Ethiopian Medicinal Plants in Veterinary Healthcare A Mini-Review

Abstract

Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa. There are a myriad of diseases that affect
this livestock population. Considering the inadequate modern veterinary health services in the country
commensurate with tackling the problems, traditional ways of treatment appear to be a viable alternative
approach. Traditional medicines and methods have been woven into the culture of local communities for a
long time. There are many medicinal plants scattered all over the country, and a sizable number of them
have been used for animal diseases. Rationalizing and validating the use of each medicinal plant requires
thorough research. As a first step, it is important and necessary to collate in a review some of the
available information on traditional use of such plants. A review of the literature shows that plants are
used in various parts of Ethiopia in the general healthcare of livestock. Several studies have reported such
use, although a thorough and complete inventory of plant species used for animal diseases is still
unavailable. In this mini-review, the current literature on veterinary medicinal plants is summarized,
along with a listing of the medicinal plants used for common livestock ailments. The paper concludes by
providing recommendations regarding the prospects of research in this area