Abstract

An ethnobotanical survey of plants used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases was carried out in three local government areas (LGA) of Ibadan, Oyo State, South Western Nigeria. Twenty-eight respondents, which comprised traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs), herbalists, herb sellers and the elderly were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires. Focused group discussion was used to interview the TMPs during one of their associations meetings. Several free interviews were also conducted. Some herb sellers (all women) were interviewed in some of the herbs markets visited. Information was obtained on names of plants constituting the recipes, plant parts used, source of plants, methods of preparation of herbs and mode of administration. Twenty two plant species belonging to 19 Angiosperm families were found to be useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The most prominent among these plant families are Fabaceae, Musaceae and Piperaceae with two species each. The leaves constitute the most frequently used parts. Other parts such as root, fruit and stem bark are occasionally used. The modes of preparations are infusion, decoction and concoction which are administered orally, mostly three times daily. Most of the herbs are sourced from the wild; only a negligible number of practitioners have home gardens where plants are grown. It is therefore imperative to encourage the cultivation and proper documentation of some of the plants which may become endangered over long use. All the plants identified in this work have been used regularly by the herbalists and adjudged to be efficacious.

Key words: Ethnobotanical survey, neurodegenerative diseases, medicinal plants, Ibadan, Nigeria.