J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Jan 12;121(1):135-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.10.013. Epub 2008 Nov 1.

Inventory of antidiabetic plants in selected districts of Lagos State, Nigeria.

Gbolade AA1.

• 1Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu campus, Ogun State, Nigeria. adegbolade@yahoo.com

Abstract

This study reports an ethnobotanical survey by means of semi-structured questionnaire of medicinal plants in five districts of Lagos State of Nigeria reputed for the treatment of diabetes. 100 respondents from the predominantly Yoruba tribe mostly males (76%) were knowledgeable in traditional treatment of diabetes. About half of the respondents with 20-30 years experience in treating diabetes used mainly herbs (96%) and have developed effective and easily recognised diagnostic tools. 92% of diabetic patients were usually out-patients aged 21-60 years. Diabetes trado-specialists (80%) rarely referred their patients but usually treated referred cases (96%). Fifty multi-component herbal recipes covered in the survey were mainly liquid preparations often administered without serious side effects (92%). The principal antidiabetic plants included

• Vernonia amygdalina,
• Bidens pilosa,
• Carica papaya,
• Citrus aurantiifolia,
• Ocimum gratissimum,
• Momordica charantia and
• Morinda lucida.

Dietary recommendations also accompanied therapy.

PMID:

19013225