Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants in Seven Local Government Areas of Zone A, Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

An Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicine Plants in seven Local Government Area of zone A, Yobe State was carried out, with a view to document the indigenous knowledge of some medicinal plant species found in the area. Questionnaire instrument was designed; for   information on demographic data, the most common ailments and plants species used in managing these  ailments from seventy (70) respondents. The plant species were identified, authenticated and herbarium specimens prepared. Standard quantitative phytochemical screening protocols were adopted to determine major phytochemicals  in the most  commonly used plants species. From  the survey, a  total of  Fifty  four (54) plant  species belonging to  (29)  different   families were found  to be  useful in the  treatment of common ailments. The  family Fabaceae has the highest  number of  (12  species).Trees were mostly  used  and  the  parts  of  the plants used most frequently applied  were the leaves and barks. Medications were mainly prepared in powdered forms and decoctions and taken orally. The  questionnaires  revealed that  the most common ailments   were pile, malaria, jaundice, typhoid, diarrhoea  and ulcer in  that  order,  and the  most  frequently used  plant species were   Acacia nilotica, Guiera senegalensis, Mitragyna innermis and Senna  occidentalis respectively.  Phytochemical profiles demonstrated that  flavonoids, polyphenols, nitric oxide  and DPPH scavenging activities in the leaves of A. nilotica, G. senegalensis, S. occidentalis and Bark of M. innermis. It  is  concluded  that  herbal  medicine  will   continue to be a major  component  for health care delivery system in the community due to their biologically active compounds, availability  and  affordability.