Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants useful for malaria therapy in eight local government areas of Abia State, Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey on the medicinal plants used in treating malaria by traditional healers in eight local government of Abia State, Nigeria was conducted using oral interviews of the practicing herbalists and other individuals involved in the use of medicinal plants. Results of this survey indicated that twenty-one plant species belonging to eighteen families of plants featured as recipes in the preparation and treating of infectious diseases including malaria. Investigation on plant parts used, mode of preparations and administration, indicated that irrespective of plant and plant parts or their combination used, water was the main medium for all medicinal preparations. Treatment regime included drinking the aqueous preparations for five to ten days or until malaria fever symptom disappeared. Although the efficacy of the recipes described by the respondents is not known with certainty, the people are certain that it works for them and they still rely heavy on herbal medicines than orthodox malaria drugs. This survey provides a basis for further screening and research on these plants used for malaria in the eight local government of Abia State, Nigeria.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical, medicinal plants, malaria, Abia State, Nigeria.