Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the management of gastrointestinal infection in Ungogo, Kano State

Abstract

Gastrointestinal infections are major health problem in developing countries, leading to morbidity and mortality especially in rural communities. Drug resistance to human pathogenic bacteria has been commonly reported all over the world. This study was aimed at providing inventory for the plant species used in management of gastrointestinal infections among the indigenous people of Ungogo, Kano State-Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to individuals with history of gastrointestinal infections, local people with traditional medicinal knowledge and traditional medicine practitioners across eleven (11) wards of Ungogo local government area. A total of 118 respondents were obtained, 100 with history of gastrointestinal infections and 18 are traditional medicine practitioners from 33 communities of Ungogo, Kano. Socio-demographic information of respondents was evaluated. Responses indicated that, twenty six (26) plant species, belonging to sixteen (16) families were often used for the treatment of gastrointestinal infections. Majority of plant species are of family fabaceae. Anogeissus leiocarpus, Boswellia dalzielli and Vitex doniana were the most frequently plant species mentioned. Method of preparation and mode of administration are maceration and oral respectively. Majority of plant species were wild and usually used for treatment of diarrhea and pile. The study revealed 26 plant species were used for management of gastrointestinal infections and Boswellia dalzielli, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Vitex doniana were frequently used plant species. Conservation and sustainable use of plant species should be embraced in order to ensure they don`t extinct due to excessive use.