Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey of herbal medicine used for treatment of malaria fever in 17 communities in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria was carried out. According to the results, 38 plant species belonging to 24 families were used in herbal antimalarial recipes. Among the plants mentioned, the most frequently used wereMorinda lucida (7.87%), Lawsonia inermis (7.41%), Citrus medica (6.94%),Sarcocephalus latifolius (6.48%) and Morinda morindiodes (6.48%). Investigations were carried out on the plant part (leaf, stem or root) used, method of preparing herbal antimalarial remedies and how it is administered. Result showed that irrespective of plant and part (leave, fruit, stem bark or root bark) or combinations of the plant parts, water and aqueous extract from fermented maize were the main medium of herbal antimalarial preparations. Treatment regimens of malaria generally included drinking, bathing and steam inhalation of the aqueous herbal preparations for 4 - 10 days or until symptoms of malaria disappear. About 65% of all the plants mentioned in the survey have been documented to have toxic effect on the liver and kidney of experimental mice. Continuous consumption of these plants could therefore have pathological effects on the consumers. Hence, this show the need for more research in order to identify lead compounds in indigenous antimalarial plants with less or no toxicity.

Key words: Survey, ethnobotanical, antimalarial, herb.