Plants used in the treatment of female infertility and other related health issues in Agbor, Ika South, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

An ethnomedicinal survey of plants used to treat female infertility and other ailments in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, Delta state of Nigeria was conducted for the purpose of identification and documentation. Information was gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire through oral interviews with informants which included traditional herbal practitioners, traditional nurses and midwives, housewives, community elders, local farmers, and others. A total of 75 medicinal plant species belonging to 45 families were identified and their botanical names, method of preparation, administration and dosage were documented. Most of the preparations were made through decoctions or infusions. The leaves were the plant parts which were mostly used. Most of the species can be sourced locally by harvesting from farms, forests, or bushes, or by buying from local markets. To ensure the preservation and continuity of ethnomedicine, proper documentation and deliberate conservation practices should be adopted.