Preliminary Survey of Folk Medicinal Plants of the Oko People in Oredo L.G.A of Edo State, Nigeria.

Abstract

P Pr re el li im mi in na ar ry y S Su ur rv ve ey y o of f F Fo ol lk k M Me ed di ic ci in na al l P Pl la an nt ts s o of f t th he e O Ok ko o P Pe eo op pl le e i in n O Abstract A preliminary survey of common medicinal plants used by the indigenes of Oko village in Oredo Local government area was studied. A total of twenty six plants distributed into twenty two families were recorded. Most parts used include the fruits, seeds, stem/bark with a high frequency of leaves being used. The different plant parts used in the treatment and management of ailments like malaria and rheumatism is highlighted. The mode of preparation and administration is discussed. The information based on some of the medicinal plant studies is in line with other studies from other parts of Nigeria It is advised that any plant regarded as a medicinal plant or ingredients taken from such plants should be carefully tested before being used as remedy in treating different claimed ailments. There is need for further studies on the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of these plants.

Full text

Tropical Journal of Environmental Science & Health 11 (1):37-42 (2008).
Volume 11  37  January 2008
S
CIENCE
H
EALTH
OF
AND
Tropical
OUR NAL
J
E
NVIRONMENTAL
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Ogie-Odia E.A1*, Erhenhi2. A. H, Ogbemudia3 . F. O and Ekhator1 O.
1Department of Botany, Ambrose Alli University, PMB 14, Ekpoma, Edo State.
2Department of Botany, Delta State University, P.M.B 1, Abraka, Delta State.
3Department of Botany and Ecological studies, University of Uyo, P.M.B 1017, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State..
 Key Words: Folk, Medicinal plants, Oko, Oredo, Edo State, Nigeria.
Abstract
A preliminary survey of common medicinal plants used by the indigenes of Oko village in
Oredo Local government area was studied. A total of twenty six plants distributed into twenty
two families were recorded. Most parts used include the fruits, seeds, stem/bark with a high
frequency of leaves being used. The different plant parts used in the treatment and
management of ailments like malaria and rheumatism is highlighted. The mode of preparation
and administration is discussed. The information based on some of the medicinal plant studies
is in line with other studies from other parts of Nigeria It is advised that any plant regarded as
a medicinal plant or ingredients taken from such plants should be carefully tested before being
used as remedy in treating different claimed ailments. There is need for further studies on the
phytochemical and pharmacological properties of these plants.
INTRODUCTION
Indigenous uses of plants by
communities have been in practice for as
long as man has existed. The indigenous
flora continues to play a key role in the
livelihood of people in developing countries
today. Ethnobotanical and medicinal
knowledge that has been passed on from
generation to generation either within
families or ethnic groups also continues to
find valuable uses in present-day society.
The social economic benefits arising from
such resources are tremendous (Van der
Maesen et al., 1996). The ethnobotanical
view of a place is determined by the way or
behaviour a given people in a given area
relate to the plant present in their
environment. The basic documentation of
traditional knowledge needs not be
overemphasized because of the importance
it plays at this present era and in years to
come. It is well known that plant usage
generally in the tropics is very diverse and
that most of the usage is for medicinal
purposes such as food, shelter and clothing
(Allswort-Jones et al., 1991). In recent
years, folk medicine is no more an
attraction to the younger generation; they
are more dependent on western medicine.
They are unable to recognize the herbs and
possess very little knowledge on traditional
herbal remedy (Lin, 2005). Herbal remedies
used in the traditional folk medicine
provide an interesting and still largely
unexplored source for the creation and
development of potentially new drugs.
Much of an indigenous knowledge system,
from the earliest times, is also found linked
with the use of traditional medicine in
different countries (Farnsworth, 1994).
Notable contributors to the study of
medicinal plants in Nigeria include Gill
(1992), Akpata (1979) Gill and Okpara
(1988) amongst others.
The cure for diseases and the use of
medicinal plants have been much
influenced by religious practices and

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exercise of magical rites (Trease and Evans,
1989).
The indigenes of Oko village are
farmers, traders, government workers and
some herbalist. Agriculture is a common
economic activity in the locality and many
of the indigenes engage in farming. The
vegetation in the area is typical of lowland
forest rich with plants for timber and fuel
wood. Due to modernization, most of the
forest area is being cleared and used for
construction of houses. Oko village is
situated in Oredo Local Govt area that is
bounded in the North by Egor L.G.A., South
East by Ikpoba Okha, North East by Ovia
East and in the South by Ethiope LGA in
Delta State. It is situated in the tropics
between Latitude 60 and 60 30N and
Longitude 50 and 50 50E of the Greenwich
meridian.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Information for this study was collected
using questionnaires administered to the
indigenes and for those that were not
literate, they were interviewed and the
information written down. The local names
and uses of the plants were collected
through key and informant interviewing.
This method was used as a means of
obtaining information about the ways of life
of the Binis at present and changes or
alternations in the living pattern. The
questionnaire designed was to obtain
names of plants, parts used and their
different uses, preparations and the dosage
administered for effective results.
Collection of information from
indigenes was easily facilitated by a well
known indigene in the locality as
information regarding medicinal plants was
not easily given.
Fresh specimens collected from home
gardens, forest and fields were properly
identified using standard texts such as
Hutchinson and Dalziel (1954, 1963 and
1968), Keay (1989) and Akobondu &
Agyakwa (1998)
RESULTS
The result of this study is presented in
Table 1 below. It mainly highlights the plant
species with their medicinal uses, mode of
preparation and administration.
Table 1. Medicinal plants of the Oko people and their use.
S/no
Name of plant
Family
Vernacular
name
Part(s)
used
Preparation / dosage / uses
1.
Anarcadium
occidentalis L.
(Moench)
Anarcardiaceae
Ekashu
Leaves. The leaves together with
Carica
papya and Mangifera indica leaves
are boiled and drunk for
treatment of fever. Dosage is a
cup daily.
2.
Ananas
comosus
(L.) Merr
Bromeliaceae
Edin
–
ebo
Fruit Unripe fruit is eaten and often
taken as a purgative/vermifuge.
3.
Azadirachta
indica
A.Juss.
Meliaceae
Edogoyaro
Leaves,
Stem
bark
A cup of the decoction of young
twigs, leaves and bark is taken
daily for three days to treat
malaria.
4.
Bryophyllum
pinnatum Kurz.
Crassulaceae
Ebeyoven
Fresh
leaves
Extract from leaves heated over
fire is used for ear ailment; used
to also facilitate healing of navel
of newly born infants; extract
with sugar used as cough
mixture.

Ogie-Odia E.A, Erhenhi. A. H, Ogbemudia . F. O and Ekhator O.
Volume 11  39  January 2008
S/
no
Name of plant
Family
Vernacular
name
Part(s)
used
Preparation / dosage / uses
5.
Carica
papya
L.
Caricaceae
Uhoro
Leaves,
seeds and
roots.
Leaves with
Mangifera
indica
is
boiled and a cup taken twice
daily for treatment of malaria.
Seeds act as worm expeller when
eaten and treat dysentery. Roots
stored in local gin are used to treat
syphilis.
6.
Chromolaena
odorata L. (R.M
King
&.Robinson)
Asteraceae
Ebe
–
awolowo
Leaves Crushed leaves are applied to
fresh cuts or wounds as
antiseptic and as anticoagulant.
7.
Citrus
aurantifolia
(Christm.) Swingle
Rutaceae
Alimo
–
neghere
Fruit
Whole fruit is boiled with two
bags of lipton tea and drunk
twice daily for treatment of
fever.
8.
Citrus
sinensis
Osbek
Rutaceae
Alimo
Fruit
Fruit is eaten. It is a rich source
of vitamin.
9.
Cocos nucifera L
Palmae
Ivin
Fruit
Pulp of young fruit eaten is
believed to improve memory.
10.
Cola
acuminata
(P.Beauv.) Schott
&
Endl
.
Sterculiaceae
Evbe
Fruit
Fruit when eaten at night acts
as a stimulant for insomnia.
11.
Cola hispida
Brenan
Sterculiaceae
Evbohaebidan
Fruit
Fruit acts as cough remedy
when eaten often.
12.
Ficus
exasperata
Vahl
Moraceae
Ameme
Leaves
The leaves are used to scrape
scalp affected with dandruff.
13.
Glyphaea
laterifolia
(G.Don) Hutch &
Dalz
.
Tiliaceae
Uwenrhiontan
Leaves The leaves are squeezed or
boiled and drunk for stomach
ache.
14.
Gossypium
hirsutum L.
Malvaceae
Owu
Fluffy
cotton
The cotton ball is used for
cleaning wounds and injuries.
15.
Hunteria
umbellata
(K.Schum) Hallier
F.
Apocynaceae
Osu
Leaves
and
seeds.
The leaves are chewed as
remedy for expelling worms.
Seeds are ground and given to
diabetics for diabetes treatment.
16.
Ipomea
involucrata
P.Beauv
Convolvulaceae
Otoluku
Root
The root is mixed with local gin
and used for treatment of
rheumatism. Dosage is one
small glass twice daily.
17.
Mangifera
indica
L.
Anacardiaceae
Emagoro
Leaves Leaves together with
Carica
papaya and Anacardium
occidentale is boiled and taken
for treatment of malaria fever.
Dosage is two glasses daily.
18.
Musa
paradisica
L.
Musaceae
Oghede
Leaves Dry leaves with
Mangifera
indica
is
boiled and taken three times
daily for treatment of malaria.
19.
Piper
guineesis
Schum & Thonn
Piperaceae
Oziza
Fruit
Fruits are chewed to prevent
vomiting and leaves are also
chewed to relax the bowels.

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DISCUSSION
From the results gathered, there is a
clear indication that the people of this
community have reduced the usage of
medicinal plants due to modernization but
the fact still remains that the elderly ones
in the community still very much rely and
depend on these plants for their uses. They
still believed that the use of herbs are better
than orthodox drug as most think that
orthodox medicine only suppresses disease
or illness instead of totally cutting the
patient. Nowadays many young people
migrate to urban areas for education and
job opportunities. As a consequence, only
the elderly people possess the knowledge of
herbs and it is estimated only a handful of
people are able to use the traditional
remedy to treat illness. Thus, the
traditional knowledge is rapidly eroding
The status of the knowledge of the safety
and efficacy of medicinal plants depends
mainly on practitioners having training and
knowledge. Some practitioners have even
turned to ‘mystical’ or ‘magical methods of
healing’. Related to this, nowadays not
much of the traditional knowledge is being
passed down from generation to generation
as in the past, except to an apprentice
under tutelage from a traditional medicine
man or from some fathers to their children
who are interested in the practice. Most folk
healers are concerned about passing on
their secrets to the younger generation.
They fear that the younger generations have
not learned enough about the herbal
traditions to keep the practice going
(Long and Li, 2004).
A similar study on the use of
Bryophyllum pinnatum for healing of navel
for newly born baby is in conformity with
work carried out by Idu et al (2008). This
may indicate that the plant contains some
therapeutic compounds such as vitamins
S/
no
Name of plant
Family
Vernacular
name
Part(s)
used
Preparation / dosage / uses
20.
Rauwolfia
vomitoria
Afzel
Apocynaceae
Akata
Root Decoction of root is used as
sedative for mental patient; also
use for treatment of
hypertension and nervous
disorder. A cup is taken twice
daily.
21.
Senna
alata
(L)
Rox B
Fabaceae
Ebe
–
aiomiasun
Leaves The leaves are crushed and
rubbed on infected part of the
body with eczema or ringworm
for curative treatment.
22.
Scoparia
dulcis
L.
Scrophulariaceae
Aya
Leaves The leaves are ground and the
juice extract taken orally for
bellyache.
23.
Sphenocentrum
jollyanum Pierre.
Menispermaceae
Obanabe
Leaves The leaves are chewed
occasionally to strengthen the
veins in the body.
24.
Telfaria
occidentalis
Hook. F.
Curcurbitceae
Ebumwenkhen
Leaves Extracts from crushed leaves
are taken as blood enhancer.
25
Vernonia
amygdalina Del.
Asteraceae
Oriwo
Leaves Crushed leaves are applied on
parts (body parts) to stop
itching.
26.
Zingiber
officinale
Rosc.
Zingiberaceae
Agio
Rhizome
The rhizome is cut and added to
other ingredients to make
pepper soup for feverish
patients.

Ogie-Odia E.A, Erhenhi. A. H, Ogbemudia . F. O and Ekhator O.
Volume 11  41  January 2008
and amino acids, which are responsible for
the fast healing of wounds.
Cola acuminata is a popular plant used
for religious ceremonies and other certain
rituals and is also believed to be a food of
the gods. It also acts as a stimulant and is
often eaten by those who do not want sleep
at night to keep awake The Oko people
believe that certain plants have very strong
spiritual aura, around it and these plant
play important role in any traditional
activities. That is why it is believed to be
the tree of life and fertility hence it is
planted around shrines. Azadiratcha indica
has been and is still very popular in the
treatment and management of malaria.
Other similar studies on its usefulness has
been carried out by Okoegwale and Omofezi
(2001), Idu et al (2007 & 2008). The
different plants may be used to cure the
same ailment but their methods may vary
or differ. When one plant is not available, a
substitute plant that has seen the same
purpose is used. To some extent, the
reduced used of plant been linked to
religion and modernization. Most Christians
think and believed that herbs/herbal
preparations given to patients by herbalists
and native doctors are evil and idolatrous.
Technology and civilization has also
reduced the used of herb by the invention
of tablets and capsules.
The current loss of medicinal plants
due to natural and anthropogenic factors
links with the missing of valuable
indigenous knowledge associated with the
plants. Therefore there should be a strong
link for the need to conduct ethnobotanical
research and to document the medicinal
plants and the associated indigenous
knowledge.
More research work could be done on
other indigenous medicinal plants to create
awareness for further studies and thus help
create better awareness of the importance
of local plants in sustaining primary health
care. Better administration practices and
proper testing of the efficacy of any
medicinal plant should be encouraged and
the high level of toxicity of some plants
should be controlled.
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