Survey of wild plant seeds and their value in traditional herbal medicine in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

A gap in knowledge exist on the traditional medicinal use of wild plant seeds in Nigeria. The study involved oral interview of 100 herb sellers (stall owners) in five selected herbal markets in Osun State to elicit vital information on medicinal seeds. Seeds of 58 medicinal plant species belonging to 56 genera and 34 families were identified and documented. These seeds are used in the traditional management of about 28 ailments. The common ailments are fever, cough, skin disease, asthma, dysentery and piles. Seeds from tree species accounted for 23 or (39.7%) of the total list, closely followed by seeds of climbing plants with 13 or (22.4% .The price per kilogram of these medicinal seeds varies between N1, 766.79 for Sarcocephalus latifolius (Sm) Bruce and N6,557.38 for Monodora myristica (Geartn) Dunal, in the markets surveyed. Establishment of medicinal plant gardens by traditional health practitioners is proposed to reduce the mounting pressure on the natural forest ecosystem and ensure the conservation of its rich medicinal plant genetic resources.