Homestead horticultural crops: Alternative sources to alternative medicines/therapies in Ebonyi State, Southeastern Nigeria

Bassey A Essien,; Jane B Essien; Inya O Okocha,

doi:10.30574/gscbps.2019.9.2.0019

Authors

Bassey A Essien, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Jane B Essien Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
Inya O Okocha, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Technology, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30574/gscbps.2019.9.2.0019

Keywords:

Homestead, Horticultural crops, Alternative medicine, Traditional medicine practitioners, Ailments

Abstract

The prehistoric discovery that certain plants harm and others have curative powers is the origin of the healing professions and its practitioners as well as professions devoted to plants (botany and horticulture). The description of plants and their properties and virtues (termed herbals) became invaluable resources for the physician and apothecary. The horticultural plants with medicinal values used in the traditional medicine of Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria were surveyed, aimed at identifying and documenting the plants used amongst the indigenes of Ebonyi State. Semi-structured interviews were conducted during a field trip to gather information from traditional medicinal practitioners (TMPs) and community elders. Results obtained indicated that horticultural plants species with medicinal values were 44 species representing 32 genera and 30 families; used in the ethno medicine of the people of Ebonyi State. The most represented genera were Cucurbitaceae and Rutaceae providing five and four species, respectively. The most used plant parts recorded was the leaves representing (52.27%), followed by fruits (27.27%), and while decoction was the main method of drug preparation with (38.67%) followed by infusion (21.33%). The result of the survey shows that more than half of the horticultural plants with medicinal values gathered in Ebonyi State are also used in other states in Nigeria as well as in other countries for various ailments. The most frequently treated diseases represents 67.09% of the medicinal applications and the most treated diseases was Fungal /Bacterial diseases with 27.45% followed by Malaria/Fever and other related diseases with (22.55%). These medicinal plants gathered may bring about drug discovery and may also be incorporated into the healthcare delivery system of the country.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Janick J. (2002). Ancient Egyptian Agriculture and the origin of Horticulture. ACTA, 582, 23-39.

Kraft K. (2009). Complementary/Alternative Medicine in the Context of prevention of diseases and maintenance of health. Prev. Med., 49, 88-92.

Blackman MR. (2008). Alternative medicine and Endocrinology. A paper presented at the American Society of Clinical Endocrinologist, 17th Annual meeting and clinical congress. Orlando, Fla.

Bannerman RHO. (1979). Acupuncture: The WHO View. World Health magazine. 24-29.

Rastogi RP and Dhawan BW. (1982). Research on Medicinal Plants at the Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow (India). Indian Journ Med. Res. 76 Suppl 27-45.

World Health Organisation. (2002).WHO Launches the First Global Strategy on Traditional and Alternative Medicine Strategy.

Queiroz EF, Wolfender JL and Hostettmann K. (2009). Modern Approaches in the search for new lead anti-parasitic compounds from higher plants. Curr. Drug Targets, 10, 202-211.

Kola KA, Bala DN and Umoh UF. (2012): Ethnomedicinal Survey of Plants used by the indigenes of Rivers State of Nigeria. Pharmcautical Biology, 50 (9), 1123-1143.

Tomoko N, Takashi A, Hiromu T,Yuka HM, Munekazu I, Totshiyuki T, Tetsuro I, Fujio A, Inya I, Tsutomu N and Kazuhito W. (2002). Antibacterial activity of extracts prepared from tropical and subtropical plants on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Journ Health Science, 48, 273-278.

Timo DS, Dorah JM and Onesmo BB. (2013).Ehno Pharmacological Survey of Plants used in the traditional treatments of Gastro-intestinal pain, inflammation and Diarrhea in Africa: Future perspectives for integration into Modern medicine. Animals, 3, 158-227.

Alaribe SI. (2008). A survey of the importance and problems of a traditional healthcare medicine. A case study of Ezinnihite, Mbaise L. G.A, Imo State. Unpublished B.Sc Project, Akanu Ibiam Federal College of Education, Owerri, Imo State.

Ibe AE and Nwufor MI. (2005). Identification, collection and Domestication of medicinal plants in Southeastern Nigeria. Afri. Devel., 30 (3), 66-77.

Obute GC. (2005). Ethno Medicinal Plants Resources of Southeastern Nigeria. Ethno botanical leaflet. Econ. Bot 51 (3), 31-37.

Ndukwu BC and Nwadibia NB. (2006). Ethno medicinal aspects of plants used as spices and condiments in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria. Journ. Afri. Med. Plants, 21, 113-117.

Central Bank Global Income Distribution Database (C-GIDD) (2008). The Location of Ebonyi State Nigeria.

Essien BA, Essien JB and Eluagu CJ. (2015). Contribution of Moringa oleifera in intercropping systems to food security in the derived savanna zone of Southeastern Nigeria. The Nigerian Agric. Journal Vol. 46 Nos 1 & 2, 336-346.

Anonymous. (2018).Ebonyi Indigenes.

Huntington HP. (2000). Using Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Science: Methods and Applications. Ecol. Appl. 10, 1270-1274.

Martin CJ. (1995).Ehnobotany: A Method Manual. London UK: Chapman and Hall.

Maundu P. (1995). Methodology for Collecting and Sharing Indigenous Knowledge: A case study. Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, 3, 3-5.

Hutchinson J and Dalziel JM. (1958). Flora of West Tropical Africa. Vol. III. London, UK: Crown Agents for Overseas Govt. and Administration.

Keay RWJ, Onochie CFA and Stanfield DP. (1964). Nigerian Tress. Vol. I-II. Ibadan, Nigeria: Fed. Dept. of Forest Research.

Anonymous. (2008). International plant names index database.

Iwu MM. (1986). Africa Ethnomedicinal. Enugu, Nigeria. UPS

Iwu MM. (1993). Handbook of African Medicinal Plants. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Ajibesin KK, Ekpo BA, Bala DN, Essien EE and Adesanya SA. (2008). Ethno botanical survey of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. Journal of Ethnopharmacol. 115, 387-408.

Edun A. (2014). Plant Money: How to turn weed into money. Layinen Co ltd, Ikeja, Lagos.

Nyananyo BL. (2006). Plants from the Niger Delta, Port Harcourt, Nigeria: Onyoma Research Publications.

Nigerian National Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA). (2006). Medicinal Plants of Nigeria: South-West Nigeria. Vol.1 Lagos, Nigeria, NNMDA.

Nigerian National Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA). (2008). Medicinal Plants of Nigeria: South-East Nigeria. Vol.1 Lagos, Nigeria.

Federal Ministry of Health. (2008). Nigerian Herbal Pharmacopoeia. 1st ed. Nigeria: Federal Ministry of Health.

Desmarchelier C and Witting-Schaus F. (2000). Sixty Medicinal Plants from the Peruvian Amazon: Ecology, Ethnomedicine and Bioactivity, Devon, UK: NHBS.

Tabuti JR, Lye KA and Dhillion SS. (2003). Traditional herbal Drugs of Bulamogi, Uganda: Plants, Use and Administration. Journ. Ethnopharmacol, 88, 19-44.

Kola CP. (2005).Ethnomedicinal botany of the Apatani in the Eastern Himalayan Region of India. Journ. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. I, 11.

Muthu C, Ayyanar M, Raja N and Ignacimuthu S. (2006). Medicinal Plants used by traditional healers in Kancheepuram District of Tamil Nadu, India. Journ. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2, 43.

Giday M, Asfaw Z, Woldu Z and Teklehaymanot T. (2009). Medicinal Plants Knowledge of the Bench ethnic group of Ethiopia: An ethno botanical Investigation. Journ. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed, 5, 34.

Hossan MS, Hanif A, Agarwala B, Sarwar NS, Karim M, Rahman MJ, Jahan R and Rahmatullah M. (2010). Traditional use of medicinal Plants in Bangladesh to treat urinary tract infections and sexually transmitted diseases. Ethnobot. Res. Appl. 8, 61-74.

Lulekal E, Kelbessa E, Bekele T and Yineger H. (2008). An Ethnobotanical Sutdy of Medicinal Plants in ManaAngetu District, Southeastern Ethiopia Journ. EthnoboilEthnomed, 4, 10.

Cunningham AB. (2001). Applied Ethno botany: People, wild plant use and conservation, London, UK; Earthscan.

Umeobi GI. (1994). Identification of some Medicinal Plants in Aguata L. G. A of Ananmbra State, Nigeria. Unpublished B.Sc Project, AIFCE, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

Focho DA, Ndam WT and Fonge BA. (2009). Medicinal Plants of Agumbo-Bamumbu in the Lebialem Highlands, Southwest Province of Cameroun. Afri Jorn. Pharm and Pharmacol, 3 (1), 001-013.

Anonymous. (2009). African Plants Database.

Taylor L. (2005). The healing Power of Rainforest Herb.

Rahmatullah M, Rahman ME, Hossan E, Ahmed R, Jamal F, Jahan R, Khatus MA, Nahar N, Ahsan S, Nahar A and Ahmed I. (2010). A survey of medicinal plants used by the folk medicinal practitioners of Schtabgan Village in Dinajpur District, Bangladesh. Ame-Eurosian, Journal of Sustainable Agric, 49, 196-203.

Cox PA. (1994).The ethno botanical approach to drug Discovery Strength and Limitations. In: Chadwick, D. J.; Marsh, J. (Ed.). Ethno botany and the search for new drugs. Chichester: Wiley, 25-41.