Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants used in the Treatment of Dematophytic Infections in Some Selected Villages in Ondo State

Abstract

This survey examines the use of medicinal plants in treating dermatophytic infections in selected villages in Ondo north senatorial district, and also to know the efficacy of the plants against the organisms. Local knowledge of plants, preparation methods and application for skin conditions caused by dermatophytes were explored in the study. Twenty (20) plant species were identified and collected as plants used for treating tinea infection in the area. The location and accessibility were used as criteria to select ten of the plants for further antifungal potency screening. The selected plant includes Abrus precatorius ( Oju Olongbo), Ageratum conyzoides ( Imi esu), Bixa orellana (Osun buke), Cassia alata (Asumo oyinbo), Ficus exasperate (Erinpin), Jatropha curcas (Lapalapa), Ocimum gratissimum (Efinrin), Pterocarpus erinaceus (Imo osun), Vernonia amygdalina (Ewuro) and Vitex doniana (Oriri) The highest antifungal activity of J. curcas were obtained at a varied concentrations of 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/ml. These plants compared favourably with fungral observed to exhibit the highest antifungal activity of 22-30 mm zone of inhibition against all the isolates. Hence these plants can be used as an alternative for treating infections caused by Trichophyton species.

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