ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF PLANTS USED IN MANAGING ULCER IN ABEOKUTA METROPOLIS, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Ethnobotanical survey of plants often used for the management of ulcer in Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun State was carried out. A total of 100 respondents comprising 50 herbal traditional practitioners and 50 ulcer patients were interviewed. Study was carried out on plant parts used, modes of preparation, solvents used and types of preparation. Also, quantitative analysis of phytochemical ingredients of the most frequently used plants; Occimum basillicum, Musa paradisiaca, Aloe vera, Azadirachta. indica, Brassica oleracae  and Carica papaya was carried out. Data were subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with probability set at (p<0.05). Results revealed a total of 40 plants belonging to 30 families out of which Zingiberaceae, Apocynaceae, Moraceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae, Malliacaeae,  Arecaceae, and Poaceae  were the most frequent families. The most frequently mentioned plants were Occimum basillicum (57.5%), Musa paradisiaca (55%), Aloe vera (50%), Azadirachta indica (47.5%), Brassica oleracae (25%) and Carica papaya (25%). Records from this study revealed that the largest life form of plant was herbs (30%), followed by trees (28%), shrubs or trees (4%) while least plant forms were grasses, flowers, underground stems, climbers and chalk as represented by 1% each. The main methods of preparation were decoction and infusion. The plant parts recorded being used for ulcer management were leaves, barks, fruits, seeds, roots, rhizomes and the whole plant as in Aloe vera.  The most frequently used plant parts were leaves (45%) while fruits, seeds, roots and rhizomes were the least parts used as represented by 5% each. Water, alcohol palm wine, palm oil and fermented maize water were the medium for ulcer herbal preparations.