Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by indigenous communities in Sheikh District, Somaliland

Medicinal plants (MPs) remain to play a vital role in primary healthcare among rural communities. In Somaliland, knowledge of MPs remains under-documented, mainly in Sheikh District, Sahil Region. This study aims to document the diversity, uses, cultural importance, and conservation status of MPs in Sheikh District, while examining patterns of knowledge transmission, utilization, and threats, including cross-cultural comparisons with other Somali and East African regions.

Ethnobotanical information was collected using semi-structured interviews, guided field walks, and focus group discussions with 106 informants, including traditional healers, elders, and other community members. Quantitative indices Jaccard Similarity Index (JI), Rahman's Similarity Index (RSI), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Fidelity Level (FL), preference ranking, and direct matrix ranking were employed to assess species importance, agreement, and multifunctionality. Statistical analyses conducted in R evaluated variation in knowledge across socio-demographic groups.

A total of 54 medicinal plant species, representing 33 families, were recorded for treating ailments including gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory infections, malaria, diabetes, and dermatological and ocular conditions. Vachellia bussei (Harms ex Y.Sjöstedt) Kyal. & Boatwr., Balanites aegyptiaca var. aegyptiaca, and Melia azedarach L. exhibited the highest FL values (94%), while gastrointestinal and parasitic disorders showed the highest ICF (0.77), indicating strong consensus. Oral administration was the predominant route of use. Multipurpose species such as Vachellia spp. and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. faced high anthropogenic pressure due to fuelwood and construction demands. Knowledge was mainly transmitted orally, with older, male, and less formally educated informants demonstrating significantly greater expertise (P < 0.05). Cross-cultural comparison highlighted both locally unique uses and overlaps with ethnomedicinal practices in neighboring regions.

MPs in Sheikh District are critical not only for healthcare but also for food security, cultural continuity, and environmental sustainability. Urgent actions are recommended for conservation, sustainable harvesting, and systematic documentation of indigenous knowledge. Prioritizing pharmacological validation of culturally significant species can further support community health, biodiversity conservation, and policy development for sustainable management.