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Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants, ISSN 2249 – 4340
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 240-244, December 2011
A Survey of anti-venomous, toxic and other plants used in some parts
of Tivland, Nigeria
J.O. IGOLI1*, S.N. TSENONGO2, T.A. TOR-ANYIIN2
1
Natural Products Research Group, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences University of
Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G4 0RE Scotland
2
Department of Chemistry, University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria.
*Corresponding Author, Tel: 01415482368, Fax: 01415522562
Article History: Received 13th September 2011, Revised 11th November 2011, Accepted 12th November 2011.
Abstract: An ethnobotanical survey of anti-venomous, toxic and other plants used in some parts of Tiv speaking areas of
Benue State, Nigeria is reported. Eleven plants used against snake bites, three plants used as poisons and seventeen other
plants used in traditional medicine were identified. Thirty-one prescriptions are recorded and the results compared to
previous ethnobotanical reports for the area. Documentation of this kind preserves traditional uses of plants. Considering
the significance of applications of these plants, there is the need to screen them scientifically as to their efficacy and toxicity.
Keywords: Ethnobotany; Anti-venom; Toxic; medicinal plants; Traditional medicine; Nigeria.
Introduction
Natural products from medicinal plants and
other sources have remained the bedrock of
drug discovery (Ganesan 2008; Newman and
Cragg 2007; Butler 2004; Newman et al. 2000).
Exploiting phytochemicals for drug discovery
requires information on the usefulness or observed properties of local medicinal plants as
documented by indigenous tribes or communities who use these plants for their basic or primary health care. Unfortunately most of the information is oral and with time the quality and
quantity diminishes. Phytochemical research
today may not seem to be as successful in terms
of yield of new drugs as in the past; however it
has some highly selling new drugs to its credit.
It has also yielded new drug moieties and scaffolds on which drugs can be built. Bioassays
have also continued to confirm the efficacy and
activities of plant chemicals in all the modern or
new assays developed. Natural products have
continued to show potent activity in cell and enzyme assays (Baumann et al. 2002; Belenky et
al. 2004). Although purification of plant extracts
may lead to reduced activity, produce well
known compounds or compounds whose structures are not easily determined, it is still the
*Corresponding author: (E-mail) [email protected]
©2011 Open Access Science Research Publisher
most reliable and rational drug discovery method available. Results of various screening tests
have shown that there is still a lot to discover
from medicinal plants (Harvey 2002; Rouhi
2003; Newman et al. 2003; Prasad et al. 2010).
Similarly natural products have inspired many
synthetic drug molecules or their analogues. Recent advances in isolation techniques, spectroscopic and chromatographic methods can be fully
exploited in the discovery of new natural compounds or the identification of active components or compounds. Today high-through put
screening methods using modern analytical instruments can detect and characterise samples in
microgram or nanogram quantities (Hamid
2004).
The Tiv people occupy most of the area
around the river Benue in North Central Nigeria,
lying between 6035’N – 8o15’N and 8o15’E –
10o00’E. They are the sixth largest homogenous
and indigenous tribe in Nigeria (Tor-Anyiin et
al., 2003). Their primary occupations are farming and hunting. The area has very fertile lands
with rich vegetative flora. This natural setting
has exposed the Tiv people to a vast area of natural flora which they have taken advantage of.
Their experience and practice of traditional
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Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants
241
Ethnobotanical survey of some parts of Tiv speaking areas of Nigeria
medicine has thus accumulated over the years.
This study is to tap into their vast knowledge of
the use of medicinal plants in their locality with
respect to anti-venom, toxic and other plants
used significantly in their traditional medicine.
Such studies are important because they succeed
in documenting and preserving traditional
knowledge on the use of medicinal plants for
posterity and stimulate further studies/research
in the scientific community.
Figure 1: Map of Nigeria, Benue State, showing the study area.
Materials and methods
Medicinal plants reported in this study are
those used by the Tiv traditional healers in the
Ipav and Mbayion communities in Gboko LGA
and Mbanor in Konshisha LGA (Figure 1). Information on the plants was gathered through
oral interviews of the practitioners (30 in number), aged between 31 and 65 and with a minimum of five years experience. The plant materials were collected by accompanying practitioners and making collections of the identified
plants used in the medicinal practice. The plants
were identified (Hutchinson and Dalziel 1954)
by faculty at the Forestry and wildlife Department of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi,
following collection. Voucher specimens were
Igoli et al.
deposited in the herbarium at the University.
During the interviews, the local names of the
plants, the part(s) used, the method of preparation and application/dosage and duration of
treatment (where specific) were recorded. Information gathered was crosschecked with other
practitioners in the locality. Plant use value
which is a quantitative measure of the relative
importance of species known locally, informant
consensus factor (testing the homogeneity of
knowledge of the practitioners) and fidelity levels (which determines the most preferred species used in treatment of a particular ailment)
were calculated using the expressions prescribed
by Musa et al. (2011).
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242
Ethnobotanical survey of some parts of Tiv speaking areas of Nigeria
Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants
Results
Thirty-nine species of plants belonging to 23
families were identified as being used. Thirtyone prescriptions or recommendations were recorded for about 21 ailments or therapeutic indications including hypertension, stimulant, fish
and arrow poisons. Table 1 summarizes these
prescriptions, the plant(s) and part(s) being used
and the mode of preparation/administration. Also included are the local names of the plants.
The family Rubiaceae had the highest number
of plants being used while fevers had the highest
number of prescriptions. Table 2 gives the informant consensus factor and fidelity level for
the plants and ailments.
Table 1: Plant species identified and their use.
Plant name
Adenopus breviflorus Benth.
Annona senegalensis Pers.
Use Value Family
Local name
0.17
Cucurbitaceae Ichegher-me
1.17
Annonaceae
Ahur, Anyam hul
Azadirachta indica A. Juss
0.67
Boerhaavia diffusa L.
0.17
Dogonyaro, Dogoyaro
Nyctaginnaceae Gbilayongo
Bridelia ferruginea Benth.
Carica papaya Linn.
Citrus aurantifolia
(Christm.) Swingle
Cochlospermum planchonii
Hook. F.
Cymbopogon citratus Stapf.
1.50
1.50
1.00
Euphorbiaceae Ikpine
Caricaceae
Mbuer
Rutaceae
Alum u-angen
1.00
Datura stramonium L.
Erythrophleum suaveolens (Guill
& Perr) Brenan.
Ficus sycomorus L.
Ficus thonningii Blume.
Imperata cylindrical (Anders.)
Hubbard.
Jatropha curcas L.
Khaya senegalensis
(Desu) A. Juss
Burkea africana Hook.
Lophira lanceolata Teigh. ex
Keay.
Mitracarpus villossus (Sw.) DC.
0.67
0.17
Cochlosperma- Kpavande
ceae
Poaceae
Tohogile, Tohog- Typhoid fever
waza
Solanaceae
Zakami
Sedative
Leguminosae Kor
Arrow poison
0.17
0.33
0.67
Moraceae
Moraceae
Poaceae
0.33
0.67
0.17
0.67
Leaves
Decoction
Whole plant
Leaves, stem
Maceration
Maceration
Anti-diarrhoea
Typhoid fever
Yellow fever
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves
Cooked as food
Decoction
Decoction
Euphorbiaceae Igyadam
Meliaceae
Haa
Antiseptic
Antidote
Leaves, stem
Leaves
Maceration or juice
Decoction
Antidote
Antimalarial
Roots
Leaves, stem
Poultice or powder
Maceration/decoction
0.50
Caesalpiniaceae Gbagbongom
Ochnaceae
Hokura
Ikurainomso
Rubiaceae
Antyokpoghuloo
Leaves
Maceration or juice
Moringa oleifera Lam.
0.33
Moringaceae
Jeregede
Leaves
Maceration/decoction
Musa sapientum L.
Nauclea latifolia Sm.
Parkia biglobosa (Jacq) R. Br. ex
G. Don
Piliostigma thonningii (Schum.)
Milne-Redh.
Scoparia dulcis L.
0.17
1.83
1.33
Musaceae
Rubiaceae
Fabaceae
Ayaba
Ikura ukase
Nune
Stalk
Leaves
Leaves
Maceration
Decoction
Decoction
0.83
Leguminosae
Nyihar
Eczema/skin
diseases
Antidote and
fever
Antidote
Fever
Fever and dysentry
Fever
Leaves
Decoction
0.33
Asange ichi
Antidote
Leaves
Siphonochilus aethiopicus
(Schweinf.) B.L. Burtt
Stereospermum kunthianum
Cham.
Syzygium guineense (Willd.) DC.
0.17
Scrophulariaceae
Zingiberaceae
Mondo ityange
Hernia
1.17
Bignoniaceae
Fever
0.17
Myrtaceae
Antidote
Leaves
Poultice
Tapinanthus dodoneifolius (DC.)
Danser
Terminalia avicennioides Guill.
& Perr.
Vitelleria paradoxa G. Don
0.33
Loranthaceae
Uman atumba,
Kpantembe
Mho upupugh,
Daa nyam
Noonnoon
Leaves,
roots/rhizomes
Leaves, roots
Poultice, maceration
or juice
Decoction
Leaves, stem
Decoction/maceration
0.50
Combretaceae Kuegh
Stem
Maceration
0.17
Sapotaceae
Ichamegh
Withania somnifera (L) Dunal.
0.33
Solanaceae
Akur abeagh,
Abemaki
Antidote and
Fever
Male erectile
dysfunction
Antiinflammatory
Antidote and
Hallucinogen
Igoli et al.
1.00
Meliaceae
Ailment or Use Part used
Preparation
Arrow poison
Leaves
Juice
Antidote
Leaves and stalk Maceration, juice or
decoction
Antidote
Leaves, stem and Decoction/ maceration
roots
AntiLeaves, stem and Decoction or juice
inflammatory
roots
Yellow fever
Leaves
Decoction/maceration
Anti-diarrhoea
Seeds
Swallowing
Antidote
Leaves
Decoction, maceration
or juice
Yellow fever
Leaves and roots Decoction
Tur, Hirkar
Akinde
Ihira
Decoction
Leaves, stem and Maceration or powder
bark
Leaves, stem
Maceration or juice
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243
Ethnobotanical survey of some parts of Tiv speaking areas of Nigeria
Int. J. Med. Arom. Plants
Table 2: Significant informant consenus factor
(ICF) and fidelity level (FL) of ethnobotanical
information given by the 30 practitioners.
Symptom and
ailment category
Poison
Parasitic infection
ICF Preferred
species
0.20 B. ferruginea
0.20 A. senegalensis
A.indica
C. papaya
C. citratus
K. senegalensis
L .lanceolata
N. latifolia
P. biglobosa
S. kunthianum
Reproductive system 0.63 C. planchonii
Fever
0.33 C. papaya
C. aurantifolia
C. citratus
N. latifolia
Skin infections
0.44 L. lanceolata
M. villossus
N. latifolia
S. kunthianum
Fever
0.33 B. ferruginea
I.cylindrica
Application
FL
(%)
Arrow poison 66.6
Malaria fever 33.3
50.0
66.6
33.3
33.3
66.6
100
50.0
66.6
Infertility
50.0
Typhoid fever 33.3
33.3
33.3
33.3
Dermatitis
33.3
33.3
33.3
33.3
Yellow fever 33.3
33.3
Discussion
This study and previous ones (Tor-Anyiin et
al. 2003; Igoli et al. 2002) indicates that traditional medicine is widely acceptable within the
Tiv society. The general route of administration
in most cases is per oral and in some cases dosages and duration of treatment are prescribed.
Modern activity screening at the cell and enzyme levels have continued to confirm the activity of medicinal plant extracts including those
previously studied. While some known and
sometimes novel compounds have been identified from these plant extracts, others may just
have been reported as actives. This does not in
any way diminish their value as inputs into drug
development or direct use in traditional medicine. This rather makes room for further phytochemical studies and research. Recent studies
have continued to show the benefits of ethnobotanical surveys (Rajakumar and Shivanna 2009;
Lamorde et al. 2010) in drug research and development.
Though some of these plants may have been
reported earlier (Tor-Anyiin et al. 2003; Igoli et
al. 2002), the ones reported here are mainly
those used as anti-venoms and for their toxic
properties or properties that could be abused.
Igoli et al.
These plants which are certainly potent could be
studied with the aim of developing new drugs
from their products. The plant with the highest
fidelity level (100) and use value (1.83) is Nauclea latifolia while most of the other plants had
low use value and fidelity levels. The high
number of prescriptions and plants used for fevers shows that this is the most common ailment
and one whose treatment is highly sought. It
may therefore be worthwhile to search for new
antimalarial drugs from the plants used.
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Appendix 1: Survey Form
UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE, MAKURDI
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY,
SURVEY OF ANTI VENOMOUS AND TOXIC MEDICINAL PLANTS IN TIVLAND
Please assist by providing the information required in the questionnaire below: The information provided will be treated with strict
confidence.
1. Local name of the plant:____________________________________ _________________________________________________
2. Which part is used for medicinal purpose? _______________________________ _______________________________________
3. Method of preparation: is it used as powder or extracted; cold water or hot water:________________________________________
4. Dose and regimen (a) Adult ____________________________________________ (b) Children ___________________________
5. Can the plant be used with another plant? _______________________________________________________________________
6. Does time of collecting the plant or usage matter? ________________________________________________________________
7. Can the plant be prepared in another way? _______________________________________________________________________
8. What is the habitat of the plant: tree, shrub, herb land, aquatint? _____________________________________________________
9. Give location where collection was made:_______________________ ________________________________________________
10. Any flowers and colour?_____________________________________ _______________________________________________
11. Fruit description:_____________________________________________ _____________________________________________
12. Latex produced? _________________________________________________________ _________________________________
13. Location:_________________________________________________________________________________________________
14. Name and address of the person providing information: An Elder, Herbalist; state clearly:_________________________________
15. Name and address of the botanist who identified the plant:__________________________________________________________
16. Name and address of the taxonomist who confirmed the identity of the plant:___________________________________________
Igoli et al.
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