title: Inventory of antidiabetic plants in selected districts of Lagos State, Nigeria.
abstract: This study reports an ethnobotanical survey by means of semi-structured questionnaire of medicinal plants in five districts of Lagos State of Nigeria reputed for the treatment of diabetes. 100 respondents from the predominantly Yoruba tribe mostly males (76%) were knowledgeable in traditional treatment of diabetes. About half of the respondents with 20-30 years experience in treating diabetes used mainly herbs (96%) and have developed effective and easily recognised diagnostic tools. 92% of diabetic patients were usually out-patients aged 21-60 years. Diabetes trado-specialists (80%) rarely referred their patients but usually treated referred cases (96%). Fifty multi-component herbal recipes covered in the survey were mainly liquid preparations often administered without serious side effects (92%). The principal antidiabetic plants included Vernonia amygdalina, Bidens pilosa, Carica papaya, Citrus aurantiifolia, Ocimum gratissimum, Momordica charantia and Morinda lucida. Dietary recommendations also accompanied therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu campus, Ogun State, Nigeria. adegbolade@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Adebayo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gbolade
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D019448:Ethnobotany; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D010045:Outpatients; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D028321:Plant Preparations