Ethno-medicines for Mosquito Transmitted Diseases from South-western Nigeria

The present study presents an ethnobotanical survey of the plants used in the treatment of mosquito transmitted diseases in Egbeda, Oluyole, Ibadan South-East and Akinyele, Local Government Areas in Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria. The survey was conducted through interviews using semi structured questionnaires. Twenty-four respondents, comprising of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (TMPs), herbalists, herb sellers, and the elderly were interviewed. Fourteen (58.3%) of them were males while ten (41.7%) were females and their ages ranged from 28 to 65 years. The Use-Mentions index (UMi) was calculated for each plant. Thirty-seven plant species belonging to 25 families were found to be useful for the treatment of mosquito transmitted diseases in the study areas. Ethno-medicinal information gathered on the plants includes vernacular names, plant parts used, forms of application and method of administration. The most prominent plant family is Euphorbiaceae with four species, while Lamiaceae, Fabaceae, Meliaceae had three species each. Other plant families include Apocynaceae, Combretaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Asteraceae with two species each. In all, the commonest species among the recipes given by the respondents was Hyptis suaveolens having a UMi of 0.250. Ocimum gratissimum, Xylopia aethiopica, Chromolaena odorata, and Nicotiana tabacum all had UMi of 0.167each. The study plays an important role in documenting and conserving traditional knowledge on medicinal plants used in treating insect transmitted diseases.