ABSTRACT
This study is to document the medicinal values, local names, method of preparation, dosage forms and parts of common medicinal plants sold in some markets in Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria. Ethnobotanical data were collected by oral interview and with the aid of a structured questionnaire administered to medicinal herb dealers. The data from forty respondents from the five local markets surveyed were documented. The results showed a total of 40 medicinal plant species belonging to 31 families commonly used by the people of Nsukka in their traditional health care system and also as source of food and provision of shade. Most of the plant materials were in dried form and sold singly or in combination with other plants and are used in the treatment of various ailments such as sexually transmitted infections, malaria, jaundice, hyperthermia, skin irritations, dysentery, anaemia, cough, fibroid, skin infections, diabetes, diarrhoea, dysentery, high blood pressure, constipation, piles, peptic ulcer, pains, postpartum management, typhoid fever as well as purgatives. A majority of the plants were trees. The respondents were women (62.5 %) and men (37.5 %). The findings recommended further studies on the marketing of medicinal plants in other local markets in Nsukka and also the need to carry out pharmacognostic investigation to isolate useful bioactive or phytochemical components of these plants so as to provide a basis for reaping their enormous therapeutic potentials. The findings further supported the need to encourage domestication and cultivation of medicinal plants as well as put in place conservation measures to ensure sustainable source of medicinal plants.
