An Ethnobotanical Study of a Medicinal Plant Justicia Schimperiana (Sensel) in Adaba and Shashemene Districts West Arsi Zone, 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.