Survey of Anti-Inflammatory Plants Sold on Herb Markets in Lagos Nigeria

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study design: Ethnobotanical data (local name, mode of preparation, medicinal uses) on plant species often found in the market and used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases were collected through oral interviews and discussions among 60 women herb vendors in Mushin, Oyingbo and Agege markets from June 2004 to March, 2005. The herb vendors to be interviewed were selected randomly and no appointments were made prior to the visits. Present study sought the definition of inflammation and inflammatory disorders, their perception of these conditions, descriptive responses on the plants, such as part of the plant used, local names, detailed information about mode of preparation (i.e., decoction, paste, powder and juice), form of usage either fresh or dried, mode of administration and specific complementary for the preparations of the remedies. Discussions were in Yoruba language (the local language spoken by the herb sellers in the study area) using unstructured questionnaires. Interviews were built on trust with the common goal to improve the health situation in the country and to preserve and increase the knowledge on medicinal plants. We bought the medicinal specimens in order to gain their confidence and to cooperate economically with them as earlier reported by Macia et al. (2005). The identity of these plants were confirmed by comparing with herbarium specimens at the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria, Ibadan courtesy of Mr. Wale Ekundayo and voucher specimens were deposited in the herbarium of Pharmacognosy department, University of Lagos, Nigeria.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Popular markets known to house the trade of medicinal plants in Lagos metropolis are Mushin, Oyingbo and Agege. These markets are filled with traditional shops with stalls and shelves simply arranged. Customers to these markets are primarily traditional healers and sometimes patients seeking treatment from the traders that are traditional healers. On designated market days, farmers who serve as commercial collectors bring in fresh herbs to sell from neighbouring towns and villages outside the metropolis. Majority of the herb traders in these markets are women with little or no education.

This study revealed 41 plant species belonging to 23 families that are sold and used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases in three major herb markets in Lagos metropolis (Table 1). Of the 23 families the most predominant in terms of number of species was the Sapindaceae with five species (Table 1). The use of leaves accounted for 55%, while that of stem bark and root are 14 and 11%, respectively. In some cases the whole part of the plants is sold and used. Specific plant parts like sap are recorded for plants such as Alstonia boonei and Chasmanthera dependens.

Table 1:	Medicinal plants sold and used in lagos metropolis markets for the treatment of inflammatory diseases

The vendors involved in this study are mostly illiterate and their perception of inflammatory diseases are classified under several folk categories, which according to the symptoms described, boils, skin infections, rheumatic pains and various swellings on the body are included. Most of the plants sold on these markets are gathered exclusively from the wild by the vendors. Generally, dried parts of the plants are found on sale except in few cases when the traders have just got them fresh from the wild or when specially requested by a buyer.

The methods of preparation vary. Decoctions and infusions are the most frequently used. Medical administration included oral administration, poultice and plant parts applied as paste. The prescriptions by the herb sellers are either preparation based on single plant part or a combination of several plant parts. The use of more than two species is however common. In this study for example, the leaves of Hymenocardia acida and the root of Securidaca longepedumculata are often used in more than one of the preparations. The herb sellers believe that combination of several plant parts cures diseases rapidly and that this takes care of other signs and symptoms of the disease. This observation is close to the report of the ethnobotanical survey of the Kani tribals in Kouth Alai of Tirunelveli hills, India (Ayyanar and Ignacimuthu, 2005).

The frequent mention on the use of Lecaniodiscus cupanioides, Dalbergia saxatilis, Ekebergia senegalensis, Allophylus africanus and Hymenocardia acida in the recipes given by the informants in the three markets visited was noted as a high level of fidelity.

A literature search on biological activity on most of the plants in (Table 1), revealed limited information on many of the plants, especially regarding their use as anti inflammatory. However, experimental evidence, that is the demonstration of anti- inflammatory activity in tested animals, has been reported for some species, including Alstonia boonei (Olajide et al., 2000); Chasmanthera dependens (Morebise, et al., 2001) and Acanthus montanus (Adeyemi et al., 2004).

A number of plants mentioned in the literature as having anti-inflammatory properties (Iwu and Anyanwu, 1982; Akah and Nwambie, 1994), were not mentioned by the vendors in our survey. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time ethnobotanical investigation is carried out in the study area. This study has therefore revealed more medicinal plants used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and that medicinal plant still play a very vital role in the primary health care of the people. Research is in progress on the phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of some of these plants.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Mr. Adeleke (Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Lagos, Nigeria) and to all the people that provided information in the market places visited for their collaboration in this study.