Current outlook and future promise of ethnobotany in Nigeria: A review and personal observation

Abstract

This paper reviews the current state and future prospects of ethnobotany in Nigeria. A brief historical background is presented. Books and journals indexed by Scopus and Science Direct were reviewed. Direct search was also made on the official websites of journals specializing in ethnobotany and allied disciplines. The field of ethnobotany manifests in all facets of human activities and relates to cultural and sociological relevance of plants. Ethnobotanical data generated from historical, religious, literary, linguistic, and pharmacological viewpoints serve as useful information regarding indigenous food production, traditional agricultural systems, and source for the development of new medicines. Since the vast majority of ethnobotanical studies conducted in Nigeria center on indigenous medicines, collaborative efforts geared toward efficient health service delivery is essential. This must include accreditation or documentation of traditional healers and herbal medicine vendors as well as policies in drug regulation, quality assurance, and control. Ethical guidelines and equitable sharing of benefits gained from sale of active compounds from source locations should be instituted and implemented. Conservation of indigenous plant resources requires the integration of ethnobotanical knowledge into national development programmes. Curriculum development and inclusion of ethnobotany (as a distinct subject) in Nigerian schools will direct future investigations in this promising field.

Which Plants for What Ailments: A Quantitative Analysis of Medicinal Ethnobotany of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria

“…They also added that people now only visit traditional healing homes if the ailment is thought to be spiritual. It has always been thought that the major reason for the loss of valuable ethnobotanical knowledge is because they are passed down orally and lost along the line [ 9 , 43 ]; however, a few of our informants/collaborators brought out books containing medicinal uses of plants during interviews. They attributed the loss of medicinal ethnobotany of Ile-Ife to radical religious ideology and nonchalant attitude of the present generation.…”

“…Until recently, little or no attention was paid to the field of ethnobotany in Nigeria; therefore, research in the ethnobotany field is relatively few in the country [ 9 ]. This is also partly associated with little or no funding for ethnobotanical research as well as a lack of expertise in the field [ 9 ].…”

“…Until recently, little or no attention was paid to the field of ethnobotany in Nigeria; therefore, research in the ethnobotany field is relatively few in the country [ 9 ]. This is also partly associated with little or no funding for ethnobotanical research as well as a lack of expertise in the field [ 9 ]. Ile-Ife is a town in Nigeria believed to be the ancestral home of the Yoruba people and the first settlement in the southwestern part of Nigeria founded around 500BC.…”

“…Whole plant decoction is used to bath baby to prevent measles (17) 3. Maceration of the leaves with the fruit juice of Citrus aurantifolia is used to treat female infertility(9)…”

Wandering through southwestern Nigeria: An inventory of Yoruba useful angiosperm plants

“…Despite the rich cultural heritage of the Yoruba people and the floristic diversity of the southwestern region and Nigeria at large, studies focusing on indigenous use of plants in the region have suffered neglect and are underreported [ 1 ]. The Yoruba people constitute about 21% (40 million) of the total population of Nigeria and are distributed across six states, including Ekiti, Lagos (Eko), Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo [ 2 ].…”