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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 739-51.
2009.
Medicobotanical Studies in Relation
to Veterinary Medicine in Ekiti
State, Nigeria: Conservation of
Botanical Species Used for the Treatment of Poultry Diseases
J. Kayode, M. K. Olanipekun and P. O. Tedela
Department of Plant Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria
E-mail: josmodkay@yahoo.com
Issued
01
June 2009
ABSTRACT
The rare veterinary
botanicals in Ekiti State were identified using semi-structured questionnaire
matrix. The traditional ecological knowledge defined by the respondents was
used to identify the relevant conservation strategies that could guaranteed
the continuous supply of the species in the study area.
INTRODUCTION
In Nigeria, recent initiatives had continued to enumerate the
importance of botanicals in the livelihood of her citizenry. Apart from the income and
essential products derivable from the botanicals, their roles in health
maintenance is now widely recognized. Kayode et al. (2009) had stressed the
importance of botanicals in the
maintenance of the health of livestock in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
The
rapid and massive deforestation that characterized the Nigerian vegetation
has now became a permanent feature of the local environment of Ekiti State, Nigeria Attempts to reduce or perhaps
eliminate bush burning, the major culprit of deforestation in the state, had
failed woefully. The on-going extensive road construction activities further
complicates the threat to the environment.
It is pertinent therefore to examine the
abundance of the veterinary botanicals, identify the rare species among them
and propose sustainable conservation strategies that would enhance their
availability to the present and future generations. These constitute the
objectives of the study being reported here.
MATERIALS
AND METHODS
The detail description of the
methods used in the enumeration had been provided by Kayode
et al (2009). The major source(s)
of the species was/were determined. The availability and the relative
abundance of the species in the study area were determined using the ease at
which any of the species could be found when such is required for use.
Secondary information was obtained
from interviews conducted with botanical vendors in the major market centres in each of the zones of the study area and other
key informants stated in Kayode et al. (2009).
RESULTS
AND DISCUSSION
A total of 38 species were
identified as being used for the treatment of pests and diseases in the study
area. Kayode et
al (2009) had given the description and occurrence of these species, The
species (Table 1) could be grouped into two categories: the cultivated and
not cultivated species (Table 2). The cultivated species could further be classified
into two sub groups, the widely and sparsely cultivated species. The widely
cultivated species were those species with edible fruits and species whose
leaves were valued for their medicinal usage. These species were also valued
as important sources of income most especially during the off-farm seasons.
They include C. frutescens,
C. papaya, C. aurantifolia, M. paradisiacal and
Z.mays, all valued for their fruits, N. tobacum, O. bascilicum and V.
amygdalina, valued for their medicinal leaves, as well as S. officinarum valued for its edible
stem. The sparsely cultivated species
were A.arabica, A. digitata,
A. indica, S, alata and
S. occidentale
valued primarily for the provision of shade and J. gossypifolia used primarily for
erosion control and for boundary demarcation. The fact that these species
were cultivated in the study area constituted a favourable
incentive for the cultivation of these species in large quantities. The
production of the edible fruits in large quantities may alleviate the existing
poverty as this would constitute a viable source of income especially during
the off-farm season. Recently the Ekiti State
Government in partnership with some private investors is putting up a
multimillion dollar biofuel production plants that
would be making use Jatropha species. This could further boost the
cultivation of Jatropha in the study area.
Most of the species that were not
cultivated have their wildlings preserved in the study area. The preservation
of their seedlings that grow in the wild was borne out of the realization for
their usefulness as sources of important products that ranged from medicine
(human medicine), shade, boundary demarcation, erosion control and fuel wood.
These species include A.melegueta, B. ferruginea,
F. exasperate, L. siceraria, P. biglobosa,
S. americanum, T. triangulare,
T. schionperiana, T. vogelii,
V. paradoxa and V. doniana. S. americanum and T. triangulare were herbaceous
vegetables that grow abundantly in the study area. The fruits and seeds of P. biglobosa are
important delicacy in the study area. It could therefore constitutes an
important source of income if cultivated in large quantity in the study area
hence they readily availability of market for its seeds could serve as
incentive for the large scale cultivation of the species. Previous study by Kayode (2004) had revealed that the lack of silvicultural knowledge of indigenous species had
constituted an important disincentive to their cultivation. The dormancy of
the seeds of this species had also hindered its adoption for cultivation, by
the rural farmers. Field observation during this study also revealed that the
respondents lacked the requisite knowledge on the silvicuture
of A.melegueta, B. ferruginea,
F. exasperate, T. schionperiana, T. vogelii, V. paradoxa and V. doniana. Considerable
length of time is taken when sourcing for these species hence they
constituted the scarce species among these veterinary species.
A. spinosus,
B. diffusa, C. odorata,
C. owariensis, D. stramonium,
L. camera, M. charanta, P. nigrescens
and P. daemia were also not cultivated in
the study area. They grow naturally as wildlings and they were found
abundantly in the study area while A. cepa and A. sativum that were equally not cultivated in
commercial quantities in the study area were easily found available for
purchase from the retailers who sourced them from the northern parts of
Nigeria, about 200 to 1000km from the study area. Thus A.melegueta, B. ferruginea, F. exasperate,
L. siceraria, P. biglobosa,
S. americanum, T. schionperiana,
T. vogelii, V. paradoxa and
V. doniana could
be regarded as the rare species amongst the identified veterinary botanicals. At present, S. americanum is not rare but
may be included because of its similar features with the other rare species.
Field observations revealed that most of the residents possessed considerable
indigenous knowledge on the identified rare species (Tables 3-12) which could
serve as enabling strategies toward the conservation of the rare species.
These include the knowledge on their utilities, elementary reproduction
methods, time of flowering and fruiting, type of soil and growth
characteristics of some of the species.
In conclusion, with the increasing
conversion of the existing vegetation in the study area into monoculture plantation
of exotic species and agriculture, there is the likelihood of continuous
erosion of botanical species in the study area. Thus there is the need for
public enlightenment campaign on the danger inherent in biodiversity loss;
the relative regrowth capabilities of the rare
veterinary species should be defined, sustainable harvesting methods should
be derived for the species. While the harvesting of seeds and leaves were not
supposed to be predatory and annihilative, the harvesting of seeds and leaves
in species that were not cultivated could be so described. There is also the
need for detailed studies on the biology of these species. Kayode and Ogunleye (2008), Kayode and Omotoyinbo (2008), Omotoyinbo and Kayode (2008)
had advocated these positions recently. Botanical gardens, where identified
endangered species could be cultivated, should also be established in each
zones of the state. Ex situ devices,
where important rare species are cultivated and later re-introduced into
their natural environment, should also be utilized. All these will guarantee
the survival of the identified rare species and make them available with
relative ease when required.
REFERENCES
Kayode, J.
(2004). Conservation Perception of Endangered Tree Species by Rural Dwellers
of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Journal
of Sustainable Forestry 19(4): 1-9.
Kayode, J. and Ogunleye,
T. (2008). Checklist and Status of Plant Species Used as Spices in
Kaduna State of Nigeria. Research Journal of Botany 3 (1), 35-40.
Kayode, J. and Omotoyinbo, M. A. (2008). Conservation of
Botanicals Used for Dental and Oral Healthcare in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Ehnobotanical Leaflets 12.
Omotoyinbo,
M. A. and Kayode, J. (2008). Checklist and conservation status of chewing stick plant
species in Ekiti
State, Nigeria.
In: Research for Development in
Forestry, Forest Products and Natural
Resources Management (Eds. Onyekwelu, J. C. , Adekunle, V. A. J. and Oke, D.
O. ). Proceedings of the First Conference of Forest
and Forest
Products Society, Federal University
of Technology,
Akure,
Nigeria.
16th – 18th April 2008. pp 27-33.
Kayode,
J, Olanipekun, M. K. and Tedela,
P. O. (2009). Medicobotanical studies in relation
to veterinary medicine in Ekiti
State, Nigeria:
Checklist of botanicals species used for the treatment of poultry diseases.Ethnobotanical Leaflets 13: 40-46.
Table 1.Identified botanicals used in the cure of
veterinary pests and diseases in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
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S/N
Botanical Species
Major Source(s)*
Availability and abundance in the study area
1 2 3
|
|
1. Acacia arabica
CA HA
FR Cultivated for the
control of wind erosion,
frequently
available
|
|
2. Adansonia digitata FR CA
HA Cultivated for its
edible fruit, occasionally
available
|
|
3. Aframomum melagueta
HF FR CA Not cultivated but wildlings are
preserved,
abundantly available
|
|
4. Allium cepa
PH - - Not cultivated but readily
available and in
abundant,
|
|
5. Allium sativum PH HF - Not cultivated but readily
available and in
abundant,
|
|
6. Amarantus spinosus
HF CA HA
Not cultivated, grow as weed, abundantly
available
|
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7. Azadirachta indica CA HA - Cultivated for control of wind,
provision of shade,
frequently
available
|
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8. Boerhavia diffusa HF CA
HA Not cultivated, grow
as weed, abundantly
available
|
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9. Bridelia ferruginea FR HF CA
Not cultivated but widely preserved because of
its medicinal values, frequently available
|
|
10. Capsicum
frutescens
HF PH - Cultivated for its edible
fruits, abundantly
available
|
|
11. Carica papaya HF HA PH Cultivated for its fruits,
abundantly available
|
|
12. Chromoleana odorata
HA CA HF Not cultivated, grow as weed,
abundantly
available
|
|
13. Cissampelos owariensis
HF FR HA Not cultivated, grow as weed,
abundantly
available
|
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14. Citrus aurantifolia HF
HA PH Cultivated for its edible
fruits, abundantly
available
|
|
15. Datura stramonium
CA FR HF Not cultivated, grow as weed,
abundantly
available
|
|
16. Elaeis guineensis HF PH
HA Cultivated for
its edible fruits and other economic
products,
abundantly available
|
|
17. Ficus
exasperate FR CA
HF Not cultivated,
wildling preserved, occasionally
available
|
|
18. Jatropha gossypifolia
HA CA - Cultivated for erosion
control, hedge plant,
boundary demarcation,
frequently available
|
|
19. Lagenaria siceraria
HA HF CA Often cultivated for the control
of erosion and for
the demarcation of boundary, occasionally
available
|
|
20. Lantana
camera CA FR HF Not cultivated, frequently
available
|
|
21. Momordica charantia
CA HF FR Not cultivated, frequently
available
|
|
22. Musa paradisiaca
HF HA PH Cultivated for its
edible fruits, abundantly
available
|
|
23. Nicotiana tobacum HF HA
PH Cultivated for
its leaves, abundantly available
|
|
24. Ocimum bascilicum
HF HA - Often not cultivated,
sometimes cultivated,
abundantly available
|
|
25. Parkia biglobosa HF CA - Not cultivated but wildling
preserved, frequently
available
|
|
26. Pergularia daemia FR
CA HA Often not cultivated but
wildling preserved,
sometimes
cultivated especially in the HA,
occasionally available
|
|
27. Perquetina nigrescens FR
CA HA Not cultivated, occasionally
available
|
|
28. Saccharum officinarum HF PH HA Cultivated for its edible stem,
frequently available
|
|
29. Senna alata
CA HA
- Cultivated for
shade provision, occasionally
available
|
|
30. Senna occidentalis
CA HA - Cultivated for provision of
shade, occasionally
available
|
|
31. Solanum americanum HF PH - Not cultivated but wildlings
preserved, abundantly
available
|
|
32. Talinium trangulare HF HA
CA Not cultivated,
grow as wildlings that are
preserved, abundantly available
|
|
33. Tephrosia vogelii
FR CA - Not cultivated, occasionally
available
|
|
34. Terminalia schimperiana FR CA - Not cultivated, wildlings
preserved, occasionally
available
|
|
35. Vernonia amygdalina
HF HA CA Often not cultivated, sometimes
cultivated for its
medicinal
leaves abundantly available
|
|
36. Vitex doniana FR CA - Not cultivated, occasionally
available
|
|
37. Vitellaria paradoxa
FR CA - Not cultivated, occasionally available
|
|
38. Zea mays HF PH
- Cultivated,
abundantly available
|
* 1 = Primary source, 2 =Secondary source, 3
=Tertiary source
CA = Common area, FR = Forest, HA = Household area,
HF = Household farm, PH = Purchased
Table 2. Status of the identified botanicals used
for the cure of veterinary pests and diseases in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
|
Status
Botanical Species
|
|
(a) Cultivated Species
(i) Widely cultivated species: C. frutescens, C. papaya, C. aurantifolia,
M. paradisiaca, N.
tobacum, O. bascilicum,
S. officinarum and V. amygdalina,
and
Z.mays.
(ii)
Sparsely cultivated species: A.arabica, A. digitata, A. indica, J. gossypifolia, S, alata and
S. occidentale.
(b) Uncultivated Species
(ii)
Preserved wildling species: A.melegueta, B. ferruginea, F. exasperate, L. siceraria,
P.
biglobosa, S. americanum,
T. triangulare, T. schionperiana,
T. vogelii, V. paradoxa
and V. doniana
(ii)
Weed species: A. spinosus,
B. diffusa, C. odorata,
C. owariensis, D. stramonium,
L. camera, M. charanta, P. nigrescens and P. daemia
(iii)
Purchased species: A. cepa
and A. sativum
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Table 3. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of A. meleguata.
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Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservation
conjecture
|
|
Its fruits, seeds and leaves are used in the study
area This could enhance
willingness to be
involved in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
Its seeds are important ingredients of many
traditional Ready market
available for its products
medicine
It is a perennial plant Its
derivable benefits could last for more
than a year
It can be cultivated in home garden This could enhance its
domestication
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Table 4. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of B. ferruginea.
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Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservation
conjecture
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Its stem barks, roots and leaves are used in the
study area This could enhance
willingness to be
involved in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
It grow on varieties of soil
It could be cultivated in all the ecological
zones
of the state
It has short and twisted bole with more or
less These ideotypic characters could
open canopy
enhance its
incorporation with agricultural
crops
It is fire resistance
Suitable in the study area
where slash and
burn is the major agricultural system
practiced
Its barks is used in curing numerous human
diseases Ready market available
for its products
Its barks are available in the market for
sold It could
constitutes source of additional
income
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Table 5. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of F. exasperata.
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Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservation conjecture
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Its stem barks, roots and seeds are used in the
study area This could enhance
willingness to be
involved in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
It grow on well drained soil
It could be cultivated in all the ecological
zones
of the state
It grow well in fringing forest areas It
could thrive well in most parts of the state
It fruits in the dry season
Its seeds could be available for planting at
the onset of the rains
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Table 6. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of L. siceraria.
|
Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservation
conjecture
|
|
The whole parts of the plant is used in the study
area This could enhance
willingness to be
involved in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
It grow on well drained light soil
It could be cultivated in all the ecological
zones of the state
It is easy to grow, could be sown directly or in
pots These make it
suitable for home garden
and later transplanted
and cultivation in commercial quantities
It requires 3 to 4 months to mature This
ensures early returns from its
cultivation
The wild type (present in the state) is
perennial Its derivable
benefits could last for more
than a year
Calabash, a product of this species is of cultural
value This attributes could be
used to convince
indigenes
to cultivate the species and
perhaps domesticate it
Its seeds is now known to be reach in oil This tend to
indicate that large scale
cultivation of the species would be a viable
source
of income
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Table 7. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of P. biglobosa.
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Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservatione
conjecture
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|
Its stem barks, leaves and fruit pulp are used in
the This could enhance
willingness to be
study area
involved in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
It grow on loamy and sandy soil
It could be cultivated in all the ecological
zones of the state
It grow well in derived savanna areas It could
thrive well in most parts of the state
It fruits in the dry season
Its seeds could be available for planting at
the onset of the rains
Its seeds is a source of local soup
ingredient
Ready market available for seeds from this
called ‘Iru’
species
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Table 8. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of S. americanum.
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Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservation
conjecture
|
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The whole parts of the plant is used in the study
area This could enhance
willingness to be
involved
in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
It grow in humid areas with various soil
types It could
be cultivated in all the ecological
or near water source in semi arid areas zones of
the state
It grow naturally in disturbed localities, It is
suitable for home garden and
open or lightly shaded areas
domestication
It could be sown directly or in pots and
later These
make it suitable for home garden
transplanted or by stem cutting
and cultivation in commercial quantities
It requires 3 to 4 months to mature This
ensures early returns from its
Cultivation
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Table 9. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of T. schionperiana.
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Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservation
conjecture
|
|
Its stem barks and roots used in the study
area This could
enhance willingness to be
involved in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
It grow well in fringing forest and derived
savanna It could be
cultivated in all the ecological
zones
of the state
It fruits in the dry season
Its seeds could be available for planting at
the
onset of the rains
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Table 10. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of T. vogelii.
|
Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservation conjecture
|
|
Its leaves and seeds are used in the study
area This could
enhance willingness to be
involved in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
It grow well in derived savanna
It could be cultivated in the savanna zone
of
the state
It is fire resistance
Suitable in the study area where slash and
burn
is the major agricultural system
practiced
It fruits in the dry season Its seeds
could be available for planting at
the onset of the rains
It could be cultivated as ornamental or wind
brake Suitable for domestication
It could be planted as cover crop
Suitable for incorporation into the existing
agricultural methods
It is now known to have insecticidal
properties
Suitable for cultivation in commercial
proportion
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Table11. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of V. doniana.
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Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservation
conjecture
|
|
Its stem bark, roots and leaves are used in the
study area This could enhance
willingness to be
involved in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
It grow well in well drained soil
It could be cultivated in most parts of the
state
It could be cultivated as fruit tree
Suitable for domestication and large scale
(commercial) proportion
Its roots and bark is now known to produce dye Suitable for cultivation in
commercial
proportion and as a major source of
income
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Table 12. The potentials of the respondents’
indigenous ecological knowledge on the conservation of V. paradoxa.
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Respondents’ indigenous ecological knowledge Conservation
conjecture
|
|
Its seeds and roots are used in the study
area This could
enhance willingness to be
involved in its cultivation
Harvesting methods are annihilative This
stressed the need for its conservation
It grow on many types of soil
It could be cultivated in all the ecological
zones
of the state
It fruits in the dry season
Its seeds could be available for planting at
the
onset of the rains
Its fruits is a source of local ointment called ‘Ori’ Ready market available
for the fruit of
this species
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