Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants is vital to local communities and cultural heritage, particularly in Ethiopia. This study aims to document native medicinal plants in the Jawi district, including associated traditional knowledge. The study involved conducting semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and guided field walks with a purposefully selected 54 traditional healers. The study identified 87 medicinal plant species from 50 families used treat over 50 ailments, with a preference for wild herbs. Fabaceae, Malvaceae, and Solanaceae were the most prominent families, each with five species; Zehneria scabra, was the most often mentioned species, followed by Lepidium sativum, Myrica salicifolia, Carissa spinarum, and Momordica foetida. 43% of identified species were herbs, with 44% of remedies made from roots. Pounding was the most common preparation method, and oral application was the most frequent use, followed by dermal application. 60% plants treated human ailments, 16% treated livestock, and 24% were used for both. Preference rankings indicated specific plants favored for certain ailments. The study highlights key plant families and species crucial for local healthcare but notes threats like habitat destruction and knowledge loss. Urgent conservation actions are needed to preserve medicinal plants and inform future research and strategies.

• Klíčová slova
• Ailments, Indigenous, Medicinal plant, Mode of application, Traditional healers,
• MeSH
• etnobotanika metody   MeSH
• fytoterapie metody   MeSH
• léčivé rostliny * klasifikace   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• tradiční africká medicína * metody   MeSH
• zachování přírodních zdrojů * metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Etiopie MeSH

BACKGROUND: The phytotherapeutic knowledge of the Kongo people in the territories of Kisantu and Mbanza-Ngungu in Kongo-Central Province (DR Congo) is rapidly eroding. To document the remaining knowledge, we conducted an ethnobotanical survey on the most important medicinal plant species and diseases treated with them, as well as plants with therapeutic potential. We also checked for the cultural similarity in medicinal plant knowledge between the two territories and how knowledge about Kongo medicinal plants differs between different social groups. METHODS: From June 2017 until February 2018 and from February 2019 until April 2019, we conducted a survey with 188 phytotherapists, selected using the snowball method and surveyed using semi-structured interviews. Voucher specimens were taken for identification. Ethnobotanical data were analyzed using medicinal use value (UVs), informant agreement ratio (IARs), informant consensus factor (ICF), and species therapeutic potential (STP). Rahman's similarity index was used for ethno-cultural comparison of medicinal plant knowledge between the two communities. Medicinal knowledge between different social groups was analyzed using non-parametric tests and Poisson regression. RESULTS: A total of 231 plants (i.e., 227 botanical species, representing 192 genera and 79 families) were reportedly used to treat 103 diseases. Most abundant taxa were reported for the Fabaceae family (including 11.9% of species and 10.9% of genera). Most reported species (45.0%) were from anthropized areas. Leaves (39.4%), herbs (37.1%), decoction (41.7%), and oral ingestion (72%) were the most frequently cited plant part, botanical form, preparation, and administration method, respectively. Four of all inventoried species showed high UVS (> 0.05), whereas eight had an IAR of one. According to ICF, 31 diseases were mentioned. Highest ICF (≥ 0.4) was observed for hemorrhoids (0.44), amoebiasis (0.43), and itchy rash (0.42). Fifty-four plant species were identified as likely possessing an interesting therapeutic potential. Low ethno-cultural similarity in medicinal knowledge (RSI = 16.6%) was found between the two territories. Analysis of the Kongo medicinal plant knowledge showed that the mean number of reported species and diseases vary considerably depending on gender, type, and residence of therapists (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results prove that the Kongo phytopharmacopeia makes use of interesting medicinal plant species that could be further studied for conservation and pharmacological applications.

• Klíčová slova
• Cultural similarity, Informant knowledge, Kisantu, Mbanza-Ngungu, Medicinally important species, Phytopharmacopeia, Use-value consensus,
• MeSH
• etnobotanika * MeSH
• fytoterapie MeSH
• kulturní charakteristiky MeSH
• léčivé rostliny klasifikace   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• zeměpis MeSH
• znalosti * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Konžská demokratická republika MeSH