Ethnobiological study of traditional medicine practices for the treatment of chronic leg ulcer in South eastern Nigeria

Abstract

A comprehensive survey was carried out to document plants and non-plant materials used in traditional medicine practices for the treatment of chronic leg ulceration in 13 randomly selected Local Government Areas in Anambra and Enugu States of South east Nigeria. Semi-structured questionnaires as well as informal interviews were administered on 92 respondents, including specialist herbalists, local herb sellers, hunters and other groups of people rich in traditional medicine knowledge. Photography and short interviews were conducted on some of the patients met in some popular herbal clinics to obtain their perspectives of the disease. All interviewed respondents gave descriptions that fitted exactly into the general diagnosis of leg ulcer but with different methods of preparation and modes of administration of the herbal recipes. Thirty six (36) recipes prepared from 78 plants and 14 non-plant materials were documented as described by the respondents. The 78 plants spread across 41 families. Herbal products were administered orally and by topical application. This study can form a basis through which pharmaceutical industries can screen these plant species and possibly come out with useful medicines for treatment of chronic leg ulceration and other related forms of skin ulcer.