Uchenna E Odoh1, Philip F Uzor2, Chidimma L Eze1, Theophine C Akunne3, Chukwuma M Onyegbulam1, Patience O Osadebe4. 1. Department of Pharmacognosy and Environmental Medicines, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. 2. Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. Electronic address: Philip.uzor@unn.edu.ng. 3. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. 4. Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Nigeria. Electronic address: patience.osadebe@unn.edu.ng.
Abstract
ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE: Malaria is a serious public health problem especially in sub-Saharan African countries such as Nigeria. The causative parasite is increasingly developing resistance to the existing drugs. There is urgent need for alternative and affordable therapy from medicinal plants which have been used by the indigenous people for many years. AIM OF STUDY: This study was conducted to document the medicinal plant species traditionally used by the people of Nsukka Local Government Area in south-eastern Nigeria for the treatment of malaria. METHODS: A total of 213 respondents, represented by women (59.2%) and men (40.8%), were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results were analysed and discussed in the context of previously published information on anti-malarial and phytochemical studies of the identified plants. RESULTS: The survey revealed that 50 plant species belonging to 30 botanical families were used in this region for the treatment of malaria. The most cited families were Apocynaceae (13.3%), Annonaceae (10.0%), Asteraceae (10.0%), Lamiaceae (10.0%), Poaceae (10.0%), Rubiaceae (10.0%) and Rutaceae (10.0%). The most cited plant species were Azadirachta indica (11.3%), Mangifera indica (9.1%), Carica papaya (8.5%), Cymbopogon citratus (8.5%) and Psidium guajava (8.5%). CONCLUSION: The present findings showed that the people of Nsukka use a large variety of plants for the treatment of malaria. The identified plants are currently undergoing screening for anti-malarial, toxicity and chemical studies in our laboratory.
ETHNOBOTANICAL RELEVANCE: Malaria is a serious public health problem especially in sub-Saharan African countries such as Nigeria. The causative parasite is increasingly developing resistance to the existing drugs. There is urgent need for alternative and affordable therapy from medicinal plants which have been used by the indigenous people for many years. AIM OF STUDY: This study was conducted to document the medicinal plant species traditionally used by the people of Nsukka Local Government Area in south-eastern Nigeria for the treatment of malaria. METHODS: A total of 213 respondents, represented by women (59.2%) and men (40.8%), were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results were analysed and discussed in the context of previously published information on anti-malarial and phytochemical studies of the identified plants. RESULTS: The survey revealed that 50 plant species belonging to 30 botanical families were used in this region for the treatment of malaria. The most cited families were Apocynaceae (13.3%), Annonaceae (10.0%), Asteraceae (10.0%), Lamiaceae (10.0%), Poaceae (10.0%), Rubiaceae (10.0%) and Rutaceae (10.0%). The most cited plant species were Azadirachta indica (11.3%), Mangifera indica (9.1%), Carica papaya (8.5%), Cymbopogon citratus (8.5%) and Psidium guajava (8.5%). CONCLUSION: The present findings showed that the people of Nsukka use a large variety of plants for the treatment of malaria. The identified plants are currently undergoing screening for anti-malarial, toxicity and chemical studies in our laboratory.
Authors: Brice Armand Fanou; Jean Robert Klotoe; Lauris Fah; Victorien Dougnon; Charles Hornel Koudokpon; Ghislaine Toko; Frédéric Loko Journal: BMC Complement Med Ther Date: 2020-09-21
Authors: Philip F Uzor; Chukwuebuka K Onyishi; Adaeze P Omaliko; Somtochukwu A Nworgu; Onyemaechi H Ugwu; Ngozi J Nwodo Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2021-07-17 Impact factor: 2.629