Local plants and diabetes management; folkloric practices in Metropolitan Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

An ethno botanical survey was carried out in Kano metropolis to investigate medicinal plants used locally for the treatment of diabetes in the area.  The respondents for the study included herbalists and herb sellers. Oral interview was used to obtain information from the respondents using their local language and the information was recorded in a semi structured questionnaire. A total of 39 medicinal plant species belonging to 21 families were recorded in the study area. Family Fabaceae had the highest number of plant species and most of the plants were sourced from the wild. The plants were prepared mostly in their dried form and decoction was the most commonly used method of preparation. Moreover, combination of different plants or their parts in the preparation of the recipes for the treatment of diabetes was common among the respondents. Annisopus manii, Laptadenia hastata and Moringa oleifera were the most cited medicinal plants in the preparation of recipes for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in the study area

Keywords: Diabetes management, folkloric, medicinal, plants