Survey of aromatic and medicinal plants used by Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aromatic and medicinal plants provide humans with both food and medicine; they cure several ailments in humans and animals without any residual effects on life. Some of these plants are used in the biological control of insect pests, while others are used as aroma, Flavour, and/or additives in many food industries. A survey of aromatic and medicinal plants was conducted to identify aromatic and medicinal plants that are found and used as medicine and also as food in Bade L.G.A. with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The study area was randomly selected to avoid bias in the study. A total of nine villages (9) out of 13 villages were selected in order to cover more than thirty percent of the study area. A total of 250 participants were selected from the study area, which included all farmers, herbalists, and others. The results of the gender findings indicated that male participants were the majority, while married participants were the majority in the study area. However, sixty-nine different plant species that are used for treating various ailments and as food aromas, additives, or preservatives and their modes of application were identified during the course of the research. Meanwhile, the family Fabaceae is the dominant family with the highest frequencies. According to this survey, the majority of the commuters’ interviewed heavily rely on ethno medicine for their health care. Therefore, there is a need for proper documentation and preservation of this knowledge for sustainable utilisation.

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