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Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12: 44-55, 2008.
Ethnomedicinal Survey of Botanicals Used in Treating Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Ekiti State, Nigeria
J. Kayode1,3 and G.M. Kayode2
1Department of Plant Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. 2Department of Adult Education, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. 3Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]
Issued 29 January 2008
ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the botanicals used in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The authors identified 49 plants belonging to 30 angiosperm families that were being used by the natives of Ekiti State for the cure of sexually transmitted diseases. Most of the wild species were rare or not very abundantly distributed in nature. The proportion of cultivated to wild species, however, was relatively low. Species that were under cultivation by the natives were being grown largely for reasons other than medicinal value. The methods of extraction were mostly predatory and annihilative. Considerable proportions of the identified botanicals were obtained from the forest. The need for the conservation of most of the species cannot be over emphasized. Strategies towards the attainment of this goal were proposed.
INTRODUCTION There has been an increase in worldwide realization of the use of medicinal plants in various traditional health systems of developing countries. For example, recent estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed that about 80% of the population in Africa relies on traditional medicine of which the botanicals constituted greater components. It is estimated that about 30,000 botanical species are now recorded for their medicinal properties. These botanicals had over the years been subjected to wide and unsustainable use (Kayode 2002). They are now diminishing at an alarming rate. Although studies on the ethnomedicinal utilization of botanicals abound in Nigeria, these studies were conducted on scattered basis usually based on the ethnic composition 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) of Ekiti state. At present sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are perhaps the most devastating diseases in the state. The diseases include Gonorrhea, Trichomoniasis, Chlamydial infection, Syphilis and, more recently, the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The aim of this study therefore is to identify botanicals used traditionally in the management of sexually transmitted diseases in Ekiti State, and propose sustainable strategies for the conservation of these species.
MATERIALS AND METHODSThe study was conducted in Ekiti State, which is situated in the southwestern part of Nigeria. Ekiti has a land area of about 7000km2, and is situated between latitude 7025 and 8020 North and longitude 5000 and 6000 East. The state has a population of about 1.6 million (EKSG 1997), 75% of whom are farmers who live in rural areas. There are two climatic seasons in the state, a dry season from November to February and a rainy season from March to October. The annual rainfall is about 1150mm (Kayode and Faluyi 1994). According to Smith and Montgomery (1962), the soil is overlying metamorphic rocks of basement complex, which shows greater variations in size and mineral composition.
METHODS A combination of social surveys and direct field observation (Kayode 2002) was used in the study. The entire state was divided into three zones based on the existing political delineation. These zones are Ekiti Central, Ekiti South and Ekiti North. In each zone, three major markets were selected, the major criterion for selection being the level of patronage by residents from both rural and urban centers in the zone. In each of these markets, vendors of medicinal plant species were identified and interviewed with the aid of a semi-structured matrix. The interviews focused on plant species used in curing sexually transmitted diseases. The botanical species were identified by the vendors; the part(s) of the species used and methods of application during utilization were identified and recorded. Voucher specimens of the species were obtained and taken to the herbarium of the Department of Plant Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, for scientific identification and preservation. The abundance of the species identified was determined in the study area. For this purpose, five rural communities, which were far from urban influence, were selected in each zone. In each of these communities, the abundance of each of the identified species was determined within 5 kilometers radius from the center of each community using the abundance scale defined by Kayode (1999) as follows: Rare when the number of the individual species found available within the defined area was less than 5; Occasional when between 5 and 10 individuals were found; Frequent when between 11 and 30 individuals were found; Abundant when between 31 and 100 individuals were found; And, very abundant when more than 100 individuals were found. Also in each community, ten elderly respondents were randomly selected and interviewed on their knowledge of the utilization of the identified botanical species. Also in each zone, five key informants who were knowledgeable in the use of botanical species were identified and interviewed. These included herbalists and community development officers. Secondary information on the active principles present in the identified species was obtained from the literature, especially Oliver (1960), Gbile (1986) and Gill (1992).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe following 49 plant species belonging to 30 families were identified as being used for curing sexually transmitted diseases in the study area:
Alliaceae Allium cepa Local Name: Alubasa Parts used: Leaves, bulb Major source: Market Abundance at source: Very abundant Active Principle: Riboflavin, n-prophyl disulphide
Allium ascalonicum Local Name: Alubasa Parts used: Whole plant Major source: Household farms Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Riboflavin
Amaranthaceae Amaranthus spinosus Local Name: Tete elegun Parts used: Leaves, stem Major source: Farms Abundance at source: Abundant Active Principle: Tannins, saponin, hydrocyanic acid
Cyathula prostrata Local Name: Shawere pepe Parts used: Leaves, stems Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Tannins, saponin
Annonaceae Haxelobus monopetalus Local Name: Lapawe Parts used: Roots, Stems, Leaves Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Saponin, inulin, essential oil
Apocynaceae Landolphia owariensis Local Name: Ibo-akitipa Parts used: Leaves, roots, stem bark, seeds Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Saponin, tannins
Asclepiadaceae Secamone afzelii Local Name: Alu Parts used: Stems, Leaves Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Alkaloids
Bignoniaceae Kigelia africana Local Name: Pandoro Parts used: Leaves, roots, stem bark, fruit Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Saponin, tannins, inulins, B-amyrin (Msonths 1986)
Sterospermum kunthianum Local Name: Akoko-igbo Parts used: Leaves, roots, stem bark, fruits Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Tannins, saponin
Burseraceae Canarium schweifuthii Local Name: Origbo Parts used: Stem bark Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Saponin, tannins,resin, amyrin, limonene phellandrina (Gill 1992).
Cactaceae Opuntia dillenii Local Name: Oro Parts used: Stem, roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Tannins, saponin
Caesalpiniaceae Afzelia africana Local Name: Apa Parts used: Root Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Alkaloid, Tannins
Cassia podocarpa Local Name: Asunrin Parts used: Leaves Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Anthraquinones
Macrolobium macrophyllum Local Name: Aba Parts used: Stem bark Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Tannins, saponin
Mezoneuran benthamianum Local Name: Ajuju Parts used: Leaves, stem, roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Saponins, mucilage
Caricaceae Carica papaya Local Name: Ibepe Parts used: Leaves, fruits, roots Major source: Household farms Abundance at source: Abundant Active Principle: Carpaine, saponin, tannins, nicotinic acid, tocopherol, papain
Colchicaceae Gloriosa superba Local Name: Ewe-aje Parts used: Leaves Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle:Superbin, colchicin,gloriosine, gloriosol, phytosterils, stigmasterin
Combretaceae Terminalia catapa Local Name: Odan Parts used: Stem bark Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Tannins
Terminalia glaucescens Local Name: Odan Parts used: Stem bark, roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Alkaloids, tannins
Connaraceae Cnestis ferruginea Local Name: Omu-aje Parts used: Leaves, roots, fruits, seeds Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Glycosidea
Dilleniaceae Tetracera alnifolia Local Name: Opon Parts used: Leaves, roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Glycoside syringin, tannis
Euphorbiaceae Alchornea cordifolia Local Name: Ipa Parts used: Leaves, stem bark, fruits, roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Frequent Active Principle: Inulin, tannins, alchornin, alkaloid
Alchornea laxiflora Local Name: Pepe Parts used: Stem Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Frequent Active Principle: Alkaloid
Manihot esculenta Local Name: Ege Parts used: Leaves, tubes Major source: Household farm Abundance at source: Very abundant Active Principle: Alkaloid, saponins, tannins
Phyllanthus niruri Local Name: Asasa Parts used: Leaves, stem, roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Saponins, phyllanthin, hypophllenthin
Lamiaceae Ocimum basilicum Local Name: Efinrin-wewe Parts used: Leaves, stem, roots Major source: Household farms Abundance at source: Frequent Active Principle: Essential oils, methylcinnamate, thymol, terpenses
Malvaceae Abuilon mauritianum Local Name: Furu Parts used: Leaves, roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Tannins, saponin
Hibiscus esculentus Local Name: Ila Parts used: Fruits, seeds Major source: Household farms Abundance at source: Very abundant Active Principle: Essential oils-farnesol
Sida cordifolia Local Name: Iseketu pupa Parts used: Leaves, roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Abundant Active Principle: Alkaloid-ephedrine
Meliaceae Trichilia prieuriana Local Name: Awe Parts used: Roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Tannins, saponin
Moraceae Ficus asperifolia Local Name: Eripin Parts used: Leaves, stem bark, roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Occasional Active Principle: Tannins
Ficus capensis Local Name: Opoto Parts used: Roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Occasional Active Principle: Tannins
Mimosaceae Tetrapluera tetreptera Local Name: Aridan Parts used: Stem bark Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Saponins-Aridanu, essential oils, scopoletin
Papaveraceae Argemone mexicana Local Name: Egunarigbo Parts used: Roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Alkaloids-berberine, protopine
Passifloraceae Adenia lobata Local Name: Dodo Parts used: Leaves, stem Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Flaviroid
Papilionaceae Desmodium adecendens Local Name: Epa-ile Parts used: Leaves Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Tannis
Erythrina senegalensis Local Name: Ologun-sese Parts used: Leaves, stem bark, seeds Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Alkaloid hypaphorine
Polygalaceae Securidaca longepedunculata Local Name: Ofodo Parts used: Leaves Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Saponin-glycosides, tannins, valerianate methylsalicylate
Rutaceae Citrus aurantifolia Local Name: Osan-wewe Parts used: Stem and root barks Major source: Household farms Abundance at source: Abundant Active Principle: Essential oils
Fagara macrocarpa Local Name: Ata igbo Parts used: Stem and root barks Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Alkaloids-xanthofegarine, erythrofagarin, fagaramide, f-methoyy-dihydronitidine
Fagara zanthoxyloides Local Name: Ata Parts used: Root and stem barks Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare
Active Principle: Alkaloi, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-hydroxymethyl benzoic acid, vanillic acid, inulin, Saponin
Sapindaceae Bligha sapida Local Name: Ishin Parts used: Stem bark Major source: Household farms Abundance at source: Abundant Active Principle: Saponin, hypoglycin, tannins, steroidal alkaloid
Cardiospermum halicacabium Local Name: Shaworo Parts used: Roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Saponins
Scrophulariaceae Scoparia dulcis Local Name: Aya Parts used: Roots Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Rare Active Principle: Alkaloids, inulin, saponins, tannins
Solanaceae Capsicum fruitescens Local Name: Ata wewe Parts used: Fruits Major source: Household farms Abundance at source: Very abundant Active Principle: Capsaicin, oil, ascorbic acid
Solanum nigrum Local Name: Odu Parts used: Leaf Major source: Household farms Abundance at source: Abundant Active Principle: Alkaloid-solanine, solamarine, scopolin , scopoletin, aesculin,, isoscopoletin, demisine, solarmagine, solasodabiro, tomatine, solauricine, solangustine
Solanum vervascifolium Local Name: Ikan Parts used: Leaves, fruits, roots Major source: Farms Abundance at source: Abundant Active Principle: Alkaloid-solanine, saponins
Tiliaceae Glyphaea brevis Local Name: Atori Parts used: Leaves Major source: Forest Abundance at source: Occasional Active Principle: Tannins, saponin
Verbenaceae Gmelina arborea Local Name: Melaina Parts used: Leaves Major source: Government Reserve Forest Abundance at source: Very abundant Active Principle: Tannins
Most of these species were rare in abundance and the proportion of the cultivated species was relatively low. Species cultivated were meant for other purposes other than their medicinal value. The methods of extraction were mostly predatory and annihilative. Such methods, as previously observed by Homman (1994), Kayode and Ogunleye (2008), entailed the destruction of source(s) in such a rate that the regeneration is slower than the rate of extraction. Thus, predatory and annihilation usually results in increasing scarcity of species. Although some of the species were extracted by non-predatory and gathering methods, yet collections were observed to be by pulling or cutting of the branches thus making such collection destructive. Field observations revealed that collections were done indiscriminately without any consideration for size and age, thus resulting in species depletion. Also, the lower-altitude harvesting by a larger number of households in the study area due to the less vegetation cover per inhabitants may be detrimental to the survival of these species. Considerable proportions of the identified botanicals were obtained from the forest. Thus the increasing conversion of valuable natural environments in the study area to monoculture plantations of exotic timber and agriculture will likely lead to a continued erosion of botanical diversity in the study area. Thus, some of the presently rare species require urgent domestication while in-situ and ex-situ conservation methods should be embarked upon. These, according to Shinwari and Khan (2000) will require the protection of plant species in their natural habitats followed by ex-situ devices by growing the rare species and subsequently re-introducing them into their natural environment. The domestication of most of the botanicals identified is now desirable, further research activities are still required to develop deep understanding of the life cycles, pollination, and dispersal mechanisms in most of the botanicals. The populace should be enlightened on the dangers in the loss of biological diversity. Kayode (2006) had also advocated the need to accommodate the indigenous farmers in both planning and execution of conservation activities. This strategy is still relevant in the study area.
REFERENCES
EKSG 1997. First Anniversary Celebration of Ekiti State. Government Press, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. 22pp.
Gbile, Z. O. 1986. Ethnobotany, taxonomy and conservation of medicinal plants. Pp. 13-29. In: Sofowora, A. (Ed.). The state of medicinal plants research in Nigeria. University of IbadanPress, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Gill, L. S. 1992. Ethnomedicinal uses of plans in Nigeria. Uniben Press, Benin-City, Nigeria. 276pp.
Homman, A. K. O. 1994. Plant extrativism in the Amazon: Limitations and possibilities. In: Extractivism on Regional Development. Ctusener-God, M. and Sachs, I. (Eds.). MAB Digest 18, UNESCO, Paris. pp. 34-57.
Kayode, J and Faluyi, M. A 1994. Studies on self and cross compatibility studies on soybeans (Glycine max ) in a tropical environment. Nigerian Journal of Botany 7:55- 61.
Kayode, J. (2006). Conservation of indigenous medicinal botanicals in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE-B 7 (9): 713 -718.
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
Oliver, B. (1960). Medicinal plants in Nigeria. University of Ibadan Press, Ibadan, Nigeria. 139pp.
Shinwari, M. I. and Khan, M. A. 2000. Folk use of medicinal herbs of Magalla Hills National Park, Islamabad. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 69: 45-56.
Smith, A. J. and Montgomerry R.T. 1962. Soil and land use in central western Nigeria. The Government Press, Ibadan, Nigeria.
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