This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of medicinalplants (MPs) used to treat wounds. Methanol and ethyl acetatecrude extracts of four medicinal plants were examined for anti-bacterial efficacy against gram-positive and gram-negativeAmerican Type Culture Collection (ATCC) strains. Plant crudeextracts were produced using the maceration technique andanalyzed using qualitative phytochemical tests. The antibacter-ial properties of plant products were evaluated using the agardisc diffusion assay. The broth microdilution method was usedto determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) andminimum bactericidal concentrations. The data were analyzedusing Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The methanol extract ofRumex nervosus had the highest yield (21%). The methanolextracts of all tested MPs tested positive for alkaloids, phenolics,and tannins. The methanol and ethyl acetate extracts exhibiteda dose-dependent increase in the growth inhibition zoneagainst all ATCC. The methanol extract of Plantago lanceolatademonstrated the highest antibacterial activity (16.67 ± 1.15)against Staphylococcus epidermidis. S. aureus and S. epidermidisrecorded a relatively lower MIC (6.25 mg mL−1) from methanolextracts of P. lanceolata, while P. lanceolata and R. nervosusrecorded a lower MBC (25 mg mL−1) against S. aureus.
KEYWORDS: Antibacterial activity; inhibition zone; medicinal plants; MIC; phytochemical; wound

Background: People in Sekela District, like others in Ethiopia, have a long tradition of using medicinal plants totreat human and livestock ailments. However, medicinal plants and their associated indigenous knowledge arecurrently under threat. Thus, the study was carried out to compile ethnobotanical knowledge about medicinalplants in the district.Methods: A total of 352 informants from six study sub-districts (328 general and 24 key informants) were selectedrandomly and purposefully. Individual interviews, focus group discussions, guided field walks, and marketsurveys were used to acquire ethnobotanical data using semi structured interview questions. The informantconsensus factor (ICF), fidelity level, preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, medicinal use, and Analysis ofVariance were used.Results: A total of 121 medicinal plants belonging to 106 genera and 55 families were documented. The Aster-aceae family had the most species with 11 (9 %), followed by Lamiaceae with 8 (6.6 %), while leaves were themost utilized part with 56 (37 %). The majority of the remedies were made as a concoction (32, 17 %) anddelivered orally (98, 57 %). There was a statistically significant difference in indigenous knowledge on medicinalplants among genders, ages, marital status, educational levels, and occupations (p Ë‚ 0.05). The dermatologicaldisease categories had the highest ICF (0.92) in human ailments.Conclusion: The study revealed that Sekela District is rich in medicinal plants for treating human and livestockailments, and has indigenous knowledge to utilize these resources effectively. However, overgrazing, agriculturalexpansion, and improper harvesting techniques threaten medicinal plants. This signals the need to make sig-nificant efforts to raise public awareness about their conservation and sustainable use.
Keywords: Ailments; Ethnobotany; Indigenous knowledge; Sekela; Traditional medicinal plants

Background: People in Sekela District, like others in Ethiopia, have a long tradition of using medicinal plants totreat human and livestock ailments. However, medicinal plants and their associated indigenous knowledge arecurrently under threat. Thus, the study was carried out to compile ethnobotanical knowledge about medicinalplants in the district.Methods: A total of 352 informants from six study sub-districts (328 general and 24 key informants) were selectedrandomly and purposefully. Individual interviews, focus group discussions, guided field walks, and marketsurveys were used to acquire ethnobotanical data using semi structured interview questions. The informantconsensus factor (ICF), fidelity level, preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, medicinal use, and Analysis ofVariance were used.Results: A total of 121 medicinal plants belonging to 106 genera and 55 families were documented. The Aster-aceae family had the most species with 11 (9 %), followed by Lamiaceae with 8 (6.6 %), while leaves were themost utilized part with 56 (37 %). The majority of the remedies were made as a concoction (32, 17 %) anddelivered orally (98, 57 %). There was a statistically significant difference in indigenous knowledge on medicinalplants among genders, ages, marital status, educational levels, and occupations (p Ë‚ 0.05). The dermatologicaldisease categories had the highest ICF (0.92) in human ailments.Conclusion: The study revealed that Sekela District is rich in medicinal plants for treating human and livestockailments, and has indigenous knowledge to utilize these resources effectively. However, overgrazing, agriculturalexpansion, and improper harvesting techniques threaten medicinal plants. This signals the need to make sig-nificant efforts to raise public awareness about their conservation and sustainable use.
Keywords: Ailments; Ethnobotany; Indigenous knowledge; Sekela; Traditional medicinal plants