Ethnobotanical
Leaflets 13: 40-46. 2009.
Medicobotanical Studies in Relation to Veterinary
Medicine in Ekiti State, Nigeria: (1) Checklist of Botanicals 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 04 January
2009
ABSTRACT
A semi-structured questionnaire
matrix and direct field observation were used to identify botanicals used for
veterinary health care in the rural areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. A total of 38 plants belonging to 27 families were
valued for the treatments of poultry pests and diseases in the study area and
the parts mostly utilized were the leaves. Features that enhanced the
continuous utilization of these botanical species were identified and
strategies that could further enhance their sustainability were also
proposed.
INTRODUCTION
Ekiti State (7025’- 8020’, 5000’-
6000’) is located in the southwestern part of Nigeria. The state has a contiguous land mass of about 7000
sq. kilometers and over 75% of the 1.6million inhabitants of this area are
farmers, most of whom are situated in rural areas (Kayode
1999). There are two climatic seasons, a dry season, which lasts from
November to February and a rainy season, which lasts from March to October
with an annual rainfall of about 1150mm (Kayode and
Faluyi 1994).
In
Nigeria, ethnoveterinary
practices still play important roles in many rural areas (Kudi
and Myint 1999). Veterinary treatment by
conventional means has continued to be out of reach for ordinary farmers due
to cost and quite often the non-availability of drugs (Chiezey
et al. 2000). Unfortunately a gross
dearth of documentations on ethnoveterinary
botanicals still abounds in Ekiti State where the current rate of deforestation is
unprecedented (Kayode 2004). In fact, previous
assertion by Keengwe and Benalo
(1996) had revealed that in Nigeria, ethnobotanical knowledge
and methods have not been fully documented, studied and popularized for use
together with modern veterinary medicine as has been done in Kenya, another African country.
The study being here reported is a
part of on-going studies on the medicobotanicals
used in veterinary medicine being conducted at the Department of Plant
Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. It is expected that the study will document the
plant based animal care practices used by the rural communities of Ekiti State, Nigeria.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ekiti
state was divided into three zones, Ekiti North, Ekiti Central and Ekiti South,
based on the existing political delineation. In each zone, ten communities
that were still relatively far from urban influence were chosen. In each of
these communities, ten respondents who had maintained domicile for a period
of not less than 20 years were chosen and interviewed with the aid of
semi-structured questionnaire matrix (after Kayode
2002, 2005, Kayode and Omotoyinbo
2008). The interviews were conducted with a fairly open framework that
allowed for focused, conversational, two-way communication.
Botanical species used for
veterinary treatments, in each community, were identified and documented.
Information on the part(s) of such plant used was documented. Voucher
specimens of the species were collected and later scientifically identified
at the herbarium of the Department of Plant Science, University of Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The specimens were later kept in the herbarium.
Secondary information was obtained
from records at the State Veterinary Hospital located in Ado-Ekiti, the
Ekiti State capital, and key informants consisting of officials
of the State Ministries of Agriculture, Environment and Health as well as
Veterinary Doctors were also interviewed. The services of the veterinary
doctors were utilized in the diagnosis of the livestock diseases.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Field observation revealed that
poultry constituted the bulk of livestock kept in the study area where
livestock was recognized as occupying a prominent place in the rural economy.
The birds were mostly managed using the free range system. There were no
traditional veterinary healers in any of the communities sampled in this study.
Elsewhere in Nigeria, Nwude (1997) had
asserted that traditional medicinal healers were only available for the
treatments of human diseases in the study area. Sanyasi-Rao
et al. (2008) made similar
observation in the Chittor and Ananthapur
districts of India.
In Ekiti State Nigeria, the treatments of poultry
diseases in the rural area were skewed to the use of botanicals which were
perceived as cheap, usually at low cost, locally and easily available and do
not have side effects on their livestock. This observation confirms the
previous assertion of Sarr and Abdu
(1999) that dependency on the maintenance of livestock health in Nigeria is based on traditional remedies.
Most
of the residents in the study area were quite familiar with the appearance of
some symptoms which they used in recognizing the various diseases affecting
their poultry livestock (Table 1) and many considered pests as being an
integral part of the diseases that hindered poultry productivity in the study
area. Some of the poultry diseases were known to be caused by nutritional
deficiencies while some were recognized as being caused by
micro-organisms. A total of 38 plants
belonging to 27 families (Table 2) were valued for the treatments of poultry
pests and diseases (Tables 1 and 3), the part mostly utilized was the leaves
(Table 2). Elsewhere in India, the leaves also formed the bulk of the parts of ethnobotanical used (Ramana
2008).
The
indigenous knowledge on the efficacies of these botanical species is passed
from one generation to another. Respondents were of the opinion that the
various governments in the country had demonstrated inadequate concerns for
livestock health thus confirming the assertion of Sarr
and Abdul (1999) that apart from the successful control of rinderpest, little or no efforts had been demonstrated by
the government on the control of veterinary diseases. Field observation also
revealed that respondents were aware of the successful control of bird flu
that was also carried out by the Federal Government of Nigeria in the year
2004-2006. However, the financial commitments by governments, as previously
observed by Abdu et al. (2000) were poor when compared to the number and diverse
breeds and species of livestock in the country. This has further fueled the
dependence of the rural and the urban resource-poor farmers on the use of
botanicals for the livestock.
In
conclusion, residents in the rural areas were confronted with multiple
problems that hindered poultry productivity. These include the lack of
functional veterinary hospital, inadequate financial resources,
non-availability of modern veterinary drugs, even when diverse sources were
utilized to source for fund to purchase them, poor extension services and
increased environmental degradation that has deleterious effects on the
health of the livestock. With the increasing rates at which indigenous
knowledge are being lost, the documentation of the ehtnobotanicals
cannot be over-emphasized. According
to Raul et al. (1990), considerable
wealth of knowledge is inherent in most cultures of the world. Thus the use
of etnoverterinary medicine is widely considered as
sustainable (Gueye 1995) as it is perceived as
economical, culturally acceptable and economically sound. Consequent on the
above, the previous suggestion of Chiezey et al. (2000) that empirical trials
must be carried out to ascertain their efficacies, safety and relative health
and economic risks before they are widely promoted, is still relevant. The
abundance of the botanicals, in the study area, must be determined with the
aim of establishing sustainable strategies that would conserve the rare
species among them. Standard dosages must be established for the species as
this might be necessary in integrating the botanicals with modern orthodox
veterinary medicine.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The assistance of
ANTHRA, India and Professor J. O. Gefu
of the National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, in the supply of literature were highly
appreciated.
REFERENCES
Abdu, P.
A., Jagun, A. G., Gefu,
J. O. Mohammed, A. K., Alawa, C. B. I. and Omokanye, A.T. (2000). A survey of ethnoveterinary
practices of agropastorialist in Nigeria, Pp. 25-31, In Gefu J.O. et al. (Eds.). Ethnovertirinary
practices, Research and Development, National Animal Production
Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Chiezey, N.
P., Gefu, J. O., Jagun,
A. G., Abdu, P. A., Alawa,
C. B. I., Magaji, S. O., Adeyinka,
J. A. and Eduvie, L. O. (2000). Evaluation of some
Nigerian plants for anthelmintic activity in young
cattle. Pp. 38-48. In Gafu, J, O, et al. (Eds.). Ethnoveterinary practices, Research and Development, National Animal
Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Guaeye, E.
F. (1995). Ethnoveterinary medicine against poultry
diseases in African villages. World’s
Poultry Science Journal 9.55(2), 187-198.
Kayode, J. and
Faluyi, M. A. (1994). Studies on self and
cross-compatibility in soybean (Glycine
max L.) in a tropical rainforest environment. Nigeria Journal
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55-61.
Kayode, J. (1999). Phytosociological
investigation of compositae weeds in abandoned
farmlands in Ekiti
State, Nigeria.
Compositae Newsletter 34, 62-68.
Kayode, J. (2002).
Conservation and ethnobotanical exploration of compositae in Ekiti
State, Nigeria.
Compositae Newsletter 37, 79 – 83.
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 Omotoyinbo,
M. A. (2008). Conservation of Botanicals Used for Dental and Oral Healthcare
in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Ehnobotanical Leaflets 12, 7-18.
Keengwe, M.
and Benalo, I.
(1996). Ethnoveterinary medicine in Kenya: A field manual of traditional animal health care
practices. Intermediate Technology Development Group and International
Institute of Rural Reconstruction, Nairobi, Kenya.
Kudi, A.
C. and Myint, S. H. (1999). Antiviral activity of
some Nigerian medicinal plant extracts, Journal
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Nwude, N.
(1977). Nigerian plants that may cause poisoning in livestock. Vet. Bull. 47(11), 811-817.
Ramana, M.
V. (2008). Ethnomedicinal and Ethnoveterinary Plants from Boath,
Adilabad district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Ethnobotanical Leaflets 12:
391-400. 2008.
Raul, P., Pedrazo, M. and
Manuela, P. (1990). Animal health care in India. ILEIA Newsletter 8(3), 22-23.
Sanyasi Rao, M. C., Varma, Y. N. R. and Vijaykumar,
R. (2008). Ethno veterinary medical plants of
the catchment area of the River Papogni
in the Chittor and Ananthapur
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Sarr, J.
and Abdu, P. A. (1999). Study of the needs in
veterinary vaccines in ECOWAS member states. Study Report, The Department of
Industry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, ECOWAS Secretariat, Abuja,
Nigeria.
Table 1. Respondents’ indigenous technical knowledge on
poultry pests and diseases.
Indigenous Technical Knowledge
Pests/ Diseases
English/Scientific
Name Vernacular Name
|
(a) Pests
1.
- Small insects that are transmitted
by body
contact, whose life-cycle
is
completed in relative short time,
- Cause restlessness,
- Often results in sores on the birds
that may
serve as entry points for
microbes,
- May also transfer diseases from one
bird to
another
Lice
Yooo
2.
- Worms present in the stool
- Lack of appetite
- General weakness
Worms/Helminthes Aran
|
(b) Nutritional Diseases
1.
- Weak and staggering
- Inability to walk properly
- Partial paralysis
Rickets/Osteomalacia Aro/Roparose
2.
- Weakness of the body
- Pale look
- Inadequate blood Anaemia Gbigbe
|
(c) Microbial Diseases
1.
- Paralysis of bird(s),
- Loss of birds weight
- Difficulties in the breathing of bird(s)
- Depressions of the bird(s) Fowl
plague/Newcastle disease
2.
- Excessive diarrhea
- Persistence stooling Coccidiosis
3.
- Swellings, filled watering substances,
on the
surface of the comb, wattles,
beak and
eyes
Fowl pox
4.
- Discharge of watery substance from
the nose
of the bird(s)
- Swollen of bird(s) face
- Sneezing and coughing Respiratory
disease
|
Table 2. List of identified botanicals used for the
treatment of poultry diseases in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
S/N
Botanical Species
Family Vernacular Name Part(s) Used
|
1. Acacia
arabica Mimosaceae Ewon egun Leaves
|
2. Adansonia
digitata
Bombacaeae
Ose Leaves, fruits
|
3. Aframomum melagueta Zingiberaceae Atare Fruits, Seeds
|
4. Allium cepa Alliaceae Alubosa Leaves, bulbs
|
5. Allium sativum Alliaceae Alubosa-Elewe Leaves, bulbs
|
6. Amarantus spinosus Amaranthaceae Tete-Elegun Leaves, Seeds
|
7. Azadirachta
indica Meliaceae Dongoyaro Leaves, Fruits
|
8. Boerhavia
diffusa Nyctaginaceae Etipe-elila Leaves
|
9. Bridelia
ferruginea
Euphorbiaceae Ira Leaves, Stem
bark
|
10. Capsicum frutescens
Solanaceae
Ata wewe
Fruits
|
11. Carica papaya Caricaceae Ibepe Leaves, Seeds
|
12. Chromoleana odorata
Asteraceae
Akintola
Leaves
|
13. Cissampelos owariensis
Menispermaceae Jokojee Leaves
|
14. Citrus aurantifolia Rutaceae Osan
wewe
Leaves, Fruits juice
|
15. Datura stramonium Solanaceae Adodo-mode Leaves
|
16. Elaeis guineensis Arecaceae Ope Leaves, Fruits
|
17. Ficus
exasperate Moraceae Eepinpin Leaves, latex
|
18. Jatropha gossypifolia
Euphorbiaceae Lapalapa Leaves, Latex
|
19. Lagenaria siceraria Cucurbitaceae Igba Leaves
|
20. Lantana
camera Verbenaceae
Ewon adele Leaves
|
21. Momordica charantia Cucurbitaceae Ejinrin Leaves
|
22. Musa paradisiaca Musaceae Ogede agbagba Leaves, Stem
|
23. Nicotiana tobacum
Solanaceae Taba Leaves
|
24. Ocimum bascilicum Lamiaceae Efirin wewe Leaves
|
25. Parkia biglobosa Mimosaceae Iru
(igba)
Leaves, Stem bark,
seeds
|
26. Pergularia daemia Asclepiadaceae Atufa Leaves
|
27. Perquetina nigrescens
Asclepiadaceae
Ogbo
Leaves
|
28. Saccharum officinarum
Poaceae Ireke Leaves, Stem
extract
|
29. Senna alata
Caesalpiniaceae Asunrin
oyinbo Leaves
|
30. Senna occidentalis Caesalpiniaceae Papala-omode Leaves
|
31. Solanum americanum
Solanaceae
Odu
Leaves, fruits
|
32. Talinium trangulare Portulaceae Gbure Leaves
|
33. Tephrosia vogelii Papilionaceae Orobeja Leaves
|
34. Terminalia schimperiana Combretaceae Idi Leaves
|
35. Vernonia amygdalina
Asteraceae Ewuro Leaves
|
36. Vitex doniana
Verbenaceae
Oriri
Leaves
|
37. Vitellaria paradoxa Sapotaceae Emi Leaves
|
38. Zea mays Poaceae
Agbado Seeds
|
Table 3. Folk medicinal value of the identified botanical species
used for the treatment of poultry diseases in Ekiti State, Nigeria.
S/N
Botanical Species Folk
medicinal value
|
1. Acacia arabica
Healing of
wound and cure of fowl pox
|
2. Adansonia digitata Healing of wound,
cure of fowl pox, and diarrhea
|
3. Aframomum melagueta Cure of gastrointestinal
diseases
|
4. Allium cepa Curing
cold, helminthiasis and respiratory diseases
|
5. Allium sativum Curing cold, helminthiasis, respiratory and gastrointestinal
diseases
|
6. Amarantus spinosus Curing pile
|
7. Azadirachta indica Prevention of worm
infestation, control of lice
|
8. Boerhavia diffusa Cure of worms and gastrointestinal
diseases
|
9. Bridelia ferruginea Cure of cold, fever
and cough
|
10. Capsicum
frutescens Cure of cold and fever
|
11. Carica papaya Control of lice, curing pile and other
gastrointestinal disorders
|
12. Chromoleana odorata Curing diarrhea
|
13. Cissampelos owariensis Cure of worm and diarrhea
|
14. Citrus aurantifolia Control of lice and
worms, curing of cold, nervous diseases, fowl
pox and diarrhea
|
15. Datura stramonium Healing of wounds and
cure of fowl pox
|
16. Elaeis guineensis Healing of wound and
cure of fowl pox
|
17. Ficus
exasperate Cure
of diarrhea
|
18. Jatropha gossypifolia Cure of worms and fowl
pox
|
19. Lagenaria siceraria Cure of Newcastle
disease and coccidiosis
|
20. Lantana
camera Healing of wounds
and cure of fowl pox
|
21. Momordica charantia Cure for fowl pox, helminthiasis and coccidiosis
|
22. Musa paradisiaca For cure of
respiratory diseases
|
23. Nicotiana tobacum
Control of lice
|
24. Ocimum bascilicum
Cure of diarrhea
|
25. Parkia biglobosa Cure of Newcastle
disease
|
26. Pergularia daemia Curing Newcastle diseases
|
27. Perquetina nigrescens
For cure of diarrhea, coccidiosis
|
28. Saccharum officinarum
Cure of worms
|
29. Senna alata Curing
piles, helminthiasis
|
30. Senna occidentalis Helminthiasis
|
31. Solanum americanum Cure for helminthiasis
,coccidiosis and gastrointestinal diseases
|
32. Talinium trangulare Cure of fever
|
33. Tephrosia vogelii Cure of coccidiosis
|
34. Terminalia schimperiana Curing of coccidiosis,
Antihelminthic
|
35. Vernonia amygdalina
Cure of diarrhea, helminthiasis
|
36. Vitex doniana Cure of coccidiosis
|
37. Vitellaria paradoxa Cure of coccidiosis and fowl pox
|
38. Zea mays Cure of
cold and fever
|
|