Ethnobotanical Survey of Some Medicinal Plants for Curing Pile or Hemorrhoids in Ago-Owu Forest Reserve,OsunState Nigeria

Abstract

Ethnobotanical Survey of some medicinal plants for curing pile or aemorrhoids was conducted in selected villages around Ago-Owu foresty reserved, Osun State Nigeria. A reconnaissance survey was done. Five villages were randomly selected, namely; Arinkinkin, Okodowo, Alaadura, Agbaogun and Alaguntan. Questionnaire copies were administered to a group of people namely; hunters, farmers, herbalists, civil servants and other professionals in each village. The total number of respondents in Arinkinkin, Okodowo ,Alaadura,Agbaogun and Alaguntan were 30,15,23,20 and 22 respectively. The result showed 20 medicinal plants for curing the ailments. Ten medicinal plants identified by the respondents were randomly collected and chemically screened for their chemical constituents including alkaloids, tannins, saponins, flavonoids and polyphenols. The medicinal plants investigated were Ficusexasperata, Agerantumconyzoidea, Paullina pinnata, Mormordricacharantia, Sennaalata, Newbouldialaevis, Phyllantusamarus, Sphenocentrumjollyanum, cassampelosowariensisandOcimumgratissimum. All the plants contain percentage yield of alkaloids (ranging from 0.0075% to 0.02%), tannins (0.02% to 0.44%), saponins(0.001% to 0.002%), flavonoids (0.02% to 0.57%) and polyphenols (0.11% to 1.85%). The nutritional values of the phytochemicals were also assessed. It revealed that the plants contained crude protein (14.57% to 29.37%), moisture content (14.40% to 58.09%), crude fibre (4.54% to 29.05%), ash (6.65% to 22.08%) and carbohydrate (2.04% to 43.60%). It showed that they are highly nutritious, anti- viral, anti- microbial, anti- bacterial, anti - parasitic, anti -inflammatory, expectorate  and immune against diseases.

Keywords: Ethnobotanical, pile, hemorrhoid, ailments, medicinal plants, phytochemicals