A Review on Ethnobotanical Study of Traditional Medicinal Plants Used for Treatment of Liver Problems in Ethiopia

Abstract

Traditional medicinal plants are used for human ailments treatment throughout the world primary health care need practiced typically liver problems by indigenous medical practitioners. This review was employed with the objective of compiling and documenting ethnobotanical studies on the use of medicinal plants, associated with the treatment of liver problems from different ethnic groups in Ethiopia. By using published and unpublished research articles, a total of 46 journals meeting inclusion criteria were used for analyzing and compiling this review literature.  The ethno-medicinal use of 114 plant species belonging to 90 genera and 50 families were reported and documented from eight regions of Ethiopia. The highest family in terms of species number was Euphorbiaceae accounts 13 (11.4%) species and followed by Asteraceae 12 (10.53%) species and Fabaceae 10 (8.77%) species. Herbs were dominant habit 48(42.11%) followed by shrubs 33 (28.95%). Most of the medicinal plant species (52.7%) were collected from the wild. The most frequently cited plant species were Justicia schimperiana 9 (12.5%) followed by Phytolacca dodecandra 8 (11.11%), Croton macrostachyus 7 (9.72%). The most frequently utilized plant parts for treatment of liver disease was root (24.78%) followed by leaf (23.89 %). The medicinal plant preparations were administered via oral gavage or Oral route of administration was employed for the medicinal plant preparations most commonly used route of application 99 (88.39%) followed by dermal and oral 4 (3.57%) and dermal application 3 (2.68%). The healers used different method of preparation for application such as crushing, concoction, decoction, chewing, powdering, etc. This review indicated that the liver problem is common disease in Ethiopia. Adapting a recommended diagnostic and treatment using physical diagnosis by indigenous healers/ practitioners attempted curing liver problem implementing prevention and control policies in the general population needs an urgent attention in the country.