title: Ethno medicinal survey of plants used by the indigenes of Rivers State of Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The medicinal plants used in the traditional medicine of Rivers State of Nigeria were surveyed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The survey aims to identify and document the plants used amongst the indigenes of Rivers State.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews were conducted during a field trip to gather information from traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) and community elders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Medicinal plant species (188) representing 169 genera and 82 families used in the ethno medicine of the people of Rivers State were recorded from 460 households. The most represented genera were Ipomoea and Citrus providing four species each. The most important species showed the highest Fidelity level (FL) value and these included Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) (100%) and Tridax procumbens L. (Asteraceae) (100%). The most important categories of diseases were those that showed the highest Informant consensus factor (ICF) value of 0.99, such as dermal or digestive problems and fever/malaria. The most used plant part was leaves (42%), while decoction was the main method of drug preparation (36%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey shows that more than half of the medicinal plants gathered in Rivers State are also used in other countries of the world for various ailments. The high values of ICF recorded indicate high degree of agreement among the informants, while the high FL values suggest the popular use of the plants. The survey provides a useful source of information for TMPs and medicinal plant researchers. These medicinal plants gathered may bring about drug discovery and may also be incorporated into the healthcare delivery system of the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy & Herbal Medicine, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. kay_ajib@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kola' K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Ajibesin
authors.forename: Danladi N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Bala
authors.forename: Uwemedimo F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Umoh
mesh_terms: D031163:Ageratum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D003906:Developing Countries; D004066:Digestive System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D027741:Ipomoea / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D009549:Nigeria; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D045483:Rivers; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts