Medicinal Plants Genetic Resources Department
Background
The use of medicinal plants is as old as human civilization. Ethiopia has glorious tradition of health care system based on plants, which dates back to several millennia. In the early 16th century, a European traveller called Francisco reported the use of herbs as purgatives in Ethiopia. Another British traveller, James Bruce, who stayed in Ethiopia from 1769 to 1771, also reported the wide use of a plant locally known as ‘wagnos’ that was latter named Brucea antidysenterica (Simaroubaceae), as a remedy against dysentery. Medical text books written in Geez or even in Arabic in Ethiopia between the mid of 17th and beginning of 18th century imply that plants have been used as a source of traditional medicine in Ethiopia from time immemorial to combat different ailments and human sufferings. The long history of the use of medicinal plants is reflected in various medico-religious manuscripts produced on parchments and believed to have originated centuries ago. For example, the ancient and very antique manuscripts remnant collected from Axumite kingdom (7th to 11th century), manuscript collected from the ruins of Zagwe kingdom (11th-13th century) and documents originated from Gonder kingdom and collected from covenants, church and individuals at the time of Minlik the 2nd written in Arabic indicates that the use of traditional medicine in Ethiopia is significant and is deep-rooted.
In Ethiopia about 80 % of human population and 90% of livestock rely on traditional medicine. Studies have shown that most of the medicinal plants utilized by the Ethiopian people are harvested from the wild.
Resource Base
Ethiopia due to its wide range of ecological, edaphic and climatic conditions is one of the major centers of origin/diversity for several plant species. The total number of vascular plants is believed to be more than 6500 species out of which an estimated 10% are endemic and about 14 % (more than 800 species) are utilized for medicinal purposes. Medicinal plants as components of various ecosystems are subjected to continuous depletion and are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss and over exploitation. The danger poses a threat to the well-being of the rural population which has, for generations, relied on the plants to ward off some of the common ailments in both human beings and domestic animals. Both the plant materials and associated traditional knowledge are being lost due to lack of systematic conservation, research, proper utilization and documentation. Thus, for the benefit of the existing and future generations we have the responsibility of ensuring that the use of medicinal plant genetic resources is scientifically sound and ecologically sustainable. One without the other cannot be as effective as it should be.
Objective
To conserve and promote sustainable utilization of medicinal plant genetic resources and associated indigenous knowledge for prevention and treatment of human and animal diseases.
Conservation strategies
The medicinal plant genetic resource conservation will focus on ex- situ and in –situ conservation approaches.
1. Ex-situ Conservation
The ex-situ conservation practices like seed storage and field gene bank has been practiced.
Strategy
A comprehensive survey, inventory and collection program to document the 
distribution and status of medicinal plant genetic resources along with indigenous knowledge is a high priority area.
Actions
Identify high diversity areas of medicinal plants, species threatened by genetic erosion and/or over exploitation, and areas prone to natural and/or man made calamities;
a. Solicit support from the local communities and traditional healers in the inventory of medicinal plants and indigenous knowledge;
b. Collect and document information on medicinal plants and indigenous knowledge;
c. Establish field gene banks and botanic gardens for rare or endangered medicinal plant species and conventional preservation facilities for storable seeds of medicinal plants;
d. Characterization and evaluation of selected medicinal plants.
2. In-situ conservation
Strategy
Identify ecosystems with diverse medicinal plant species with emphases on the ecosystem with substantial community size of a given medicinal plant species.
Action
a. development of rational medicinal plant genetic resource conservation strategy;
b. promotion of public awareness on the value of medicinal plant;
c. based on availability data and with active participation and support from Regional Bureaus of Agriculture and local communities, areas with diverse medicinal plant species will be protected from encroachment as part of the general in-situ conservation program;
d. establishment of institutional and national data bases.
Accomplished Activities
Establishment of Wendo Genet Medicinal Plants Field Gene Bank (1.6ha)
1. Plants used for three human diseases (tapeworm, bronchopneumonia and hypertension) and for three livestock diseases (tapeworm, mastitis and dermatophiloses) were given priority and collected in collaboration with traditional healers of each region;
2. A total of 320 germplasm were collected;
3. Priority was given for collection of rare, endangered/threatened and endemic medicinal plants. Medicinal plants were also collected from the traditional healer’s perspective, areas that serve as a major source of materials and from areas where there is high deforestation;
4. Mass awareness campaign was made at different level.
Read more about Wondo Genet FGB
Establishment of Bale Goba medicinal Plants Field Gene Bank (3 ha)
1. Recently established and 3 ha of land was made ready for the field gene bank;
2. A total of 248 germplasm were collected;
3. Priority was given for collection of rare, endangered/threatened and endemic medicinal plants based on the data obtained from National Herbarium and graduate students of Biology department, Addis Ababa University. Medicinal plants were also collected from the traditional healer’s perspective, areas that serve as a major source of materials and from areas where there is high deforestation;
4. Currently over 211 samples of medicinal plants are handed over to the National herbarium for taxonomic identification and authentication.
Future Action Plan
Prioritizing of the regions based on genetic erosion for collection and conservation will be done in consultation with concerned Regional Bureaus;
- Developing a collaboration work with Regional and National Institutions;
- Identifying ex-situ and in-situ conservation sites will be done in consultation with concerned Regional Bureaus;
- Promotion of public awareness on the value of medicinal plants will be done in consultation with concerned Regional Bureaus;
- Study on storage behavior of selected medicinal plants;
- Diversity study on selected medicinal plants;
- Conduct more germplasm collection, characterization and evaluation of medicinal plants;
- Complete the remaining taxonomic identification;
- Popularization of the Field Gene Banks.
Relevant Publications by the Department
National Economic Value of the Unexploited Traditional Medicinal Plants,Ethiopia
ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF USEFUL PLANTS IN DANIIO GADE (HOME-GARDENS) IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA
The Neglected Multipurpose Dry Land Crop (Jatropha curcas L.) – An Option for Ethiopia: An Overview
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