识的关键受访者。通过深入访谈，并辅以小组讨论和实地观察，从总共24名（22名男性和2名女性）民族兽医从业者和草药师那里收集数据。
当前的民族植物学调查表明，植物性民族兽医学疗法是所研究社区家畜保健系统的支柱。在研究区域内，共鉴定出21科49种药用植物，传统治疗师和家畜饲养者用其治疗29种家畜疾病/健康问题。使用最多的植物部位是叶子（43%），其次是根（35%）。在大多数情况下，传统植物疗法是通过将治疗用植物部位捣碎，并与室温的水混合制备而成。
法凡地区农牧民所鉴定出的各类药用植物及其在民族兽医学实践中的应用，表明了民族植物学疗法中本土知识的深度。所鉴定出的药用植物可能对未来的植物化学和药理学研究有潜在用途。
