Ethnobotanical Survey Of The Plants Used In Local Treatment Of Hypertension In Abia State: A Case Study Of Bende Local Government Area

ABSTRACT

This research emphasized on ethnobotanical survey of plants used for the local - treatment of hypertension in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, Southern Nigeria. For easy survey, Bende Local Government Area was divided into three zones and purposive samplings were used in selecting the communities under study. Semi structured questionnaires and oral interviews  used to information from respondents who were principally traditional medicine dealers and patrons. Results showed that 33 plant species were used for the local treatment of hypertension. Investigation on mode of collection reviewed that most of the plants were collected from the home garden, and water was mostly the main medium for all medicinal preparations irrespective of the plants part(s) used, mode of preparation and administration. Treatment regimes generally included drinking the aqueous preparation until symptoms disappear. Although the antihypertensive efficacy of the plants described in this project is not known with certainty, this survey provides a basis for future research on these plants.