Ethnobotanical Study of Endemic and Non-Endemic Medicinal Plants Used by Indigenous People in Environs of Gullele Botanical Garden Addis Ababa, Central Ethiopia: A Major Focus on Asteraceae Family
November 2022
in “
Frontiers in Pharmacology
”
Echinops kebericho Hagenia abyssinica Laggera tomentosa Inula helenium androgenetic alopecia topical herbs leaves crushing traditional medicine endemic plant pharmacological properties hair loss hair growth shampoo E. kebericho H. abyssinica L. tomentosa I. helenium alopecia topical treatment herbal medicine plant leaves crushed herbs traditional remedies endemic species medicinal properties hair loss treatment hair growth stimulant hair shampoo
TLDR Local healers in Addis Ababa use 81 medicinal plants, mainly from the Asteraceae family, to treat skin and general diseases, with Echinops kebericho being an endangered plant important in their practices.
The ethnobotanical study conducted in the Gullele Botanical Garden in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, involved 60 traditional healers and identified 81 medicinal plants from 47 families, with the majority from the Asteraceae family. The most frequently used plant form and parts are herbs and leaves, and the major method of preparation and administration of traditional medicine is crushing and topical. Skin and general diseases are the most treated ailments. The three most cited plants used to treat diseases are Echinops kebericho Mesfin, Hagenia abyssinica, and Laggera tomentosa. The study revealed that E. kebericho is an endemic and endangered plant heavily used in traditional medicine, suggesting the need for its propagation and restoration. The study also recommends comparing the pharmacological properties of the roots and leaves of E. kebericho to potentially use leaves instead of roots in traditional medicine, aiding in the conservation of this endemic plant. The study also highlighted the use of Inula helenium extracts in a shampoo that prevented hair loss and stimulated hair growth in patients with androgenetic alopecia.
