Ethnobotanical survey of plants used in cancer therapy in Iwo and Ibadan, South-Western of Nigeria

Abstract

Context: The increase in cancer morbidity and mortality, as well as high cost and adverse effects of the available cancer therapies, necessitate the need for the discovery of new and safe anticancer agents. Many medicinal plants, which have served as sources of beneficial drugs were revealed through an ethnobotanical survey. Aims: To reveal and document the medicinal plants used in treating cancer in Iwo and Ibadan, South-Western, Nigeria. Methods: The Snowball method was used to search and select the participants who included herb sellers, traditional medical practitioners, and herbalists. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information, which included herbal recipes, dosage, and methods of preparation of the herbs. Relative frequency citation (RFC), family use value (FUV) and medicinal use-value (MUV) were calculated. Results: A total number of 92 plant species belonging to 51 families were revealed. Citrus limon, Xylopia aethiopica and Crotalaria pallida had the highest RCF of 0.25, 0.22 and 0.17, respectively, while the family Leguminosae (10.99%) had the highest number of plants species. Three of the plants had the highest MUV of 0.12 while Bignoniaceae family had the highest FUV. Various parts of the plants were used in preparing these. Conclusions: Many plants used in treating cancer have been revealed in this study. Therefore, scientific validation of the biological properties of the species, both singly and in combination as used, is strongly recommended.