ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANT IN KADUNA NORTH AND SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

An Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicine Plants in two Local Government Area of Kaduna north and south, Kaduna 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 sixty-two (62) respondents. The plant species were identified authenticated and herbarium specimens prepared. From the survey, a total of Fifty-two (52) plant species belonging to thirty-seven (37) different families were found to be useful in the treatment of common ailments. Trees were mostly used and the parts of the plants used most frequently applied were the leaves and barks. Medications were mainly prepared in decoctions and taken orally. The questionnaires revealed that the most common ailments were pile, malaria, jaundice, typhoid, and ulcer in that order, and the most frequently used plant species were Mangifera indica, Psidium Guajava, Senna occidentalis, eucalyptus camadulensis and Securidaca longepedunculata respectively. 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.