ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF PLANTS USED FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN HEALTH AMONG THE YORUBAS IN THE WESTERN PART OF NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

The research explore the medicinal plants used by the Yoruba people in southwestern Nigeria, focusing on plants that treat women and children’s health problems amongst the Yoruba’s a large West African ethnic group with a long history of traditional medicine. This study aimed to record the variety of plants they use and the cultural knowledge about how to prepare and administer them. The research result to about 50 respondents, male and female respectively within ages 21- 90years to learn about the medicinal plants. These people included traditional birthing helpers, herbalists, and elderly women from the community. The interviews were open-ended, allowing the participants to share freely. They provided details on the local names of the plants, which parts are used for medicine, how the remedies are prepared, how they are given to patients, and what health problems they treat. The study documented 119 plant species belonging to 43 families among which Fabaceae family were the prominent plant families used for women and children’s health. The plants were used to treat a wide range of conditions, including menstrual disorders, infertility, pregnancy-related complications, postpartum care, pediatric illnesses, and general health maintenance. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the traditional medicinal practices of the Yoruba people and highlight the potential of their ethnobotanical knowledge for the development of new herbal-based interventions for women and children’s health.