Conservation of indigenous medicinal botanicals in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Conservation of indigenous medicinal botanicals in Ekiti State, Nigeria first-author †E-mail:josmodkay@yahoo.com †E-mail:josmodkay@yahoo.com josmodkay@yahoo.com Department of Plant Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, P.M.B.5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria Department of Plant Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, P.M.B.5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria The rapid appraisal method was used to identify the botanicals used ethnomedicinally from a total of 300 randomly selected respondents drawn from the existing three geo-political zones of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The results obtained revealed that about 40% of the 71 botanicals identified presently rare. Most of the presently abundant botanicals are species primarily cultivated for other purpose other than medicine. Most of the identified species are valued for their curative effects on malaria and fever, the predominant diseases in the study area. The need for the conservation of the rare species cannot be over emphasised as most rural dwellers in the study area depend mostly on herbs from these species. Strategies towards the attainment of this goal are proposed. Conservation Medicinal botanicals Nigeria INTRODUCTION 1 Ekiti State (about 7000 km 2 , Inland area) is situated between 7°25′ and 8°20′ North and 5°00′ and 6°00′ East in the rainforest belt of southwestern Nigeria (EKSG, 1997 1997 ; Kayode, 1999 1999 ; 2000 2000 ). The state which was previously rich in botanicals is now being confronted with massive deforestation due to increase in population, urbanization, uncontrolled logging, lumber being used as fuel and developmental activities since the state was created in 1996. Although studies on the ethnomedicinal utilization of botanicals abound in Nigeria, these studies were conducted on scattered basis usually by various ethnic groups of the country. Presently, a gross dearth of documentation abounds on the ethnomedicinal utilization of botanicals among the Ekiti, a distinct Yoruba tribe that constitutes over 98% of the 1.6 million inhabitants (EKSG, 1997 1997 ) of the state. The study being reported here is part of an ongoing project aimed at the evaluation and conservation of useful flora species in Ekiti State currently being conducted at the Department of Plant Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS 1 Ekiti State was divided into three zones based on the existing political delineation (Fig. 1 1 ). In each zone, 15 rural communities were randomly selected: Aye-oja (1), Akola (2), Ido-ajinare (3), Aba-obanla (4), Ita-ore (5), Irele (6), Ayebode (7), Ire (8), Ayegbaju (9), Orin (10), Orun (11), Ajegunle (12), Ogbese (13), Obada (14) and Ogotun (15). In each community, 20 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed with the aid of semi-structured matrix. The interviews were focused and conversational (Martins, 1995 1995 ; Kayode et al., 1997 1997 ; Kayode, 2003 2003 ). Medicinal botanicals used were identified and voucher specimens collected (Lipp, 1989 1989 ). The parts of the plant used, doses formulation, sources of plants collections, were defined and documented. Plants identified were later confirmed and voucher specimens deposited at the Herbarium of the Department of Plant Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. Field information was confirmed by Balick and Cox ( 1996 1996 ). The relative abundance of the identified botanicals in a 10 km 2 land area within the identified major source(s) was defined according to Bongers et al.( 1988 1988 ) and Kayode ( 1999 1999 ) as: Less than 5 individuals as ‘rare’, 5 to 10 as ‘occasional’, 11 to 30 as ‘frequent’, 31 to 100 as ‘abundant’ and over 100 individuals as ‘very abundant’. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 1 A total of 71 botanicals belonging to 41 families (Table 1 1 ) were identified as being valued for ethnomedicinal purpose in all of the study area. A considerable proportion of these species were found to be ‘rare’ on the abundance scale (Table 2 2 ). Among the common ones, very few species were found to be on the ‘very abundant’, ‘frequent’ and ‘occasional’ scales. Most of the botanicals on the ‘abundant’ scale were botanicals cultivated and those that germinated as weeds (Table 2 2 ). Although, forest and household farms constituted the major sources of the botanicals, field observations revealed that most of the rare species were still sourced from the forest. RT=Roots, BK=Barks, FR=Fruits, LV=Leaves, SD=Seeds, ST=Stems FOR=Forest, FM=Household farm, HHA=Household area Family Species Local (Ekiti) name Part(s) used * * Major source ** ** Abundance Folk medicinal uses 3 Ameranthaceae Alteranthera repens Dagunro RT, BK, LV FOR Rare Rheumatism Amaranthus spinosus Tete-elegun RT, ST, LV FM Abundan Diarrhea, Dysentery, Gonorrhea Celosia argentea Sokoyoto LV FM Abundant Diarrhea 2 Anacardiaceae Anacardium occidentale Kaasu LV, BK FM, HHA Abundant Malaria, Asthma, Leprosy Mangifera indica Mangoro ST, LV, BK FM, HHA Very abundant Malaria, Diarrhea, Diabetics Annonaceae Enantia chlorantha Oso pupa RT FOR Rare Malaria, Jaundice, Antipyretic 2 Apocynaceae Alstonia boonei Ahun ST, BK FOR Rare Malaria, Rheumatism Raufolfia vomitoria Ira RT, ST, LV FOR Occasional Fever, Dysentery, Diarrhea Asclepiadaceae Calotropis procera Bomubomu RT, LV FM Abundant Eczema, Leprosy, Elephantiasis, Asthma, Cough, Rheumatism 2 Bombaceae Adansonia digitata Ooshe LV, BK, RT FOR Rare Malaria, Dysentery, Diarrhea, Asthma Ceiba pentandra Egigun LV, BK FOR Rare Fever, Asthma, Headache, Diabetes Boranginaceae Cordia melenii Omo BK FOR Rare Fever, Cough, Stomachache Bromeliaceae Annas comosus Ope-oyinbo FR FM Abundant Stomach problems Cannaceae Canna indica Ido LV FOR Rare Malaria Caricaceae Carica papaya Ibepe LV FM, HHA Abundant Malaria, Diabetics, Stomach disorder 2 Combrataceae Terminalia ivorensis Idigbo ST FOR Rare Stomach ache Terminalia superba Afara RT, ST FOR Rare Laxative 2 Compositae Chromolaena odorata Akintola LV FM, HHA Very abundant Malaria Vernonia amygdalina Ewuro LV FM, HHA Abundant Hypertension Convolvulaceae Ipomoea batatas Kunkunduku LV, RT FM Occasional Asthma Cucurbitaceae Momodica charantia Ejirin-wewe LV FOR, FM, HHA Abundant Vermifuge, Jaundice 3 Euphorbiaceae Acalypha chiliate Ewon-bonni LV FOR Rare Asthma, Rheumatism, Bronchitis Jatropa curcas Lapalapa LV, ST, RT, SD FM, HHA Occasional Ringworm, Eczema, Ulcer Jatropa gossypifolia Lapalapa-pupa ST-Latex FM, HHA Occasional Ringworm Gramineae Bambusa vulgaris Oparun LV FOR, FM, HHA Abundant Gonorrhea, Worm expeller 2 Gutiferae Allanblackia floribunda Orogbo-erin LV, BK FOR Rare Malaria, Dysentery Garcinia kola Orogbo BK, SD FOR Occasional Fever, Cough, Hepatitis, Headache Hyperricaceae Harungana madagascariensis Elepo BK FOR Rare Fever, Cough, Cold, Dysentery, Jaundice 2 Labiatae Ocimum basilicum Efinrin-wewe LV, ST, FR FM, HHA Abundant Head ache, Cough, Gonorrhea Ocimum gratissimum Efinrin-ajase LV FM, HHA Abundant Fever, Cold, Cough, Diarrhea 5 Leguminosae Cajnus cajan Otili LV, SD FM Abundant Smallpox, Chicken pox Desmodium gangetium Emimo LV, RT FM, FOR Frequent Fever, Asthma, Dysentery, Diarrhea Parkia biglobosa Iru ST, LV, FR FM Frequent Malaria, Fever Pterocarpus erinaceus Apepe LV, ST FOR Rare Dysentery, Diarrhea Pterocarpus osun Osun LV, ST FOR Rare Skin diseases Liliaceae Allum cepa Alubasa FR, SD, LV FM Abundant Stimulant, Cough Lythraceae Lawsonia inermis Laali LV FM, FOR Rare Jaundice, Gonorrhea 2 Malvaceae Hibiscus sabdariffa Isapa LV FM Frequent Cough Sida acuta Iseketu LV FM, HHA Frequent Malaria, Ulcer, Fever 5 Meliaceae Azadirachta indica Dongoyaro LV, BK HHA, FM Frequent Malaria, Piles, Syphilis, Roundworms, Antiseptic Carapa procera Urere BK, SD, LV FOR Rare Ringworm, Boils, Dressing, Rheumatism Entadrophragma cylindricum Igebu BK FOR Rare Fever, Cough, Black tongue Kyaya senegalensis Oganwo ST, RT FOR Rare Malaria, Jaundice Lovoa trichilioides Koko-igbo ST, BK FOR Rare Cough, Yellow fever 3 Moraceae Antiaris africana Oro ST, BK FOR, FM Occasional Rheumatism Ficus capensis Opoto LV, ST, RT FOR Occasional Dysentery, Leprosy, Epilepsy Melicia excelsa Iroko RT, BK FOR Rare Rheumatism Myrtaceae Psidium guajava Guafa LV FM, HHA Frequent Malaria, Cough, Urinary diseases, Stomach ache Myriticaceae Pycnanthus angolensis Akomu LV, ST, RT FOR Rare Anthelmintic Nyctaginaceae Boerhaovia diffusa Eti-elela RT, ST, LV FOR, FM Abundant Asthma, Gonorrhea Ochnaceae Lophira alata Ekki LV, BK, RT, SD FOR Rare Malaria, Cough, Jaundice, Gastrointestinal disorders 2 Palmae Cocos nucifera Agbon RT, BK, FT FM, HHA Frequent Bronchitis, Dysentery Elaeis guineensis Ope RT FM Abundant Malaria Papilionaceae Baphia nitida Igi-osun RT, BK FOR Occasional Ulcer Boils, Dressing 2 Rubiaceae Morinda lucida Oruwo ST, LV FOR Rare Malaria, Diabetics Morinda morindioides Oju-ologbo RT, LV, FR FOR Rare Fever, Jaundice 4 Rutaceae Citrus aurantifolia Orombo-wewe LV, ST, RT, FR FM, HHA Occasional Fever, Jaundice, Headache Citrus aurantium Gayinganyin RT, FR FM, HHA Occasional Cough, Rheumatism, Sore throat Citrus sineensis Orombo ST FM, HHA Abundant Malaria, Fever, Dysentery, Headache, Vermifuge Fagara zanthoxyloides Ata RT, BK FOR Rare Gonorrhea, Sickle cell anemia 2 Sapindaceae Bligha sapida Ushin BK FM, HHA Frequent Malaria, Ulcer, Backache, Head ache Lecaniodiscus cupenioides Akika ST, RT, LV FOR Rare Malaria, Fever, Dressing Sapotaceae Chrysophyllum albidum Agbalumo ST, BK FM Occasional Fever Solanaceae Capsicum frutescens Ata FR FM Very abundant Malaria, Fever, Dysentery 2 Sterculiaceae Cola acuminata Obi-abata BK, SD FM Abundant Stimulant, Diarrhea Cola nitida Obi-gbanja BK, SD FM Abundant Stimulant, Diarrhea 2 Tiliaceae Glyphaea brewis Atori LV FOR, FM Occasional Gonorrhea, Diarrhea, Fever, Dressing Trumfeta cordifolia Esua LV FOR Rare Malaria, Laxative Ulmaceae Trema guineensis Ofoforo LV FOR Rare Fever, Cough, Bronchitis, Dysentery, Pneumonia Violaceae Hybanthus enneaspermus Abiwere LV, ST, RT FOR, FM Occasional Painless delivery Zingiberaceae Afromomum melegaeta Ata-ire FR, SD, LV FOR, FM Frequent Stimulant, Smallpox, Chicken pox http://html.publish.founderss.cn/rc-pub/api/common/picture?pictureId=23537636&type= http://html.publish.founderss.cn/rc-pub/api/common/picture?pictureId=23537636&type=small http://html.publish.founderss.cn/rc-pub/api/common/picture?pictureId=23537636&type=middle http://html.publish.founderss.cn/rc-pub/api/common/picture?pictureId=23537636&type=small http://html.publish.founderss.cn/rc-pub/api/common/picture?pictureId=23537640&type= http://html.publish.founderss.cn/rc-pub/api/common/picture?pictureId=23537642&type= http://html.publish.founderss.cn/rc-pub/api/common/picture?pictureId=23537640&type=middle Botanicals mostly sourced from household farms were mostly cultivated and weed species. The germinated botanicals were dominated by species whose fruits constituted a major source of income in the study area. In these species, the medicinal products were merely considered as secondary products. Thus income generation constitutes the major incentives for their cultivation. The most frequently occurring species among the weeds was C . odorata . This species occurred in large number in all the sources considered in this study. The ecological success of this weed was attributed by Kayode ( 1999 1999 ) to its rapid dispersal by wind, its easy establishment in the study area (Etejere, 1980 1980 ), the existence of a bank of its seeds in the soil of early successional area (Kamakrishnan and Mishra, 1982 1982 ) and the increased longevity of its seeds due to enforced dormancy after their burial in the soil. The same attributes might be responsible for the occurrence of other weed species obtained in this study. Most of the botanicals identified in this study were being utilized against malaria and fever, which according to Kayode ( 2004 2004 ) are the prevalent diseases in the study area. There is therefore the need to conserve many of the species especially those that were observed to be rare. These botanicals were mostly tree species. Dependence on them is based on those growing in the wild. At present, among limiting factors against their cultivation are the fragmentations resulting from the prevailing land tenure system, the apparent lack of silviculture and biological knowledge of these botanicals and ignorance of the consequences of their loss by the local farmers in the study area. An urgent conservation strategy should be developed to preserve these species for the use of the present and future generations. Such strategy should encourage the domestication of botanicals identified, provide clues to their ecology, enlighten the populace about the dangers in the loss of biological diversity and accommodate the indigenous farmers in both planning and execution of the strategy. References MJ Balick , PA Cox . Plant, People and Culture , 1996 . : New York, USA Scientific American Library , 20 . Plant, People and Culture F Bongers , J Popma , J Meave del Castillo , J Carabias . Structure and floristic composition of the lowland rain forest of Los Tuxtlos, Mexico . Vegetatio , 1988 . 74 ( 1 ): 55 - 80 . DOI: 10.1007/BF00045614 http://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045614 . Structure and floristic composition of the lowland rain forest of Los Tuxtlos, Mexico EKSG First Anniversary Celebration of Ekiti State , 1997 . : Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria Government Press , 22 . First Anniversary Celebration of Ekiti State EO Etejere . Viability of herbicide-treated seeds of Eupatorium odoratum L . 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Private participation in taungya agroforestry in Ondo-Ekiti region: problems and prospects FJ Lipp . Methods for ethno-pharmacological fieldwork . Journal of Ethno-Pharmacology , 1989 . 25 139 - 150 . . Methods for ethno-pharmacological fieldwork GJ Martins . Ethnobotany-Method Manual , 1995 . : London, UK Chapman and Hall , 268 . Ethnobotany-Method Manual The author gratefully acknowledges the field assistance of Mrs. Gladys Kayode, Doyinsola Oluwafunmilola, Damola Oluwabusola, Sunmisola Oyinlola and Oyindolapo Ifeoluwapo. 10.1631/jzus.2006.B0713 2006-03-22 2006-07-18 2006-08-15 2022-01-05 Copyright © 2006, Journal of Zhejiang University Science 2006 Journal of Zhejiang University-SCIENCE B (Biomedicine and Biotechnology) 09 07