Ethno - Medicinal Studies of Finima Nature Park - A Protected Tropical Rain Forest
O. P. Choko
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
A. A. Aiyeloja
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
A. T. Oladele *
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
J. N. Onwuteaka
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: This study was aimed at conducting a pilot survey of the ethno-medicinal plants in Finima Nature Park (FNP), Bonny, Nigeria, to elicit common medicinal plants and their uses.
Method: A set of structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from three key informants (Traditional Medicine Practitioners-TMPs) and 62 household heads on the local medicinal utilization of plants in FNP. Plant utilization and preferences, perceived conservation status and use values were documented.
Results: Eighty-three (83) plant species belonging to 45 Botanical families were frequently collected from FNP for local medicinal purposes. Rubiaceae was the most abundant (8%) plant family while the plant forms showed trees (46%), herbs (23%), shrubs (21%) and ferns (3%). Plant parts used for local medicine included leaves (44%), stem/barks (21%), roots (16%), whole plant (5%), fruits (5%), seeds (6%), tubers (2%) and flowers (1%). Infectious diseases were the most treated (30%), urogenital and endocrine diseases - such as thyroid (15%) and abdominal diseases (11%). Oral (62%) and dermal (30%) constitutes the main modes of administration. Rauvolfia vomitoria Afzel. had the highest use value (3.5 - 4) while Ocimum gratissimum Linn., Vernonia amygdalina Delile and Alchornea cordifolia Schumach. & Thonn had the least (1). Perceived conservation status of medicinal plants by respondents revealed scarce (9%), threatened (31%) and abundance (60%).
Conclusion: Finima Nature Park (FNP) is a repository of medicinal genetic resource and as such, its conservation should be upheld.
Keywords: Ethno-medicine, Finima Nature Park, medicinal plants, use value.