Ethnobotanical Survey of Plants’ Stem Barks used in Kaduna State of Nigeria

Abstract

Inventory of plant species whose barks were sold in markets located in two local government areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria was carried out in this study. Three markets were selected randomly from each of the two Local Government Areas of the study area. In each market, 10 medicinal plant vendors and 10 respondents were randomly selected and interviewed with the aid of semi structure questionnaire matrix. Plants whose stem barks were of medicinal values were identified; their mode of preparations and utilizations were documented. The respondents were diverse and cut across socioeconomic classification. Respondents’ consciousness was linked to oral transfer of the indigenous knowledge on plants and the recent realization of their economic values thus trading and the act of apprenticing in trading in medicinal plants is now a viable entrepreneurial venture. 54 plant species, belonging to 28 families, have their barks valued for medicine and were sold in the study area. The species were rich in diverse chemical constituents. The sales and patronage of the identified barks, in the study area, transcend gender but skewed to the males due to religious belief thus suggesting that gender specific roles in medicinal plants could be faith-based. Dependence on plant barks was borne out of the age long tradition and confidence of the people on plant medicine. This was complimented by their affordability and ready availability especially in the markets in the study area. Most of the identified barks were sourced outside the study area though forest reserves abound in all parts of the state, yet importation dominated the supply chain as the reserves were highly depleted due to anthropogenic activities. This study tends to support the previous clamour for biodiversity conservation through cultivation of the identified plant species in the study area.