Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants from the Villages Around Ngel-Nyaki Forest Reserve, Mambila Plateau: A Nigerian Montane Forest Project

Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document medicinal plants used by traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) around the Ngel-Nyaki Taraba state, Nigeria, for treating various ailments. The study aimed to preserve indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants, their potential in drug development, and maintaining both the ecological integrity and the cultural knowledge of local communities was a central focus of this research. Field trips twice a month (24) between the 1st week of January and to 2nd week of December 2023 were made to the sites. Interviews were conducted with TMPs, herb vendors, farmers, and elders using semi-structured questionnaires and open-ended conversations. The data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2016, focusing on frequencies and percentages for socio-demographic details. The ethnobotanical data were further analyzed using the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Fidelity Level (FL), and Factor Informant Consensus (FIC) to assess the significance of plant species in treating various ailments. The study identified 40 medicinal plant species from 25 families, with Euphorbiaceae (11.90%) and Moraceae (9.52%) being the most common families. The majority of remedies were prepared from bark (46%) and roots (37%), with leaves (9%), fruits (5%), and stems (2%) being used less frequently. The plants were prepared using decoction, concoction, powder, chewing, edible forms, and infusion. A variety of ailments were treated using these plants, showing the breadth of local medicinal knowledge. Herbal medicine remains central to the healthcare practices of local communities around Ngel-Nyaki Taraba state, Nigeria. Protecting the ecological integrity and conserving traditional medicinal knowledge is crucial.