Ethno medicinal survey and heavy metal analysis on mud dauber nest in Zaria, Kaduna State Nigeria

Abstract

This study was aimed to survey the ethno medicinal uses of mud dauber nest in Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Structure questionnaires as well as interview were used as instruments for data collection on fifty respondents which included the herbalists, local elders, traders, students, and house wives. Sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents were also determined. The concentration of Fe, Cd, Zn and Pb were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS).Thirty-two (64%) of the respondents were males. The age range 41 and above, provided the highest uses of mud dauber nest. Seventeen (17) different ailments were recorded in this study. The use of mud dauber nest for treatment of mumps was the highest with 82%, followed by ringworm and pimples (14%), stomach ache (12%), tooth ache 8%, ear rash 6% and so on%, ear rash 6% and so on. It was shown that Fe has the highest average concentration with 5.268 ± 1.050 ppm, followed by Zn with 2.199±0.086 ppm, Pb with 0.766 ± 0.442 ppm and Cd with 0.059±0.003 ppm. This study showed the potentials of mud dauber for treatment of various diseases and its safety profiles, therefore its conservation for sustainable use and potential for discovery of newer is very important in the field of medicine, pharmacy and biotechnology.