Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Hades Forest, Doba Wereda, West Hararghe, Ethiopia, and Their Associated Indigenous Knowledge

Background Medicinal plants have long held historical significance and are recognized for their essential role in both traditional and modern healthcare systems. In Ethiopia, where access to formal medical services is limited, traditional medicinal practices remain crucial. This study documents medicinal plant species, their traditional uses, and associated indigenous knowledge in Hades and the surrounding communities of Doba district, West Hararghe, Ethiopia, to support conservation planning and sustainable use. Methods Data were collected from 105 general informants selected via simple random sampling and 15 key informants selected via snowball sampling. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize demographic and plant-use data. In contrast, quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including preference ranking, direct matrix ranking, informant consensus factor (ICF), relative frequency of citation (RFC), and fidelity level (FL), were employed to assess the cultural importance and consensus regarding medicinal plants. Results This study documented 49 medicinal plant species belonging to 31 families used to treat human ailments, with Asteraceae and Lamiaceae as the dominant families. Shrubs were the most common growth form, and leaves were the most frequently used plant part. Remedies were prepared mainly by crushing and pounding (59.1%) and were administered orally (70.6%). Vernonia amygdalina , Cissampelos mucronata , and Croton macrostachyus were the top-ranked species for treating intestinal parasites. Informant consensus was highest for reproductive/urinary (ICF = 0.97), gastrointestinal (ICF = 0.96), and dermatological disorders (ICF = 0.96). Twenty-one species achieved complete fidelity (FL = 100%), and Croton macrostachyus had the highest relative frequency of citation (78.3%), indicating its prominence in local ethnomedicine. Ethnomedicinal knowledge was transmitted primarily orally and was significantly greater among key informants (mean = 14.47) than general informants (mean = 7.25; p < 0.001), and among elders compared with middle-aged participants (p = 0.045). No significant differences were observed by gender (p = 0.758) or educational status (p = 0.57). Overgrazing, overharvesting, and weak intergenerational knowledge transfer were identified as the major threats to both plant resources and traditional knowledge. Conclusion The study highlights the vital role of medicinal plants in local healthcare in the study area and the cultural knowledge associated with their use. Conserving plant diversity and sustaining indigenous knowledge through community-based initiatives, public awareness, and sustainable harvesting practices are essential to ensure their continued availability and contribution to both biodiversity and local well-being.