Authors: Ancha, P.U.,
Ikyaagba, E.T
., Dagba, B.I
and Okpanachi, K |
Abstract: Ethnomedicinal plant knowledge and practice was conducted in Ankpa Local Government Area
(LGA) of Kogi State to document information on the use of plant species for the treatment of
various ailments due to paucity of such information that can be used by decision makers in
planning for the plant species. Simple random sampling technique was adopted to sample 180
respondents for four months. Semi structured questionnaire, oral interview and personal
observations were used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics and Informant
Consensus Factor (ICF) were used to determine the consensus on medicinal plant knowledge
among the traditional medicine practitioners. The results of the study showed that 87.2% of the
respondents were males and 35% had no formal education. The respondents in the age category
of 41-50 (43.9%) were more knowledgeable in plant use and 92.2% were married. Eighty nine
medicinal plant species belonging to forty four families were identified as plants used for
treatment of various ailments in the study area; and majority of the plants belong to the family
Fabaceae. The digestive system category of ailments had the highest prevalence in the study
area. The major threat to medicinal plants in the area is agricultural expansion. The study
concluded that, the elderly respondents were more knowledgeable in plant use than the younger
ones. The study recommends that, there is every need to document more medicinal plant species
so as to provide information on health care, forest conservation and for investigation into the
chemical properties of these plants. |