Comparative study of some medicinal plants in Nimo, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

A survey of some medicinal plants used in traditional medicine by Nimo people of Anambra State in Nigeria was undertaken with the aim to scientifically identify and document the plants against their applications by traditional medicine practitioners of the area. Knowledge and information was extracted and recorded from 40 traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) and community elders by means of semi-structured interviews. Sixty (60) medicinal plant species in 43 plant families were recorded. The most represented plant families recorded are of the Asteraceae (3), Arecaceae (3), Euphorbiaceae (3), Fabaceae (3), leguminosae (3), Anacardiaceae (3), Anonaaceae (3), Malvaceae (2), Burseraceae (2) and Bignoniaceae (2). The most common categories of human ailments treated were dermal, digestive problems and fever/malaria. The most used plant parts are leaves, while decoction was the main method of drug preparation. The medicinal plants found in this survey may provide a source for drug discovery and may also be incorporated into the healthcare delivery system of the country.