Abstract

Ethnobotanical survey and phytochemical screening of medicinal plants used for the treatment of hyperprolactinemia among women in Lagos State, Nigeria was carried out using oral interviews (without questionnaire) and standard screening procedures. Ethnomedicinal data was gathered from herb sellers, herbal medicine practitioners and elderly people in the rural parts of the state. The collected data included the names of the plants, the parts used, mode of preparation, dosage, and administration of the medicinal plants. 13 plant species belonging to 10 families were identified and selected. They are: Senna alata L., Jatropha gossypifolia L., Uvaria chemae P. Beauv., Morinda lucida Benth., Anthocleista djalonesis Chev., Heliotropium indicum L., Hoslundia opposita Vahl., Nymphea lotus L., Pistia stratiotes L., Vitex agnus L., Ocimum sanctum L., Ocimum gratissimum L. and Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. Asteraceace has the highest number of plant species used followed by Annonaceace. N. lotus and P. stratiotes were the most frequently mentioned and highly recommended of all the species. The plant parts used for the treatment are the leaves, bark and roots which are prepared by decoction, infusion or taken in powdered form. Majority of the plant materials are taken orally and/or used for bathing. The aqueous and acetone extracts of the  medicinal plants implicated were screened using standard laboratory procedures for the presence of secondary metabolites. The screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, phenols, and proanthocyanidins.

Key words: Ethnobotanical survey, medicinal plants, phytochemicals, hyperprolactinemia.