Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 12: 677-681. 2008.
Evaluation
of Medicinal Herbal Trade (Paraga) in Lagos State of Nigeria
Akeem Babalola
Kadiri
Department of
Botany and Microbiology
University
of Lagos, Akoka
Yaba Lagos.
Nigeria
abkadiri2001@yahoo.com
Issued 12 September 2008
INTRODUCTION
Traditional medicine can be
described as the total combination of knowledge and practice, whether
explicable or not, used in diagnosing, preventing or eliminating a physical, mental
or social disease and which may rely exclusively on past experience and
observation handed down from generation to generation, verbally or in writing
(Sofowora, 1982). A medicinal plant is any plant
which in one or more of its organs contains substances that can be used for
therapeutic purposes or which are precursors for the synthesis of useful
drugs. The use of medicinal plants as remedies is common and widespread in Nigeria.
Currently, the society at large appreciates natural cure, which medicinal
plants provide compared to synthetic cure. The plants parts used in remedies
include the bark, leaves, roots, flowers, fruits and seeds. (Sofowora, 1982). The discoveries of the use of plant for
food and as medicine began at a very early stage in human evolution. The
history of the use of plants dates back to the time of the early man. The art
of using plants to enhance his health must have come to the early man in the
most unscientific way. Some of us may want to believe that he used his
instinct to identify poisonous and non-poisonous plants while some of us
accept that there were external forces or invisible help us who guided him to
know what he could eat freely to keep fit. No matter which one is accepted
the truth is that the early man used plans in the raw from and cooked from to
keep fit. Since that time, the use of herbs has been known and accepted by
all nations on the surface of the earth. (Kafaru,
1994). Herbal trade is on the increase in Nigeria
in the recent times not only because it is cost effective but also because of
easy accessibility and reported efficacy.
Lagos is a megacity
that lies in south-western Nigeria, on the Atlantic coast in the Gulf of
Guinea, west of the Niger River delta, located on longitude 3° 24' E and
latitude 6° 27' N. Lagos is
the most populous conurbation in Nigeria
with more than 8 million people. It is the most populous in Africa,
and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa
(7th fastest in the world). It was formerly the capital of Nigeria
and it remains the economic and financial capital of Nigeria.
Because of the unprecedented busy nature of the place and difficulties
surrounding access to unorthodox treatment, a reasonable percentage of the
inhabitants patronize traditional means of health care delivery system.
Herbal medicines may be dispensed in refined ways by direct hawking, display
in supermarkets and drug stores, and sometimes in hospitals and by crude
means involving hawking directly to customers in various forms as ground
powder, cooked decoction and concoction. The business is branded “paraga” in the parlance of the users. This complementary
health care endeavour of the people encouraged the
present study with the aims to evaluate the caliber of people that patronize
it, the trend of incorporation of the approach into health care delivery
system of the city and dispensing methodology.
STUDY METHODOLOGY
Oral
questions and printed questionaire were
administered to both users and sellers of herbal medicine in the Lagos
metropolis. Their responses were scored and percentages of these responses
were used for deducing inferences. Questions asked were: names of plants that
are commonly used to cure a number of diseases, recipe formulation and method
of administration. The respondents cut across the social strata of Lagos.
Important information relating to vernacular names of plants and documented
uses were obtained from literature (Burkill, 1985;
1994, 1995, 1997; Dalziel, 1937; Gbile, 1984; Isawumi, 1990; Iwu, 1993; Oliver, 1960 ).
RESULT
Names of plants used for some of
the various disease treatments are presented in
Tables 1 and 2
showing both scientific and vernacular names (Yoruba), part of plants used, taxonomic family names, reported chemical
constituents and popular uses. It was
found out that there are more males consumers than females, but more females
sell than males. Adults generally patronize and their religious belief
(Islamic and Christianity) is not a barrier. Automobile mechanics, vehicle
drivers, bus conductors, traders, uniformed force and para-force
men and women, corporate individuals and highly placed people in the society
all use herbal medicine. About frequency of administration, 60% of the people
interviewed consume it daily, about 20% of the respondents take it weekly,
10% of the people visit fortnightly and the remaining 10% take the medicine
monthly. 90% of the respondent said it was efficacious regardless the method
of preparation but 10% said that though they consumed but its effectiveness
was doubtful and that method of dispensing was not quite hygienic. About its
complimentary role to unorthodox medicine, 80% supported its assisting
significance while 20% of the respondents did not agree. 60% said that they
prefer it to modern medicine, 30% preferred unorthodox medicine to the practice whereas
10% of the respondents was indifferent. Responses as to solvents being used
to soak plant parts, 60% preferred alcohol, 30% chose water while 10% might
use alcohol or water depending on their mood as at the time of administration.
The business of medicinal herb selling which operates throughout the day in Lagos
is the only source of income to 60% of the sellers whereas the remaining 40%
combined the business with other trade. The sellers also provided that they
have been in the business for quite over 10 years and the art was acquired by
training from friends, neighbours, mothers, fathers
or mothers- and fathers-in-law. They also have a trade union that regulates
their activities. The resource herb-men and women responded that the business
facilitated increased sales of their herbal materials.
Table 1: Plants commonly used for
medicinal preparations in Lagos.
BOTANICAL NAMES
|
COMMON/LOCAL NAMES
|
PARTS USED
|
FAMILY
|
MALARIA (Iba)
|
Enantia chlorantha
|
Awopa
(Y),
African yellow wood
|
Bark
|
Annonacease
|
Citrus aurantifolia
|
Osan wewe (Y), lime
|
Juice
|
Rutaceae
|
Cymbopoqon citratus
|
Ewe tea (Y), Lemon grass
|
Leaf
|
Poacease
|
Maqnifera indica
|
Ewe mangoro
(Y), Mango
|
Leaf
|
Anacardiaceae
|
Azadirachta indica
|
Dogonyaro
(H), Neem tree, Aforo-oyingbo
(Y), Ogwu (I)
|
Leaf
|
Meliaceae
|
PILE / BACK ACHE
(Jedi / Opa
eyin)
|
Sabicea calycina
|
Ogan
(Y)
|
Bark
|
Rubiaceae
|
Lannea welwitschii
|
Orira
(Y)
|
Bark
|
Anacardiaceae
|
Aristolochia albida
|
Akoigun
(Y)
|
Leaf
|
Aristolochiaceae
|
Lophira lanceolata
|
Panhan
pupa/funfun (Y)
|
Bark
|
Ochnaceae
|
Syzygium aromaticum
|
Konofuru
(Y), clove
|
Fruit
|
Myrtaceae
|
Tetrapleura tetraptera
|
Aidan (Y)
|
Fruit
|
Mimosaceae
|
PEPPER SOUP:
Control of menstruation.
|
Capsicum annum
|
Ata ijosi
(Y)
|
Fruit
|
Solanaceae
|
Piper quineense
|
Iyere
(Y)
|
Seed
|
Piperaceae
|
Allium sativum
|
Ayu
(Y) garlic
|
Bulb
|
Amaryllidaceae
|
Zingiber officinale
|
Ata ile
(Y), Ginger
|
Rhizome
|
Zingiberaceae
|
Syzygium aromaticum
|
Konofuru
(Y), Clove
|
Flower bud
|
Myrtaceae
|
Ocimum gratissimum
|
Efirin
(Y), Nchianwu (I)
|
Leaf
|
Lamiaceae
|
Monodora myristica
|
Ariwo
(Y), Ehuru (I)
|
Fruit
|
Annonaceae
|
Xylopia aethiopica
|
Eru
(Y)
|
Fruit
|
Annonaceae
|
TONIC (Ogun eje)
|
Sorghum bicolor
|
Poroporo baba (Y), guinea com
|
Leaf
|
Poaceae
|
ERECTION
(Ale)
|
Symphonia globulifera
|
Ogolo
(Y), Hog-gum tree
|
Roots
|
Apiaceae
|
Carpolobea lutei
|
Osun-sun
(Y)
|
Roots
|
Polygalaceae
|
WATERY
SPERM (Afato)
|
Sympholia globulifera
|
Ogolo
(Y)
|
Roots
|
Apiaceae
|
GONORRHOEA
(Atosi)
|
Citrullus colocynthis
|
Baara
(Y)
|
Fruit
|
Cucurbitaceae
|
Allium sativum
|
Ayu
(Y), Garlic
|
Bulb
|
Amaryllidaceae
|
Parinari sp.
|
Abere
(Y), Neou oil tree
|
Fruit
|
Rosaceae
|
Table 2:- Some
drug plants used in Nigerian orthodox medicine.
Botanical
Names
|
Family
|
Part used
|
Constituents
|
Medicinal
Uses
|
Allium Sativum
|
Amaryllidaceae
|
Bulb
|
Sulphur oils,
|
Vermifuge, intestinal disinfectant, Vasodilator
(arteriosclerosis), antibiotic,
|
Aristolochia albida
|
Aristolochiaceae
|
Roots, Leaves
|
Aristolochine
|
Stomachic, tonic,
fever (malaria), ingredients in guinea worm remedy, local analgesic
|
Azadirachta indica
|
Meliaceae
|
Leaves, stem,
seeds, root bark
|
Margosa oils
|
Bitter, anti
pyretic, parasitic, skin diseases
|
Citrullus colocynthis
|
Cucurbitaceae
|
Fruit pulp
|
Colocynthin, Citrullol,
amorphous alkaloid
|
Purge
(drastic, rarely prescribed alone)
|
Cymbopogon citratus
|
Poaceae
|
Plants,
Leaves
|
Essential
oils
|
Febrifuge,
Malaria teas, insect repellant, carminative (obsolete), source of citral for vitamin A synthesis.
|
Enantia chlorantha
|
Annonaceae
|
Stem bark,
roots
|
Berberine
|
Fevers,
sleeping sickness, malaria, dysentery
|
Lannea welwitschii
|
Anacardiaceae
|
Roots, bark,
Leaves
|
N/A
|
Wound
dressing, dysentery
|
Lophira lanceolata
|
Ochnaceae
|
Roots, bark,
leaves, seeds
|
N/A
|
Anti-viral,
anti-inflamatory, fever, veneral
infections, jaundice, coughs
|
Magnifera indica
|
Anacardiaceae
|
Bark, leaves
|
Tannin,
resins
|
Astringent, skin
lesions, sore gums, diarrhea, piles
|
Ocimum gratissimum
|
Lamiaceae
|
Leaves, roots
|
|
Febrifuge,
colds, stomachic, carminative
|
Parinari sp.
|
Rosaceae
|
Stem, fruits,
kernels
|
Parinarium sterol A & B
|
Purge, Diarrhoea and dysentery, tonic wound dressing.
|
Piper guineense
|
Piperaceae
|
Fruits,
leaves
|
Chavine, piperine
|
Carminative,
restorative soup after child birth, embrocation
for sprains, aromatic.
|
Sabiacea calycina
|
Rubiaceae
|
Roots
|
N/A
|
Wound
dressing. rheumatism, panacea
|
Symphonia globulifera
|
Apiaceae
|
Fruits,
leaves, exudates
|
N/A
|
Diuretic,
wound dressing, venereal diseases, stomachic, tonic, surgical splint or
dressing.
|
Syzygium aromaticum
|
Myrtaceae
|
Buds,
volatile oils
|
Volatile oil,
gallotonic acid, caryophyllin
|
Toothache,
mouth sores, coughs, wound dressing.
|
Tetrapleura tetraptera
|
Mimosaceae
|
Barks,
fruits, whole plant
|
Mimosine, saponin
|
Emetic, tonic,
venereal diseases, fever, rheumatism, flatulence, jaundice, convulsions.
|
Zingiber officinale
|
Zingiberaceae
|
Rhizome,
roots
|
Gingerol, essential oil
|
Indigestion,
coughs, stimulant, anti microbial carminative, flavouring
agent.
|
Some of the set back of herbal
trading in Lagos include problems of standardization, negative attitude of
enlightened people towards use of medicinal preparations probably because they
can afford the alternative method, lack of scientific proof of its efficacy,
problem of plant misidentification and unwillingness to share expertise with
people (Kunle, 2000; Sanusi,
2002; Sofowora, 1982). However its advantages
include the fact that it is complementary to unorthodox medicine, it is
relatively cheap, there is ready availability of raw materials, it is a
potential source of new drugs and of course, a source of cheap starting
products for the synthesis of known drugs. The sale and use of medicinal
preparations should be encouraged and supported by government.
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