Savanna Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 5(1):1-14
Ethnobotanical indices on wound healing medicinal plants in the villages of Gwadabawa/Illela Towns of Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria
Mathias S.N.1*, Mshelia H. E. l, 2 Giaze T. R.3 and Hamidu A.
ABSTRACT
An ethnomedical survey was undertaken in the Gwadabawa/Illela village communities of Sokoto, Northwestern
Nigeria to identify and record information on medicinal plants used for treating wounds and fungal-related
ailments. Traditional Medical Practitioners (TMPs) and other inhabitants both young and adults were interviewed
using semi-structured questionnaires complemented by a voice recording device and an open-ended conversation.
Field trips were made to the sites where TMPs or other informants harvest plants. The survey identified and
recorded 40 plant species from 38 genera and 18 families, used for treating wounds and wound-related ailments
in Gwadabawa/Illela village communities. Among the 40 species, dicots were represented by 38 species
belonging to 38 genera and 16 families, while monocots were two species belonging to two genera and two
families. Combretaceae and Fabaceae were the dominant families and contributed to wound healing with 7
species each. Life forms, in terms of plants habit/habitat showed a record of trees (20 species), shrubs (12 species),
and herbs (8 species). Only one climber species was recorded. Plant parts used against their therapeutic indications
showed that stem bark was the most used plant part in 15 preparations with 37.5% to treat wounds, closely
followed by the leaves in 12 preparations with 30.0%, and the root and whole plant were reportedly used in five
and four preparations with 12.5%, and 10% respectively. Fruit and flower were the least used parts in two and
one preparation constituting 5.0% and 2.5% respectively. The informants prepared and prescribed the medicine
mainly in the form of powder (70.0%), followed by some form of extraction (12.5%), and sap-juice or latex
(10.0%), while the lowest preparation form was recorded for paste and oil (0.5% each). The major method of
medicinal administration/ route of application was by spraying topically (65.0%), while other descriptions
included the use of oil to apply topically (27.5%) as well as washing and drinking (12.5%). Concoction mixtures
recorded some 30-40% mode of preparation as against the use of a single plant, which constitutes about 60%.
Ethnobotanical indices showed Acacia nilotica as having the highest with a use value of UV: 0.27, (with 8 use
reports) and a citation frequency/relative importance index of CF: 11.8, RI: 0.56, while the lowest recorded
indices of 0.03 UV and 1.5 CF and 0.07 RI was recorded for some of the other plants in comparison. There is still
a deep reliance on the use of the surveyed plant medicines for wound healing by the people, due to the high level
of success recorded by the informants following traditional practices/applications. Hence, a holistic or selective
scientific study is imminent from the established database of this research.
