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African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines
African Ethnomedicines Network
ISSN: 0189-6016
Vol. 5, Num. 4, 2008, pp. 340-345
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African Journal of Traditional, Complimentary and Alternative Medicines, Vol. 5, No. 4, 2008, pg. 340 - 345
Research Paper
Ethnobotanical survey of anti-asthmatic plants in
South Western Nigeria
M. A. Sonibarea* and Z. O.
Gbileb
aDepartment of Pharmacognosy, Faculty
of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, bOlabisi
Onabanjo University, P.M.B 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria E-mail: sonibaredeola@yahoo.com,
Code Number: tc08047
Abstract
The paper presents the
results of an ethnobotanical survey of plants used in the treatment of asthma
in Ogun, Osun and Oyo states. Twenty markets were visited and forty-six plants
belonging to thirty-three different families were collected. The plants
families represented in the collection include, Amaryllidaceae, Apocynaceae,
Combretaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Moraceae, Solanaceae, Zingiberaceae and others.
Most of the herbs were prescribed along with other recipes, mono-prescription
was rare. Modes of administration of the phytomedicines were concoction,
decoctions and powdered ash residue.
Keywords: Asthma, ethnobotanical survey,
phytomedicines, Southwestern Nigeria.
Introduction
Asthma is one of the
most problematic diseases of the bronchial tubes. It is estimated that asthma
affects approximately 10% of the population in Britain (Howell, 2000). In Nigeria, asthma affects both adult and children with greatly diverse symptoms. However,
there is no statistical record of the frequency of occurrence amongst the
populace. During asthmatic attacks, the patients body is deprived of oxygen
because he cannot inhale sufficient air. He feels tightness in his breathing.
Asthma is considered to be a syndrome or symptom complex characterized by
increased responsiveness of the tracheobronchial tree in the wide-spread
swelling and narrowing of the tracheobronchial tree (Aguwa, 1986). Many things
can trigger off an attack in the asthmatics. Of particular note are inhalations
of dust, especially when sweeping an enclosure, of smoke from frying or the
burning of dried or wet grass. It has been noted that asthmatic patients suffer
more during the wet season in our geographic zone suffering from cough and cold
that are the natural twin companions of the ailment.
The symptoms of persons
with asthma differ greatly in frequency and degree. Some have episode that is
mild and brief, otherwise they are symptom-free. Others have mild cough and
wheezing much of the time, punctuated by severe increased breathlessness
following exposure to known allergens, viral infections, exercise, or
non-specific irritants. Children, in particular, may notice an itching
sensation over the anterior neck or upper chest as an early sign of an
impending attack, and dry cough, particularly at night. The cough during an
acute attack sounds tight and is generally non-productive of mucus (Aguwa,
1986). The orthodox treatment for the management of acute attack and day to day
therapy of asthma may involve the use of bronchodilators, expectorants and
corticosteroids.
Traditionally, a number
of herbs that is good for the respiratory organs are good for asthma. They can be
used singly or combined. Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), Comfrey (Symphytum
officinale), Duckweed (Stellaria media), thyme (Thymus serphyllum)and many others are in use. Euphorbia hirta L. is another asthma
herb. In East and West Africa, extracts of the decoction of the plant collected
in the flowering and fruiting stages are used in asthma and respiratory tract
inflammations and are sometimes combined with bronchial sedatives like Grindelia
robusta in preparation for inhalation (Oliver, 1959, Kokwaro, 1976).
This study aims at
providing information on the available local remedies for asthma as well as
presents the mode of preparation and administration of these phytomedicines
with a view to promoting further significant studies on the biological activity
of the plants.
Materials and methods
In the present study several
herbalists and Traditional medical practitioners were visited in Ogun, Osun and
Oyo states for anti-asthmatic plants. Recipes were also collected from herb
sellers in various notable markets in these regions. The markets visited in Oyo state, in Ibadan town
include Bode, Oranya , Ojaoba and Oremeji In Iwo town, Idiomo and Araromi markets were visited.
Markets visited in Oyo town include: Akesan market and Sabo market. In Osun
state, markets visited in Ife town include: Ita-Akogun and Enuwa markets. In
Ogun state in Ijebu-Ode town, Oke-Aje market was visited, in Ijebu-Igbo town,
Station and Atikori markets were visited. Herb sellers and Traditional medical
practitioners in these markets were questioned on their knowledge on the
treatment and management of asthma disease. Most of the respondents were women
and most of the recipes were only given with their known vernacular names. The
herbs collected were identified and authenticated at the Forest Herbarium
Ibadan (FHI) by Prof Gbile and also by comparing with herbarium collections.
Voucher specimens were deposited at FHI.
Results
Forty-six plants
belonging to thirty-three Angiosperm families were collected as plants having
anti-asthmatic properties (Table 1). Various plant parts were collected as
recipes including stem, bark, fruits, leaves, bulb, seeds and flower. Generally
stem barks were predominant in the prescription. Most of the herbs are prepared
along with other herbs; monopresciption was rare in the data collected.
Enumeration of Recipes
- Recipes: Olax subscorpioidea,
Euphorbia hirta, Euphorbia lateriflora, Securidaca longipedunculata, Crinum
jagus, Allium sativum, Tetrapleura tetraptera
Preparation: Washed and
cut all the recipes into pieces, soak in water in a covered glass jar and leave
for three days. For adult: a small tumbler-full is taken three times daily,
Children: a small tumbler-full daily.
- Recipes: Olax subscorpioidea,
Chasmanthera dependens, Calliandra portoricensis, Mimosa pigra, Securidaca
longipedunculata, Crinum jagus, Allium ascalonicum, Tetrapleura tetraptera
Preparation and dosage
as in 1
- Recipes: Chasmanthera dependens,
Picralima nitida, Crinum jagus, Allium ascalonicum, Tetrapleura tetraptera,
Alum
Preparation: Wash Crinum jagus and cut into pieces, mix with the scrapped portion of Tetrapleura
tetraptera in a mortar. The mixed herbs are soaked in water with alum. The
liquid extract is administered. Adult: one tablespoon-full daily. Children:
(diluted form of the extract), a small spoon-full daily.
- Recipes: Olax subscorpioidea, Crinum
jagus Tetrapleura tetraptera, Chasmanthera dependens, Gongronema latifolium,
Xylopia aethiopica, Euphorbia lateriflora, Nauclea latifolia, Gossypium
barbadense, Allium ascalonicum.
Preparation: Wash and cut into pieces all the herbs. A cold maceration of the ingredients is
administered. Adult: a small tumbler-full once in three days. Children: one
tablespoon-full once in three days.
- Recipes: Tetrapleura tetraptera,
Chasmanthera depends, Crinum jagus, Allium ascalonicum.
Preparation: A
concoction of the ingredients is made. The concoction is left for about ten
hours for effective extraction. Adult: three tablespoons-full twice daily.
Children: 1 tablespoon-full twice per day.
- Recipes: Tetrapleura tetrptera,
Crinum jagus, Xylopia aethiopica, Gossypium barbadens, Olax subscorpioidea,
Securidaca longepedunclata.
Preparation: Wash, cut into pieces and soak in water for three days, then administer. Adult: one small
tumbler-full daily. Chidren: a small teaspoon-full daily.
- Recipes: Crinum jagus,
Chasmanthera dependens, Olax subscorpioidea, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Allium
ascalonicum.
Preparation: Wash, cut into pieces and soak in water for a day, then administer. Adult: two
tablespoon-full daily. Chidren: one teaspoon-full daily.
- Recipes: Crinum jagus, Allium
ascalonicum, Gossypium barbadense, Chasmanthera dependens, Olax subscorpioidea,
Xylopia aethiopica, Tetrapleura tetraptera, Calliandra portoricensis.
Preparation: As in 7.
Adult: a small tumbler-full once a day. Children: a tablespoon-full daily.
- Recipes: Crinum jagus, Eugenia
aromatica
Preparation:Washed,
chopped ingredients are soaked in local gin. The preparation is left for a day
before administering. Adult: 1 tablespoon-full twice daily, children: 1
teaspoon-full once in three days.
- Recipes: Olax subscorpioidea,
Calliandra portoricensis, Aristolochia ringens, Allium ascalonicum.
Preparation: Wash and cut the ingredients into pieces, soak in water for three days. Adult: 1 tablespoon
daily, children: a small teaspoon-ful daily.
- Recipes: Anacardium occidentale,
Garcinia kola
Preparation: Extract the
cashew juice and mix with sugar, cut the Garcinia kola into pieces and
soak in the juice. Administer after a day. Adult: 1 tablespoon-ful daily,
children: 1 teaspoon once in three days.
- Recipes: Olax subscorpioidea,
Mimosa pigra, Calliandra portoricensis
Preparation: The
ingredients are chopped into pieces and soaked in water for three days. Adult:
a small tumbler-ful daily, children: a small teaspoonful once in three days.
- Khaya ivorensis, Terminalia
ivorensis, Piliostigma reticulatum, Xylopia aethiopica, Uvaria chammae, Allium
sativum
Preparation: As in 12.
Adult: a glass cupful daily, children: half a glass cupful daily.
- Recipes: Strophanthus hispidus,
Kigelia Africana.
Preparation: The
ingredients are chopped into pieces and soaked in warm water for three days.
Adult: 1 tablespoon thrice a day, children: 1 teaspoonful once a day.
- Recipes: Olax subscorpioidea,
Calliandra portoricensis, Securidaca longepedunculata,Tetrapleura tetraptera,
Allium ascalonicum.
Preparation: Chop the
ingredients in pieces and soak in water. Adult: 1 tablespoon thrice a day,
children: a small teaspoon once daily.
- Recipes: Chrysophyllum abidum,
Allium ascalonicum, Harunganamadagascariensis, Oxytenanthera abyssinia,
Aframmomum melegueta, Garcinia kola, Acacia nilotica, Picralima nitida.
Preparation: Wash and cut into pieces the ingredients, soak in water for two days. Adult: 1 tablespoon
twice daily, children: a teaspoonful daily.
- Recipes: Abrus precatorious,
Vitex doniana
Preparation: An infusion
of Abrus precatorious is administered while the Vitex doniana is used as a
rubifacient applied to the patients chest. Adult: 1 tablespoon-ful thrice
daily, children: a teaspoonful twice daily
- Recipes: Bridelia ferruginea,
Anogeissus leiocarpus, Anacardium occidentale
Preparation: Cut into
pieces the ingredients and boil. Adult: a small tumbler-full thrice daily,
children: a small teaspoon-full thrice daily.
- Recipes: Zingiber officinale,
Anacardium occidentale, Bridelia ferryginea, Allium ascalonicum, Terminalia
glaucescens, Anogeissus leiocarpus
Preparation: Boil the
ingredients for 30 minutes. Adult: a tumbler twice daily, Children: a teaspoon
twice daily.
- Recipes: Olax subscorpioidea,
Calliandra pororicensis
Preparation: Cut into
pieces the ingredients and soak in sugar water for three days. Adult: 1
tablespoonful once daily, children: a small teaspoonful once daily.
Table
1: Anti-asthmatic plants, families,
local names and plant parts used
S/N |
Botanical
names |
Family |
Local
names |
Plant
parts used |
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46. |
Abrus precatorius Linn.
Acacia nilotica (Guill. Et.
Perr.) O. Ketze
Aframomum melegueta K.
Schum.
Allium ascalonicum Linn.
Allium sativum Linn.
Anacardium occidentalis Linn.
Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.)
Guill. & Perr.
Anthocleista djalonensis A.Chev.
Aristolochia ringens Vahl
Bridelia ferruginea Benth.
Calliandra portoricensis
(Jacq.) Benth
Chasmanthera dependens
Hochst
Chrysophyllum albidum Linn.
Cocos nucifera Linn.
Crassocephalum rubens
(Juss. ex. Jacq.) S. Moore
Crinum jagus (Thoms.) Dandy
Eugenia aromatica (Linn.)
Baill.
Euphorbia hirta Linn.
Euphorbia lateriflora
Schum. et. Thonn.
Gambeya africana Pierre
Garcinia kola Linn.
Gongronema latifolia Benth.
Gossypium barbadense Linn.
Harungana madagascariens
Lam.
Khaya ivorensis A. Juss.
Kigelia Africana (Lam.)
Benth
Lactuca taraxifolia (Wild.)
Schum ex Horn Moore
Mimosa pigra Linn.
Musa sapientum Linn.
Musanga cecropioides R. Br.
Nauclea africana Wild.
Nicotiana tabacum Linn.
Olax subscorpioidea Oliver
Oxytenanthera abyssinica
(Rich) Munro
Picralima nitida (Stapf.)
Th. & H. D
Piliostigma reticulatum (Stapf.)
Th. & H. Dur
Saccharum officinarum Linn.
Securidaca longepedunculata
Fres.
Strophanthus hispidus DC.
Terminalia glauccesens
Planch. Ex Benth
Terminalia ivorensis Chev.
Tetrapleura tetraptera
(Schum. et. Thonn) Taub
Uvaria chammae Linn.
Vitex doniana Sweet
Xylopia aethiopica Linn.
Zingiber officinale Rosc. |
Papilionaceae
Mimosaceae
Zingiberaceae
Liliaceae
Liliaceae
Anacardiaceae
Combretaceae
Loganiaceae
Aristolochiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Mimosaceae
Menispermaceae
Sapotaceae
Arecaceae
Asteraceae
Amaryllidaceae
Myrtaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Sapotaceae
Clusiaceae
Asclepiadaceae
Malvaceeae
Hyperiaceae
Meliaceae
Bignoniaceae
Asteraceae
Mimosaceae
Musaceae
Moraceae
Rubiaceae
Solanaceae
Olacaceae
Gramineae
Apocynaceae
Leguminosae
Gramineae
Polygalaceae
Apocynaceae
Combretaceae
Combretaceae
Mimosaceae
Annonaceae
Verbenaceae
Annonaceae
Zingiberaceae |
Omisinmisin
Booni
Atare
Alubosa
elewe
Ayuu
Kaju
Ayin
Sapo
Ako-igun
Ira
Tude
Ato
Agbalumo
Agbon
Ebolo
Ogede-odo
Kanafuru
Emi-ile
Enu-opiri
Baaka
Orogbo
Madunmaro
Owu
Amuje
Oganwo
Pandoro
Yanrin
Ewon
agogo
Ogede
were
Agbawo
Egbesi
Taba
Ifon
Aparun
Erin
Abafe,
Abafin
Ireke
Ipeta
Sagere
Idi-odan
Idigbo
Aidan
Gbogbonse
Oori
Eeru
Ataile |
Leaf
Fruit
Rhizome
Leaf
Bulb
Bark
Stem-bark
Bark
Root
Stem-bark
Root
Stem
Stem-bark
Fruit
Leaf
Bulb
Flower
Plant
Stem
Fruit
Seed
Root
Seed
Bark
Bark
Stem-bark
Leaf
Stem
Fruit
Bark
Root
Leaf
Root
Root
Fruit
Bark
Stem
Root
Bark
Stem-bark
Stem-bark
Fruit
Root-bark
Bark
Fruit
Rhizome |
Discussion
Traditional
medicinal practices are known to still be an important component of everyday
life in many regions of the world (Bussmann, 2006, Bussman and Sharon, 2006, De
Feo, 1992). Plants are known to provide a rich source of raw materials for
traditional medicine in Africa and other parts of the developing world. There
is hardly any need to stress that majority of Africans living on the continent
are forced to resort to traditional practitioners and to use traditional
medicine for the continued maintenance of their health and also to alleviate
their diverse sufferings. This practice which has considerable economic
importance within the cultural milieu of Africa has never been properly
codified and standardized.
During
the course of the ethnobotanical survey for anti-asthmatic plants, various
plants were given as remedies for asthma with the supposedly enough volume /
quantity for dosage. This problem of determining the right volume of the herbal
preparation that will just be sufficient as remedy for the disease was much
confronted during the surveys. There were diversities in the preparation and
use of the herbal medicines in the different markets surveyed. For instance,
the remedies given at Gate and Orita-Aperin markets in Ibadan were almost the
same but there is a wide range of variation in the dosages given. Indeed one of
the best-justified criticisms of herbal medicines is the difficulty in
determining dosages of bioactive ingredients due to this inherent variation.
A
number of medicinal plant species has been shown to be biologically active
against various illnesses (Abena et al, 2007, Ajaiyeoba and Fadare, 2006,
Ogundare et al, 2006, Neto et al, 2002; Vilegas et al, 1997). Some of the
plants encountered in this survey have also been worked upon by Scientists.
Odebiyi and Sofowora (1978) reported alkaloids and tannins from the leaves of X.
aethiopica; Puri and Talata (1964) reported essential oils and glycosides
from the root, bark leaves and fruits of the same plants. Fruit extract of Kigelia
africana was reported to have molluscicidal properties by Adewumi and
Sofowora (1980). Several alkaloids were isolated from Picralima nitida
(Oliver et al., 1965, Pousset et al., 1965). Iwu and Igboko (1982) established
the chemical constituents from the extractive of Garcinia kola seeds as
flavonoids namely apigenin fisetin and biflavonoid ametoflavone. Such findings
have proved the efficacy of some of the plants already worked upon. However,
there are some of the plants whose constituents have not been verified. From
the general point of view, it has been observed that asthma patients,
irrespective of their class in the society or social background avail
themselves of the services of both the conventional doctors and the traditional
medical practitioners. It would appear that more than ever before, the need for
the two types of health care to exist will continue to increase.
Based
on the findings on the chemical constituents of the various plant specimens
collected, it has been discovered that all anti-asthmatic drugs took their
origins from plants. Mineral resources are occasionally part of the herbal
preparations. The standard attained in modern medical practice on the treatment
of asthma is therefore as a result of continued scientific study and
investigation which have thus produced a wealth of information about the nature
and physiological activity of the many compounds extracted from plants. Much of
the modern scientific medicines have evolved from traditional medicines and
this is why in our present circumstances, we must give our traditional system
an objective and critical examination.
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