Ethnobotanical study of medicinal and wild edible plants in semi-pastoralist people of Amibara District, Gabi Rasu Zone, northeastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Traditional medicinal plants and wild edible plants (WEPs) are invaluable resources for semi-pastoral communities. They serve various purposes, including medicinal use, enhancing food security by supplementing staple diets, generating income, and providing ecological and socio-cultural benefits. This study aimed to assess the traditional medicinal and WEPs, along with the local knowledge associated with them, among the semi-pastoralist people in the Amibara District of the Afar Regional State. Data were collected from 156 informants across six kebeles using ethnobotanical data collection methods. A total of 33 vascular plant species were recorded in the study area, belonging to 28 genera and 21 families. Among these, 17 species were identified as medicinal plants, 12 were WEPs, and four as nutraceutical species. Key species such as Balanites aegyptiaca, Balanites rotundifolia, Boscia coriacea, and Ziziphus spina-christi provide vital medicinal benefits and contribute to food security in the district. Shrubs were the most commonly found growth habit (58%). In medicinal plant use, leaves were the most frequently used part, accounting for 52% of all uses, primarily administered orally (48.5%). For WEPs, fruits were the most commonly consumed part, accounting for 65% of use. The study found that local knowledge is at risk due to factors such as modernization and industrialization. It underscores the importance of these plants for local healthcare and food security and calls for conservation efforts to protect the plants and the local knowledge associated with them. Special attention needs to be given to vulnerable species ( Bourreria orbicularis ), endemic species ( Aloe camperi ), and multipurpose species.