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Herbal preparation for eight common ailments

By Chukwuma Muanya and Stanley Akpunonu
18 October 2018   |   3:02 am
Researchers at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have validated methods of preparing herbal potions for eight common ailments- hypertension, dysentery, low sperm count and weak erection, coated tongue, piles, menstrual disorders, leucorrhoea (vaginal discharge) and fevers.

Dele Olowokudejo

*How to sustain plants power to cure diseases, by Olowokudejo

Researchers at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) have validated methods of preparing herbal potions for eight common ailments- hypertension, dysentery, low sperm count and weak erection, coated tongue, piles, menstrual disorders, leucorrhoea (vaginal discharge) and fevers.The scientists at the Department of Botany, UNILAG led by Prof. Dele James Olowokudejo also made recommendations on how to sustain plants power to cure diseases.

Olowokudejo in his Inaugural Lecture titled, “The Enigmatic Kingdom of Plants: Their Power To Stimulate, Intoxicate And Alter Consciousness- Their Power To Maim, Kill And Cure,” said his team of researchers undertook an extensive survey of three markets in Lagos Mainland- Oyingbo, Mushin, and Bariga.

The professor of botany said his team obtained information from herb sellers and traditional medicine practitioners and medicinal plant samples on display in the markets were examined and identified. He said cross-referencing of facts was carried out at the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board (LSTMB) and the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) in Lagos.

“Herb sellers enjoy good patronage across the State because traditional healthcare is cheap, easily accessible and efficacious,” Olowokudejo said.A list of 110 medicinal plant species found in these markets was compiled including their vernacular and family names, plant parts used and local medicinal uses. It was revealed that these commercial plant samples were collected randomly in the wild and fallow lands in Lagos and adjacent States.

Cutting the plant parts into smaller pieces, which were sun-dried or hung in the kitchen or fireplace to dry, preserved the collections. Other samples were shredded or ground into powder. One or a combination of these methods prepared the medicinal plants offered for sale: infusion, decoction, tincture, macerations, poultices, concoction, powder, and pastes.

The professor of Botany said a wide range of ailments and medicinal conditions for which the medicinal herbs have been applied included: cold, cough, fever, catarrh, hypertension, asthma, malaria, dysentery, diarrhea, epilepsy, pile, hepatitis, jaundice, ulcer, typhoid fever, rheumatism, arthritis, guinea worm, insomnia, eczema, convulsion, smallpox, gonorrhea, hernia, diabetes, chickenpox and a host of others.

Olowojudejo and his team of researchers provided treatment recipes for some of the common ailments such as hypertension, dysentery, low sperm count and weak erection, coated tongue, pile, and fevers. Olowokudejo elucidated methods of preparing herbal potions for eight common ailments:

1. Hypertension
According to Olowokudejo, herbal cures for hypertension include: leaves of Persea americana (avocado) are made into shreds, dried and taken as infusion; leaves of Senecio biafrae (worowo in Yoruba or Sierra Leone bologna) added to fermented seeds of Parkia biglobosa (dawadawa in Hausa, African locust beans in English, Igba/Iyere in Yoruba, and Nere in Bambara) are used to prepare soup which is eaten; leaves of Talinum triangulare (water leaf) or Basella alba (Indian spinach in English, Amunututu in Yoruba) may also be used; and kola nut’s mistletoe mixed with honey is also effective.

2. Dysentery
For dysentery the botanist noted: decoction of the leaves of Grewia flavescence (Itakun okeere) is made and drunk; and leaves of Parquentina nigrescens (kwankwanin in Hausa, mgbidim gbe in Igbo, ewidun or inuwu elepe in Yoruba), Jatropha gossypifolia (pignut or fignut, and Lapalapa in Yoruba), Pergularia daemia (Utazi in Ibo, Teji in Yoruba), Ocimum gratissimum (scent leaf in English, Nchuanwu in Ibo, Effirin in Yoruba) and Momordica charantia (African cucumber or balsam pear in English, Daddagu in Hausa, Akban ndene in Ibo, Akara aj in Yoruba) are all powdered together and taken with cold pap, or as decoction.

3. Low sperm count and weak erection
For low sperm count and weak erection, Olowokudejo noted: Powdered Piper guineensis (Climbing black pepper or Benin pepper, Ebe-ahinhi akpoke in Edo, Etinkene or Odusa in Efik/Ibibio, Uziza in Ibo, Uririe in Urhobo, Iyere or Ata-iyere in Yoruba) and extract from 10 big onions are poured into honey and boiled between five to 10 minutes; and a cup to be taken in the morning and at night.

Also, the researchers added: Manihot esculenta root (cassava), Dioscorea sp. Tuber (yam), Garcinia cola seed (bitter cola), Cola nitida cotyledon (kola), dried Zea mays (corn/maize), Cnetis ferruginea (Omu aja or Gboyin gboyin in Yoruba, Amunketa in Igbo, Utina bua in Efik and Ukpe-ibieka in Bini), seeds of Mucuna sloanei (Horse eye bean in English, Ukpo in Ibo, Karasuu in Hausa, and Yerepe in Yoruba), unripe Musa parasidiaca (plantain) and Piper guineensis are all ground together with sugar, and taken with water or cold pap.

Another herbal cure for low sperm count and weak erection identified by the researchers include: “The same plants as the foregoing in addition with Klainedoxa gabonenesis (wild mango, Ugili in Ibo), sugar and pure bee-honey are mixed together. A spoonful to be taken like that or with cold pap.”

4. Coated tongue
For coated tongue, the professor of Botany in his inaugural lecture identified: Bark of Khaya ivorensis (Ogawo in Yoruba), bark of Pycnanthus angolensis (African Nutmeg and Wild Nutmeg in English, Akomu in Yoruba, Akujaadi in Hausa, and Egwunoma in Ibo), bark of Hymenocardia acida (Ikalaga in Ibo), bark of Bridelia ferruginea (Oha in Ibo, Ira or Iradan in Yoruba and Kimi or Kizni in Hausa), bark and root of Rauvolfia vomitoria (serpent wood or swizzler stick in English, Asofeyeje in Yoruba, Akanta in Ibo, and Wada in Hausa, bark of Alstonia boonei (pattern wood/stoolwood in English, Ano in Igala, Egbu in Ibo, Ahun in Yoruba), twigs of Citrus medica (lemon), bark of Enantia chlorantha (Awogba, Oso pupa or Dokita igbo in Yoruba, Osomolu in Ikale, Kakerim in Boki, and Erenba-vbogo in Bini), bark of Melicia excelsa (Iroko tree) are all cooked and the decoction to be taken.

The researchers also identified: Costus afer (sugar cane), bark of Khaya grandifoliola, bark of Bridelia, ferruginea, fruit of Alchornea cordifolia (Christmas bush, Mbom in Efik), bark of Bridelia micrantha (Ogangan in Edo, Egede/Ogaofia in Ibo, Arasa in Yoruba, bark of Pycnanthus angolensis, sulphur, and lime water all poured into a container; and one tablespoon of the extract to be taken before breakfast.

5. Pile
For pile, the researchers noted: 12 seeds of Croton penduliflorus (Aworoso in Yoruba) and seven cubes of sugar are ground and poured into bottle containing kernel oil (30cl), then left for seven days, after which the first dose of two table spoonful will be taken. Later, one spoonful every morning is to be taken before breakfast. The drug is to be taken at four days interval.

6. Menstrual disorders
For menstrual disorders, the researchers noted: Water or alcohol extract of the leaves of Dalbergiella welwitschii (Emosho-elemosoo, Emeso- igangan, Afoso in Yoruba, West African black wood), twigs mixed with potash is to be taken for three days, morning and evening.

7. Vaginal discharge
For vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea) the researchers identified: “Root of Glyphea brevis (Aloanyasi in Ibo, Atori in Yoruba), root and leaves of Senna podocarpa (Agelo-ogala in Ibo, and Asuwon in Yoruba), Senna alata (Asunrun oyinbo in Yoruba, Ogalu in Ibo), Allium ascalonicum (Shallot, Alubosa elewe in Yoruba) and potash are put together into a container, and hot water poured on the mixture. The recipe is left till the next day; and one glass cup to be taken every morning before breakfast for three days. The preparation is also suitable for seminal discharge in men.

“Root of Croton zambesicus (Koriba or Icen maser in Hausa, Aje kokofole in Yoruba, Mfam in Ekoi and Moramora in Kilba), three seeds of Garcinia cola (bitter kola), Acacia nilotica leaves (Booni in Yoruba), three seeds of Aframomum melegueta (Alligator pepper), leaves of Mimosa pudica and small quantity of potash are ground together, and taken with cold pap.

8. Fevers
For fevers, Olowodudejo identified: “A decoction of the root of Sphenocentrum jollyanum, Zingiber officinale (ginger), bark of Khaya grandifoliola, root and bark of Rauvolfia vomitoria, bark of Alstomia congensis, root and bark of Senna sceptabilis, root of Zanthoxylum xanthoxyloides, leaves of Ocimum gratisimum.”

Olowokudejo noted that it is for us to be able to exploit all the benefits available for us from plants because we are blessed with a variety of vegetation and plant species and many of them are just there to be exploited and used so we can go in there and exploit them for the benefit of everybody.

According to the professor of Botany, some biologists believe that the demise of one plant species may eventually lead to the extinct of up to 30 animal species, as the consequences reverberate up the food chains. Plants convert sunlight into stored chemical energy on which all animal life depends on for food.He said the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 70 to 80 percent of the population in the developing countries depends on herbal traditional medicine as their primary health care. Therefore, there is the urgent need to develop the potential of herbal medicine for the wide use and benefit of the people.

“The enormous diversity of plants offers adaptations to every conceivable environment, from desert to tundra, the tropics having the richest speciation. We depend on this green wealth at every turn-from indirect benefits for soil and climate to direct supplies to our tables, factories, and hospitals.

“In terms of number of species individually targeted the use of plants as medicines represent by far the bigger human use of the natural world because they provide the predominant ingredients of medicines in most medical tradition,” he said. Olowokudejo added that education at all levels is required so that people are aware of their surroundings all the time that there is a worth of resources lying there for everybody to use.

The professor warned that people should be responsible in the way they use technology because it can turn against us and destroy us calling for the need for ethical consideration in the use of technology otherwise we will be our greatest enemy.He continued: “Plants are the foundation of all existence, of humans and animals, of society and civilization. In order to nourish, cure, delight and inspire us, they battle constantly with the elements. Plants create most of our reality and many of our dreams. They are the source of our nourishment and health, pleasures and ecstasies; they sustain religions, cultures, and civilization. In the end, they can kill and return us to the soil on which they feed. Therefore in the end or rather in the beginning, we are all plants.”

Olowokudejo highlighted that Mangrove plays an important role in sustaining the economic and social welfare of coastal nations because they generate a diverse range of renewable resources that can be harvested indefinitely if properly managed because they play a valuable role in supporting fisheries and protecting coastal communities and agricultural and natural hazards.He continued: “In Nigeria, oil and gas deposits are found in geological structures underlying mangroves and associated coastal ecosystem. As a direct consequence of inadequate planning and poor management, oil exploration and exploitation have caused significant environmental damage to mangrove and imposed negative social impact on local communities.”

Proffering solutions to the various issues ranging from oil exploitation, deforestation, degradation of forests, atmospheric pollution, and water pollution loss of biological diversity, land degradation, desertification and Martine pollution ravaging the ecosystem, Olowokudejo reiterated the imperatives to reorient education to support sustainability, allocate more resources to education at all levels, Make budgetary provisions for research, teaching and learning, Revive and fund current interest in phytomedicine.

“Efforts should be redoubled towards the conservation of plant diversity and wise use of all medicinal plants so that our future benefits and knowledge are not put to risk. There is the urgent need to formulate a concrete and consistent strategy for conversation of vegetation in various zones of the country” he added. Olowokudejo stated that its importance to revitalise and maintain National and University Herbaria. “The herbarium is an important resource and facility for teaching research and accurate identification of plants and plant material making the information available to whoever needs it. The herbarium is critical to the preparation of local regional or national checklist of endangered, rare or threatened species and to locate their present and past sites.”

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