Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in southwestern Nigeria and traditional healers’ perception of indigenous knowledge digitisation
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Date
2018
Authors
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
This paper investigated the ethnobotany of medicinal plants among traditional
healers in southwest Nigeria. It identified plants, the diseases they are used to
treat, and explored the indigenous healers’ perceptions of digitisation of their
medical knowledge. Structured interview schedule was used to elicit information
from 18 interviewees. The study showed that 44 families, comprising 82 genera
and 96 species with Asteraceae, Malvaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae and
Fabaceae having the highest number of genera and species. Species cited with
high fidelity levels included Phragmanthora capitata (100%), Anacardium
occidentale (100%), Anacardium occidentale (100%) and Gossypium hirsutum
(80%). Interviewees possessed an appreciation for computer; and were in full
support of documentation and digitisation of traditional medical knowledge. They
perceived documentation, digitisation and involving libraries as ways of preserving
traditional knowledge. Barriers to traditional healers’ practice included use of
herbicides, scarcity of medicinal plants, urbanisation, undefined dosages and/or
side effects, deforestation, overgrazing activities, and bush burning.
Documentation and digitisation of traditional healing knowledge should be treated
with urgency thereby preserving the rich culture of Yoruba people for posterity.
Libraries for indigenous knowledge systems should be established across Nigeria.
Mounting courses at the general or first-degree levels can be contributory to
medicinal plants preservation.
Description
Peer reviewed article published under Inkanyiso journal, Volume 10 Number 1, p.90-102, November 2018.
Keywords
Digitisation, documentation, ethnobotany, medicinal plants
Citation
Abiolu, O.A., 2018. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in southwestern Nigeria and traditional healers’ perception of indigenous knowledge digitisation. Inkanyiso: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 10(1), pp.90-102.