East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, Issue. 1, 15-25 *Corresponding author: Email: markonaldagm@gmail.com ,+251946526872 https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/eajbcs.v6i1.2S An Ethnobotanical Study of a Medicinal Plant Justicia Schimperiana (Sensel) in Adaba and Shashemene Districts West Arsi Zone, Southern Ethiopia Mekdes Tadesse Mekonen1*, Hewan Demissie Degu2 1Ph.D. Student in the Department of Translational Agricultural Science, College of Biosciences and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kong University, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, College of Natural Science, Bule Hora University, Ethiopia 2Plant Biotechnology, School of Plant and Horticulture Sciences, College of Agriculture, Hawassa University, P.O. Box 05, Hawassa, Ethiopia KEYWORDS: Ethnobotany; Justicia Schimperiana; Medicinal plant; Sensel; Southern Ethiopia ABSTRACT Justicia schimperiana is an evergreen shrub growing in the wet part of Ethiopia. The plant is known by different names among the localities and is commonly termed Sensel. It is usually used for medicinal purposes for various communicable and non-communicable diseases. However, the extent of the ethnobotany of this plant has not been studied well before, so the aim of this study is to assess the palaeobotanical knowledge of the Sensel plant (Justicia schimperiana). Parallel to the sample plant collection, a total of 30 informants (21 male and 9 female) were selected to collect ethnobotanical information from two districts. Among the informants, 7 key informants who are known as traditional healers were selected purposefully. Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi- structured interviews and group discussions were analyzed. The study indicates that the community, mainly those of low economic status and people who have failed to be healed by modern medication from their health problems, depend on an indigenous herbal remedy medication like sensel. Hence, the sensel plant is used to prepare a remedy for human and animal diseases like rabies, hepatitis, skin diseases, communicable diseases, asthma, malaria, abdominal disorders, livestock diseases, and other human-related ritual problems. INTRODUCTION Background of the Study Justicia schimperiana, a member of the Acanthaceae family, is also known as Adhatoda schimperiana or Gendarussa schimperiana. Locally, it is called dhumuugaa in Afan Oromo, sensel or simiza in Amharic, and surpa, kasha, or keteso in Sidama. This fast-growing, multi- branched shrub (2–3 m tall) thrives in wet montane forests, riverbanks, and village hedges at altitudes of 1300–2700 m (Hedberg et al., 2006). It is widely distributed in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania and is often used as a live fence (Abebe et al., 1993). In Ethiopia, the leaf decoction is traditionally consumed with local beer to treat asthma, while fresh leaves are used for contagious diseases. In Eastern Ethiopia, it serves as a laxative, while in Northern Ethiopia, alone or mixed with other East African Journal of Biophysical and Computational Sciences Journal homepage : https://journals.hu.edu.et/hu-journals/index.php/eajbcs Research article East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-25 16 plants, it is used for mental illness, epilepsy, eye diseases, leprosy, malaria, jaundice, rabies, gonorrhea, syphilis, measles, relapsing fever, vitiligo, gout, and febrile illnesses (Abebe, 1996). In Southwest Ethiopia, fresh leaves are crushed and macerated in water for treating malaria and scabies (Teferi, 2003). Despite its medicinal importance for human and livestock diseases, indigenous knowledge about Sensel is at risk due to its oral transmission, leading to knowledge loss and deterioration (Mesfin, 1996). Ethnobotanical studies on Justicia species in the Americas, Asia, and Africa have primarily focused on various ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and biological properties (Sundaram and Purwar, 2011). In Ethiopia, most research emphasizes traditional practitioners and the historical medico-magical and/or medico-spiritual manuscripts and ancient Gee'z manuscripts, overlooking the knowledge of local communities (Fasil, 2005). The oral transfer of herbal knowledge, however, risks losing critical information on plant use, preparation, and medicinal applications in animal and human diseases. Therefore, documentation of medicinal plants and the indigenous understanding associated with them are crucial to identify threatened medicinal plant species to present due attention to proper control and conservation (Moa, 2010). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the ethnobotanical information on a medicinal plant Justicia schimperiana (Sensel) in Adaba and Shashemene districts in Southern Ethiopia. Ethnobotanical Background of Justicia schimperiana Ethnobotany is the scientific look at the conventional know-how and customs of a human being regarding the flora and their medical, religious, and different uses. Therefore, it's far well worth explaining the conventional remedy. A Traditional Medicine (TM) is described as the whole of the know-how and practices whether explicable or inexplicable, used inside the diagnosis, prevention, and removal of physical, mental, and/or social imbalance (WHO, 1979). Since time immemorial people have discovered treatments inside their habitat, and feature exceptional healing techniques relying upon the climatic, physiographic, floral, and faunal characteristics, in addition to the abnormal cultural and socio- structural typologies. In doing so, human beings have used conventional remedies to treat diverse disorders. It has integrated plant, animal, and mineral-primarily totally based medicines, and non-secular therapies, consisting of strategies and exercises, implemented alone or in combination (Adewumi, 1991). Traditional medicine is primarily based on accumulated practical experience and observations passed down through generations, either orally or in written form. It encompasses healing practices that have existed for centuries, often predating modern medical treatments, and continue to be utilized today without widely documented adverse effects (Elujoba et al., 2005) Acanthaceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants comprising almost 250 genera and about 2500 species (Reddy et al., 2013). Most are tropical herbs, shrubs, or twining vines; a few are epiphytes. Only some species are allotted in temperate areas. The 4 important facilities of distribution are Indonesia and Malaysia, Africa, Brazil, and Central America. The representatives of the own circle of East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-25 17 relatives may be discovered in almost every habitat, inclusive of dense or open forests, in scrub lands, on moist fields and valleys, on the seacoast and in marine areas, and in swamps and as a detail of mangrove woods. Justicia is the most essential genus of Acanthaceae, with about six hundred species which might be discovered in pan tropical and tropical areas (Correa and Alcantara, 2012). In Ethiopia, the shrub can most customarily be discovered in fences around homes and cultivated fields, wherein it has commonly been planted. In the wild, the plant grows at an altitude of 1250-2500 m, on mountain slopes, along roadsides, alongside rivers, in woodland and woodland edges. The plant may be discovered in plants and fruit all year-round, maximum abundantly so inside the dry duration from October until January (Sebald, 1972). Justicia schimperiana is shipped in excessive awareness in nearly all areas of Ethiopia and different East African nations like Eritrea, Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Other research discovered that this inexperienced plant is one of the maximum abundant, widespread, and regenerative species in northwestern Ethiopia; northern Ethiopia (Haile et al., 2008); Southwestern Ethiopia (Nune, 2008); and southeastern Ethiopia (Moa, 2010). The plant grows in many of the Ethiopian ecosystems particularly in wet montane woodland, commonly close to streams and rivers, in evergreen scrub on hill slopes, woodland clearings, espresso plantations, waste floor or planted as hedges around homesteads in dry and wet `Woina Dega` and wet `Dega` agro- climatic zones in Tigray, Gondar, Gojjam, Ilubabor, Keffa, Sidamo, Shoa and Harerghe (Tesemma, 2007). Justicia schimperiana is commonly propagated through cuttings, and seedlings also can be raised from it. It is likewise self-incompatible, and a totally excessive degree of geitonogamy is discovered in this species. The pollination device is anticipated to play a chief function in figuring out plant reproductive achievement within side the face of environmental variation and shaping its sample of genetic diversity. The plant is a great fence plant, forming a herbal barrier round compounds of house, and is mainly cultivated for this purpose. In Ethiopia, it does now no longer appear to be cultivated broadly for medicinal purposes (Amare, 1976). Chemical Composition and Pharmacological Activities Justicia schimperiana has been traditionally used for the treatment of Diabetes mellitus. Researchers have evaluated the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic activities of aqueous extract of Justicia schimperiana leaves in ordinary and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. The result showed that aqueous extract of the plant has substantial anti-hyperglycemic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and enhancement in glucose tolerance as well as slight hypoglycemic activity in normal mice and vindicating the old claim for its use in diabetes. In addition, Justicia schimperiana contains alkaloids, phenols, and terpenoids. Any of these secondary metabolites may be responsible for glucose suppression in the blood (Andualem et al, 2016). It is indicated that Justicia schimperiana has a hepatoprotective activity which is the ability to prevent liver damage due to the presence of hydroalcoholic in the leaf extracts. As the hydroethanolic extracts offered higher East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-25 18 antioxidant activity, it is possible to establish the potential application of hydroalcoholic extracts from Justicia schimperiana in the development of products with antioxidant properties and demonstrate a promising pharmaceutical product. The methanol extracts of the plant also possess antioxidant activities. This justifies the traditional uses of Justicia schimperiana in Ethiopia for the treatment of some hepatic disorders and suggests the possible utilization of these plants as a source of new drugs (Umer et al., 2010). Justicia schimperiana is traditionally used for the treatment of malaria and the crude extract confirmed of the plant is endowed with anti- malarial activity. Jemal (2014) evaluated the anti-malarial activities of chloroform, methanol, and aqueous fractions of the leaves of this plant against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Consequently, the methanol fraction significantly prevented the reduction in rectal temperature in the 4-day suppressive, curative, and repository tests. Thus, the high antimalarial activity observed in methanol and aqueous fraction indicates that the plant’s active constituents are semi-polar and polar. This proved that the traditional use of the plant could be a potential source of templates for the development of new anti-malarial agents (Jemal et al., 2014). The leave extracts of Ruta chalepensis and Justicia schimperiana were the most powerful medicinal value. The plant extraction was followed by ethanol, methanol acetone, diethyl ether, and hexane by using disc diffusion and broth dilution methods (MIC) against six human pathogenic bacterial strains (Shigella dysentery, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus aeruginosa, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Klebsiella pneumonia). The methanol extract of J. schimperiana showed strong inhibition activity against S. dysentery and E. coli. Four antibiotics were used as standard for the testing of antibacterial activity against six different human pathogens. Among the antibiotics, Ciprofloxin showed a maximum zone of inhibition ranging from 20-35mm followed by Kanamycin, Tetracycline, and Chloramphenicol (Habtamu et al., 2019). Diarrhea is one of the leading causes of preventable death in developing countries and mainly affects children and infants. It has been reported that the leaf of Justicia schimperiana is used as an antidiarrheal agent in northwest Ethiopia. The 80% methanolic leaf extract of J. schimperiana was evaluated for its activity against castor oil-induced diarrhea enter polling and gastrointestinal motility in mice. The methanolic leaf extract of Justicia schimperiana has an antidiarrheal activity and this supports the use of this plant in the treatment of diarrhea in traditional settings (Mekonnen et al., 2018). MATERIALS AND METHODS Description of the Study Area This study was conducted in Adaba and Shashemene districts in West Arsi zone Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. Adaba is located at 335 km from the capital Addis Ababa; Adaba district is bordered on the southwest by Nensebo, on the west by Dodola, on the northwest by the Shabelle River which separates it from the Gedeb Asasa, and on the east and south by Bale Zone. The astronomical location is 7.00376 latitude and 39.39063 longitudes with 7o 0’ 20” N and 39o23’ 38” E cordials. Its East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-25 19 altitude ranges from 1750 to 3400 m above sea level (West Arsi zone, 2006). The 2007 national census reported the total population of the woreda was 138,717. Adaba has an estimated population density of 63.8 people per square kilometre (CSA, 2007). Shashamane is located at a distance of 250 km south of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, and 25 km north of Awassa, SNNPRS. It is bordered to the south by SNNPR, west by Siraro, north by Arsi Negele, and east by East Arsi Zone. It has a latitude of 7° 12' north and a longitude of 38° 36' east. It is situated at an average altitude of 1924 m above sea level (Figure 1). Figure 1: Map of the study area (Source: Researcher) The rainfall of the study area is bimodal, with the main rainy season occurring between July and September. The dry season lasts from November to February, followed by the short rainy season during March and April. From the weather records of 1994-2004, the average rainfall of Adaba district was 733 - 1000 mm and the temperature ranges from 7-240 C. The agroecology of the Shashemene district is categorized as Kolla (50%), Woina Dega (29%), and Dega (21%). Shashemene district receives an annual rainfall of 700–950 mm and the minimum and maximum annual temperature of 12 °C and 27 °C, respectively. The total land coverage of the area is 76,888 ha, of which 48,975 ha is used for cropland and 7440 ha for forest land (West Arsi zone, 2006). Sampling Research Site The study area was selected based on the information obtained from the background studies and the researcher herself evident the concentration of medicinal plants in southern Ethiopia. As part of the medicinal plant, Justicia schimperiana is extensively distributed in high concentrations in almost all regions and particularly in the southern part of Ethiopia (Hedberg et al., 2006). Accordingly, the researcher has made a preliminary survey in southern Ethiopia specifically in the study area on the existence and distribution of the plant. The researcher has also existing knowledge about the medicinal value of the plant at the selected research sites where the plant is abundantly grown, and people use it for different treatments. Therefore, due to the above justification, the researcher has identified Adaba and Shashemene districts as the research sites. Sampling technique and sample size, Data collection, Data Analysis A total of thirty (21 Male and 9 Female) informants were selected out of the two study areas, 23 (12 from Adaba and 11 from Shshemene) were selected purposely based on the availability of sensel around their environment as general informants. All respondents are above 40 years old. They were selected during the plant sample collection survey based on the availability of the plant on their fence, compound, and village. They were East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-25 20 asked to give their knowledge about the plants they were used, plant parts harvested, method of preparation for use, and other related information about the plant and its purpose. Seven (7) key informants or local healers (3 from Shashemene district and 4 from Adaba district) were selected purposively based on the recommendation from elders of the study areas. The qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured questionnaire. Thus, the surveys were carried out from January 2020 to end of April 2021(in three phases) using semi- structured interviews. Interview questions were determined beforehand, and some arose during the conversation to clarify the major questions in the questionnaire. Both general and ethnobotanical questions were translated to the local language for conversation. Before the administration of the interview, discussions were held to elaborate on the objective of the study and receive the consent of interviewees; and build on trust to share local knowledge about their experience on the Justicia schimperiana plant. The information gathered from the respondents was interpreted and cross-checked and secondary related literature was also consulted. Finally, a descriptive analysis was made to reconstruct the Indigenous knowledge of the respondents on the plant. RESULTS According to the demographic data (Table 1), the total number of respondents used to interview was 30. Among these 53.3% were from the Adaba district and 46.7 % were from the Shashemene district. Key informants were selected based on their indigenous knowledge as a traditional healer in the respective districts. Accordingly, from the total number of key informants, 57.14% of the key informants were interviewed in the Adaba district whereas the remaining 42.86% were interviewed in the Shashemene district. Table 1: Demographic Data of general informants, key informants, Respondent’s Occupation, and Respondents Knowledge about the plant General informants District Male Female Total % Adaba 11 5 16 53.3 Shashamane 10 4 14 46.7 Total 21 9 30 100 Key informants Adaba 3 1 4 57.14 Shashamane 3 - 3 42.86 Total 6 1 7 100 Respondents’ occupation Occupations Local elders Farmers Traditional healers Others In numbers 10 8 7 5 In percentage 33% 27% 23% 17% Respondents Knowledge about the sensel plant Medicine, livestock food and fence Fence Cleaning and firewood consumption Spiritual purpose In number 15 10 3 2 In percentage 50% 33% 10% 7% East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-25 21 Most of the respondents were purposively selected from various occupations based on their knowledge and experience with the use of the plant in their localities. About 10(33%) of the respondents were local elders, 8(27%) were farmers and traditional healers which accounts for 7(23%) were selected as respondents followed by 5(17%) of the respondents who are religious fathers and government employee to constituted in this study areas. All of the respondents have knowledge about the plant mainly regarding the inhabitation of the sensel plant in their surroundings. As informants portrayed the plant grows both naturally and by human cultivation along their fence. The non-cultivated sensel plant usually grows in forests, shrubs and along the roadsides. According to the informants, they acquired the indigenous knowledge from their families who were traditional healers and informally adopted it from the community as habitual action against common diseases and for other activities. Table 1 shows that fifteen (50%) of the respondents including key informants of the study area have knowledge of the use of the sensel plant for various purposes like medicinal, livestock food and fence. About ten (33%) of the respondents have mentioned that the plant is used for fencing purposes. About three (10%) portrayed the sensel plant also used for cleaning clay pots and for firewood consumption in the study areas. Other respondents account for two (7%) of the respondents who have suggested that the plant is used for Spiritual purposes. The sensel plant widely grows in the study area both in human-made and natural ways. The plant is used by society for medicinal value in the very rear situation. It is commonly used for fencing purposes along the living quarter of the locality due to the evergreen, jungle and dense characteristics, and drought resistance nature of the plant (Figure 2). Figure 2: Justicia Schimperiana (Sensel) The indigenous knowledge of the study area indicates that the plant is used for medicinal value to humans and animals. From the part of the plant, the leave parts are used for the extraction and remedy of various health disorders. Accordingly, the following illness is identified that the traditional healers in the study area use the plant for treatment (Table 2). East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-25 22 Table 2: Traditional importance of Sensel (Justicia Schimperiana) plant in the society Purpose of the plant Part of the plant used Preparation, combination, and remedy Ways of Treatment Hepatitis Fresh leave Squeezed and mixed with local beer Taking a cup of coffee Bronchial Asthma Dried leave Powdered and mixed with local beer Taking half of a coffee cup Contagious disease Fresh leave Chopped and diluted with water Taking half of a coffee cup Abdominal illness Fresh leave Squeezed and mixed with powder of Vernonia amygdalina (grawa) and S.oxyacantha (tenadam) Take a coffee cup with many volumes of water daily until cured Dermal disease Fresh leave Crushed and socked with water Washing the affected area Rabies Fresh leave Crushed with calabash (qel) Taking half of a coffee cup with fresh milk Livestock disease Leave Squeezed, mixed with garlic and soaked with water Half of a litter is given to the cattle Spiritual Leave Soaked with water Sprinkled at the home of the household and local drink house Cleaning Leave Boiled with various herbs Washing home utensils and local jars. Washing early mothers who gave birth. Besides treatment of infectious diseases, the leaves are used by local people for protection and treatment of communicable sexually transmitted diseases. The traditional healer also elicited that the remedy is also used under normal conditions to protect against the risk of contagious diseases mainly transmitted through sexual intercourse. A dermal disease called scabies which is caused due to an insect bite and leprosy due to bacterial infection is treated and cured by herbal medicine made of sensel. The dose of the medicine is not determined rather it is based on the amount of the affected area of the dermis and applied until the skin regains its natural look. Informants of the study areas portrayed that the sensel plant is highly effective to treat rabies disease among domestic animals which are caused by viral infection due to the bite of infected animals. The plant is used both for protective and curative purposes. When there is a suspicion of rabies infection among the localities, people used to provide the remedy plant to the domestic animals because it is believed that sensel plant has anti-rabies treatment. However, if there is a certain condition of rabies infection among the domestic animals, the herbal medicine made of sensel is given to the affected animals within three days. The informants suggested that fresh milk has the role of reducing the acidic nature and the unpleasant smell of the remedy. DISCUSSION According to the informants, the plant is also used to treat cattle diseases for instance wounds and swelling appear inside the mouth of livestock. Sensel plant had also been used for the ritual aspects among the society for a long period of time. As respondents have evidenced that the society had been perceived and suggested that the sensel plant has the power of protection from the evil spirit like a sprit against the wealth and healthy wellbeing of peoples. East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-25 23 This has been practiced in two ways; the leave of sensel plant crushed and mixed with water then sprinkled in the living home and traditional alcohol drink houses like ‘tela bet’ and ‘tej bet’. The second way of protecting from the bad spirit is by planting the sensel plant along the living quarters as fencing. However, such activities are declining recently due to the propagation of religious teaching and considering backward practices among the community. The plant is used for cleaning kitchen materials (utensils) and maintaining the good health of the woman’s skin. The big clay jar (insira) which is used for fermentation and preparation of local bear (tela) is cleaned using the leave of sensel plant. According to informants, the plant keeps the flavor, a test of the drink and neatness of the jar as well. When a woman gives birth on the fifth day of her birth leave and rest, traditionally the baby mother showering event called sheneni is hosted. For such events, various medicinal herbs were collected and boiled with water. Thus, the sunset plant leave is highly selected and used as medicinal leave along with other herbs. Because the plant is believed that it has both spiritual roles to protect the mother against evil spirit and regains the skin and exhausted body of the baby mother. Generally, according to the indigenous knowledge of the study area, the sensel plant has been used for medication and non- medication purposes. However, the dosage of the remedy is mostly determined by the physical maturity and age of the user rather than the chronic level of the disease. Thus, to manage the over dosage effect and associated contradiction and effect of the medication the traditional healer used to give milk and coffee along with the medication. According to the informants’ local knowledge in the study area, the Justicia schimperiana plant was traditionally used for the treatments of different diseases such as Hepatitis B (ye wef beshita), Bronchial asthma, Contagious diseases, Abdominal illness, Dermal disease, Rabies, Livestock disease. These findings were in line with other studies which were done before by different researchers in separate study areas in Ethiopia. Subsequently, Justicia schimperiana is used in the treatment of various ailments such as asthma and other inflammatory situations, excessive pellagra, and constipation (Yinebeb, 2008); gonorrhoea, rabies (Tolera, 2017). Hepatitis B treatment (Haile et al., 2008), for diarrhoea treatment and also reported that the plant is used in the treatment of livestock ailment (blackleg) and internal parasites (Teklehaymanot and Giday, 2007). In addition, Justicia schimperiana is used to treat malaria and gonorrhoea in southern Ethiopia also indicating that the leaf and root of Justicia schimperiana are used in the treatment of rabies and coccidiosis in western Ethiopia (Tadesse and Dereje, 2015). Justicia schimperiana is used to treat skin lesions in Shinasha, Agew-awi and Amhara peoples in northwest Ethiopia (Giday et al., 2007). Furthermore, its fresh root is used to treat diseases in emergencies; the fresh leaf of Justicia schimperiana is used to treat rabies in Fiche District, Central Ethiopia (Abiyu, 2014). CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS Justicia schimperiana (Sensel) is an evergreen plant and grows in different parts of Ethiopia mostly as an unmanaged and managed plant. In most parts of the country, people use the plant for medicinal purposes and to fence their compounds. Based on the finding of this study, the community mainly those who are of low East Afr. J. Biophys. Comput. Sci. (2025), Vol. 6, No. 1, 15-25 24 economic status and people who have failed to be healed by modern medication from their health problems re-laid on an indigenous herbal remedy medication like sensel. Accordingly, the sensel plant is used to prepare a remedy for human and animal diseases like rabies, hepatitis, skin diseases, communicable diseases, asthma, malaria, abdominal illness / disorders, livestock diseases, and other human-related spiritual problems. It would be important to save the plant populations in different regions to limit population decline caused by large-scale environmental catastrophes. The species or at least a large part of its genetic diversity may be lost soon due to its medicinal and other uses, urbanization, and its consequent exploitation if proper conservation measures are not adopted. The government and the stakeholders in the respective field should give due consideration to the ethnobotanical studies. Thus, indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants in general and sensel plants in particular should be widely investigated and documented at various levels from the locality to higher research institutions in the country. To conserve the plant and to avoid the risk of endangerment of the plant in future, the sensel plant should be conserved or planted along with other medicinal plants in the home garden of households, species, and genetic conservation sites like the institute of national biodiversity. Under the current launched national green environment campaign and indigenous nursery afforestation, medicinal plants like sensel should also be planted along with the nurseries of trees. Consequently, it sustains the diversity of the sensel species and maintains the natural aspects of the ecosystem. Funding statement This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Data availability statement The data supporting the conclusion of this article are included within the article. Any queries regarding this data may be directed to the corresponding author. Declaration of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest. Acknowledgements The author would like to forward heartfelt gratitude to the study subjects for their willingness to participate in our study. I use this opportunity to thank Hawassa University, the School of Plant and Horticulture Sciences, Department of Biotechnology for their material assistance and encouragement. References Abebe D. 1996. The Role of Herbal Remedies and the Approaches Towards their Development, In Proceedings of the Workshop on Development and Utilization of Herbal Remedies in Ethiopia, Nazareth, Ethiopia, 111:29. Abebe D. and Ayehu A. 1993. Medicinal plants and enigmatic health practices of northern Ethiopia B. S. P. E.: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 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