Ethnobotanical Survey on Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Intestinal Worms in Ekiti South West Local Government, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

The essential roles of medicinal plants in maintaining human health demonstrates the necessity for appropriate knowledge and documentation of their significance and application. The study aimed to document medicinal plants used in treating intestinal worms in Ekiti South West Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria. The respondents who were mainly traditionalists and herb sellers were interviewed using semi structured questionnaires and verbal interview methods. The information obtained included demographic information, names of the plants used for the treatment of intestinal worms, plants part used, forms of plants, dosage, modes of administration and methods of preparation. According to the findings of the research, Sixty two (62) medicinal plants species from 34 families were identified and documented as being used for the treatment of intestinal worms.. The study also revealed that herbs make up (50.00 %) of all plants, shrubs (32.26 %), trees make up (12.90 %), bulbs (3.23 %) while climbers (1.61 %). Furthermore, leaves were the most plant part used (30.00 %) in treating intestinal worms in the study area, followed by root (9.70%), bark (8.10 %), seed (3.20 %) while the bulbs (1.60 %) is the least used plant part. Plants from the Fabaceae family (9 species) were recorded to be the most available in the study area, followed by the Apocynaceae family (5 species), Malvaceae and Asteraceae (each with 4 species) and three (3 species) each from Euphorbiaceae and Zingiberaceae, two (2) plant species from Combretaceae, Rutaceae, Lamiaceae, Solanaceae, Moraceae and Curcurbitaceae with the remaining families having one plant species each. The study has revealed the medicinal plants that are used against intestinal worms in the study area. This study concluded that ethnobotanical survey is crucial for assessing the current knowledge and serving as a base line for future analysis of changes in knowledge and usage. This will thereby give the use of medicinal plants more national and global recognition. The respondents in the study area identified different methods of preparing the medicinal plants used for the treatment of intestinal worms. Majority, (38.70 %) were prepared using decoction followed by concoction (35.50 %), while maceration (25.80 %) was the lowest. In terms of administration of the medicinal plants, all the preparations were administered orally in the study area.