Traditional lore on the healing effects of therapeutic plants used by the local communities around Simien Mountains National Park, northwestern Ethiopia

Simien Mountains National Park harbors 113 therapeutic plant species, with Asteraceae being the most diverse family. The study reveals that local communities rely heavily on wild-collected herbs and roots for remedies, primarily through oral administration, with pounding as the dominant preparation method. Respiratory and febrile illnesses show the highest consensus among informants, indicating strong traditional knowledge. However, erosion of therapeutic plants, reliance on verbal transmission, and neglect by younger generations threaten this traditional practice. Multipurpose plants like Echinops kebericho are identified for conservation priority, while species with high Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and fidelity levels emerge as potential candidates for drug development.

Seraw, E., Melkamu, Y., & Masresha, G. (2024). Traditional lore on the healing effects of therapeutic plants used by the local communities around Simien Mountains National Park, northwestern Ethiopia. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-024-00678-9