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: josmodkay@yahoo.com
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 METHODS
The 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 DISCUSSION
The
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
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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.
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34-57.
Kayode, J and Faluyi, M. A 1994.
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Kayode, J. (2006). Conservation
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of Nigeria.
Research Journal of Botany 3 (1), 35-40
Oliver, B. (1960). Medicinal plants in Nigeria.
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