Assessment of Threatened Medicinal Plants in Selected Locations in South-Western Nigeria *1Lawal I

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Assessment of Threatened Medicinal Plants in Selected Locations in South-Western Nigeria *1Lawal I. O., 1Rafiu B. O 2Falana A.R,. and 1Adam, A. A. 1Biomedicinal Research Centre, Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B. 5054, Ibadan. 2Federal College of Forestry, Ibadan, Nigeria. *Corresponding author: [email protected]; Tel: +2348035059095 ABSTRACT Plant as a biotic factor plays a significant role in the well-being of man. The relationship between man and plants has been very cordial since time immemorial. The burgeoning world population and the concomitant increase in anthropogenic activities led to the rapid erosion of natural ecosystems. This study was designed to assess the categories and the ethno-medicinal information of endangered medicinal plant species in Igbo-Nla, Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun state and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo state, Nigeria for proper referencing. The land area of 5 acres were marked out from the locations and divided into 4 compartments of 1.25 acres. The plant species found were identified, enumerated and recorded accordingly. Ethno-botanical information such as the local names, parts used and ailments which they can be used to treat were captured. Frequency of occurrence, species abundance/richness and others were used to analyze the information obtained. It was revealed that 33 species belonging to 12 angiosperm families were recorded in IITA while 40 species belonging to 25 plant families were recorded in Igbo-Nla with species in Fabaceae family having the highest frequency of occurrence at both study areas. Among other species identified, Tamarindus indica and Khaya ivorensis were the most encountered species (5.88%). The leaves and stem bark are the most frequently used parts of these plant species for the treatment and management of ailments ranging from leprosy, ulcer, fever, cough, fungal infection, sore-eyes, and nervous disorder, among others. Plant diversity is the bedrock of life sustainability, which plays a significant role in nation’s economy. Hence, a vision towards strategic conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants is therefore necessary for sustainable development. Endangered indigenous tree species identified in this study play significant roles in the lives of the local people as they rely mostly on the forest for traditional medicines and as such for means of livelihood. Therefore, urgent, concerted efforts must be made to conserve these natural plants’ habitats by curtailing activities such as incessant deforestation and harvesting of plants materials as well as habitat conversion which altogether pose tremendous threat to continuous existence and availability of the plant species. Keywords: Plant diversity, Endangered species, Fabaceae, Ethno-medicinal uses, Conservation. Introduction globally, especially by rural populations in Man and plants have been in close developing tropical regions (Akinyemi, relationship throughout the development of 2000). Anokbongoo (1992) reported that all civilizations. The use of plants in there is always a correlation between village traditional medicine is gaining more priority uses of a plant and its activity in biological worldwide (Farnsworth 1988) therefore screening system. Zahoor et al. (2012) making medicinal plants to be of immense elucidated that the burgeoning world economic importance and widely consumed population and the concomitant increase in

Journal of Forestry Research and Management. Vol. 16(3).12-26; 2019, ISSN 0189-8418 www.jfrm.org.ng anthropogenic activities are rapidly eroding been on the range of extinction, therefore, natural ecosystems, resulting in loss of the studies of characterization of the ethno- natural habitat for a great number of geographical, ecological and trends of medicinal herbs and trees, which play threatened species require an urgent important roles in the primary health care of attention. Thus, this study is designed to rural populations globally. However, Kirby assess, categorize and study the ethno- (1996) reported that most plants used in geographical information of endangered traditional medicine are still understudied species in Odeda Local Government Area of and in developing countries, notably in Ogun state and Akinyele Local Government West Africa, new drugs are not often Area of Oyo state, Nigeria for proper affordable. Thus, up to 80% of the referencing. population uses medicinal plants as Materials and Methods remedies (Hostellmann and Marston, 2002). Numerous medicines have been derived Study areas from the knowledge of people from tropical The study was carried out at two different forests and clearly there will be more in the locations; Tree Heritage Park at the future. This reason is enough for any and all International Institute of Tropical programs to be concerned with the Agriculture (IITA) in Akinyele Local conservation, development and protection of Government Area of Oyo state and Igbo-Nla tropical forest regions. in Orile Ilugun, Odeda Local Government Khan (2002) elucidated that poverty, Area of Ogun state, Nigeria. ignorance and unavailability of modern IITA is located on the Latitude 70 23'47''N health facilities, had forced most people, and Longitude 3055'0''E (Figure 1). It has a especially rural people, to practice sub-humid climate which is characterized traditional medicines for their common day by rain forest and slightly heavy rainfall. Its ailments and engaged in the trade of rainfall is bimodal with mean annual rainfall medicinal plants. Medicinal plants are also of 1250mm. It has wet season from March - produced in compound farms or home October and dry season from November - gardens alongside fruits and vegetables in February having annual maximum the eastern part of Nigeria. Plants such as temperature ranging between 27-34 oC and Milicia excelsa, Bombax spp., Newbouldia annual minimum temperature ranging from laevis, kola accuminata, Garcinia kola, and 20-23 oC (Oguntunde, 1998). Igbo-Nla in Chrysophyllum albidum have been reported Orile - Ilugun is situated in Odeda Local to be widely preserved in rural villages of Government Area of Ogun State at an Edo State, Nigeria for their medicinal and elevation of 157 meters above sea level and cultural values (Azeez et al., 2010). Tuley its population amounts to 118,097, with (1997) reported that deforestation has led to Latitude 709'0" N and Longitude 3024'0" E the extinction of many medicinal plants and as depicted in figure 1. It is characterized by other genetic materials before they are ever tropical climate with distinct wet season. documented. Habitat conversion threatens The area is located in a region characterized not only the loss of plant resources, but also with a bimodal rainfall pattern, commencing traditional community life, cultural diversity in March, plentiful in July and September, and the accompanying knowledge of the with a short dry spell in August, the long medicinal value of several endemic species dry season extends from November to (Okigbo et al., 2008). The rate of March. Annual rainfall ranges between deforestation in Nigeria is alarming, most 1400 and 1500 mm. The region is valuable species of medicinal plants have characterized by relative high temperature

Journal of Forestry Research and Management. Vol. 16(3).12-26; 2019, ISSN 0189-8418 www.jfrm.org.ng with a mean annual air temperature being about 30oC (Ako, 1979).

Figure 1: Map showing the location of the study areas Data collection PLANTLIST” (2013). All the endangered The land area of five acres was marked out tree species encountered in the study areas from the two locations and was divided into were assigned to families and the number of four compartments of 1.25 acres. The tree species in each family was recorded. species found in each compartment were Methods of data analysis identified by the gardener in charge of the Data collected from the study areas were park in IITA, while farmers and the people presented using descriptive statistical tools living around Igbo-Nla revealed the names such as table to show the trend of of the species identified. The endangered endangered medicinal species in the study medicinal species were enumerated and areas. Frequency of occurrences as well as recorded; % Frequency of the species was calculated Plant identification accordingly. The following biodiversity The plant species were first identified using indices were employed following Magurran local ‘Yoruba’ names and later matched (2004); with their respective scientific Frequency percentage (%) classifications through consultation of FP (%) =F/N * 100………………... (1) relevant literature (Gbile, 1984; Keay, 1989; Where; Burkill, 1995) while the current taxonomic F = number of a particular species classification was validated on “THE

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N = total number of plant species H' is the Shannon-Wiener diversity index; encountered S is the total number of species in the (i) Shannon-Wiener diversity index: community; In is natural logarithm H'=- Spi ln( pi ) Results and Discussion Where; i=1 The endangered species within the study H' is the Shannon-Wiener diversity index; areas as well as their frequency of S is the total number of species in the occurrences were presented in Tables 1 and community; 2 below. It was revealed that 33 species pi is the proportion of S made up of the ith belonging to 12 angiosperm families were species; recorded in IITA. The families include, ln is natural logarithm. Apocynaceae, Anacardiaceae, Capparaceae, Combretaceae, Fabaceae among others (ii) Simpson’s Diversity index: (Table 1). The highest number of species Where D is Simpson’s diversity, (13) was recorded in Fabaceae, while other ni is the abundance of the ith species and species had frequency of one (1). N is the abundance of the total stand Tamarindus indica has the highest percentage frequency (5.88%) while other (iii) Shannon-Wiener’sspecies evenness species had the same percentage frequency index: EH = H'/Hmax=H'/ln(S) of 2.94%. Where, EH is evenness index, Table 1: Endangered Tree Species in IITA S/N Family Species Common Local names names Fre % que Frequenc ncy y (PF)

1 Apocynaceae Rauvolfia vomitoria African Asofeyeje Afzel. serpentwood 1 2.94 2 Anacardiaceae Spondias mombin L. Jamaican- Iyeye plum 1 2.94 3 Capparaceae Buchholzia Wonderful Uwuro coriacea Engl. kola, Elephant (Yoruba), kola Aponmu (Akure) 1 2.94 4 Combretaceae Terminalia Black afara, Idigbo ivorensis A.Chev. Ivory Coast almond 1 2.94 5 Fabaceae Afzelia African Apa africana Persoon mahogany 1 2.94 Albizia adianthifolia Flat-crown Ayinreta, igbabo (Schumach.) tree W.F.Wight 1 2.94 Albizia lebbeck (L.) Broome rain- Ayunre, Igbagbo Benth. tree 1 2.94

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Baphia nitida Lodd. African- Ìyèròsùn, Irosun sandalwood, Camwood 1 2.94 Berlinia Bois de rose Apado grandiflora Hutch. & Dalziel 1 2.94 Millettia African Ito griffoniana Baill. millettia 1 2.94 Dialium Velvet Awin guineense Willd. tamarind 1 2.94 Parkia African Igba, Igi-iru biglobosa (Jacq.) R.Br. Locust Bean ex G.Don Tree 1 2.94 Tamarindus indica L. Tamarind, Ajagbon Indian Date 2 5.88 Pterocarpus osun Camwood Osun Craib 1 2.94 Pterocarpus African coral Osun soyauxii Taub. wood 1 2.94 Pterocarpus African Gbengbe santalinoides L'Hér. ex rosewood DC. 1 2.94 Afzelia Mahogany quanzensis Welw. Bean, Pod mahogany 1 2.94 6 Irvingiaceae Irvingia Bitter bush Aapon, ogbono wombolu Vermoesen mango, 1 2.94 7 Malvaceae Adansonia digitata L. Baobab Ose 1 2.94 Cola nigerica Brenan Nigerian kola Sigerekun & Keay 1 2.94 Colamillenii K.Schum. Monkey Kola Obi-edun 1 2.94 Mansonia Ofun Mansonia altissimaA.Chev. 1 2.94 8 Meliaceae Carapa procera DC. Monkey Irere, Agogo, cola,crabwood abo- oganwo 1 2.94 Entandrophragma Mountain Gedu angolense mahogany, (Welw.)C.DC. Ijebu mahogany, 1 2.94

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Tiama. Khaya ivorensis A. Lagos Oganwo Chev. mahogany, African mahogany 1 2.94 9 Moraceae Artocarpus Jackfruit Jaloke heterophyllus Lam. 1 2.94 Ficus exasperata Vahl. Sandpaper Eepin tree 1 2.94 Treculia Africana African Afon Decne. breadfruit 1 2.94 10 Piperaceae Piper guineense Climbing Iyere, Ata-iyere Schumach. & Thonn. black pepper 1 2.94 11 Rubiaceae Morinda lucida Benth. Brimstone Oruwo tree 1 2.94 Nauclea diderrichii Bilinga, Opepe (De Wild. & Opepe T.Durand) Merr. 1 2.94 Sarcocephaluslatifolius Peach, Fig Egbesi (Sm.) E.A. Bruce 1 2.94 12 Sapindaceae Blighia sapida Ackee apple Ishin K.D.Koenig 1 2.94 Total 12 33 34 100

Table 2 shows the composition of Bignoniaceae, Sapotaceae and others had endangered species encountered in Igbo- the least species (1). Tamarindus indica and Nla, Orile-Ilugun, Ogun state. A total Khaya ivorensis had the highest percentage number of 40 species belonging to 25 frequency of 3.93(%) while Pupalia families were recorded. The highest number lappacea, Myranthus arboreus, Rauwolfia of species was found in Fabaceae family serpentine, Rauvolfia vomitoria, having a total of 9 species, followed by Strophantus hispidus, Urena lobata and Rubiaceae (5). Apocynaceae and Meliaceae others had the least percentage (1.96%). families had 3 species each, while Table 2: Endangered Medicinal Species within Igbo-Nla, Orile-Ilugun S/N Family Species Common Local Freque % names names ncy Frequ ency

1 Amaranthaceae Pupalia Forest burr Emó àgbò lappacea Juss. 1 1.96 2 Anacardiaceae Spondias Jamaica- Iyeye mombin L. plum 2 3.92 3 Urticaceae Myrianthus Giant yellow Ibisere arboreus Beauv. mulberry, 1 1.96

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bush pineapple 4 Apocynaceae serpent wood Asofeyeje Rauvolfia serpentina Benth. 1 1.96 5 Malvaceae Caesarweed, Akeri, Urena lobata L. Congo jute ake-riri 1 1.96 Mansonia Mansonia Ofun altissima (A.Chev.) A.Chev. 1 1.96 6 Bignoniaceae Sausage tree Pandoro Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth. 1 1.96 Newbouldia Boundary Akoko laevisSeem. tree 2 3.92 Candelabra Asunwon Senna alata (L.) bush, Candle Roxb. bush 1 1.96 7 Combretaceae Ivory Coast Idigbo Terminalia almond, ivorensis A.Chev Black afara 1 1.96 8 Asparagaceae Sansevieria Leopard lily Oja’koko liberica hort. ex Gérôme & Labroy 1 1.96 9 Fabaceae Millettia griffonia Millettia Ito na Baill. 1 1.96 Isoberlinia Doka doka Craib & Stapf. 1 1.96 Millettia Millettia Ito thonningii (Schum. & Thonn.) Bak. 1 1.96 Parkia African Igba, Igi biglobosa (Jacq.) locust bean iru R.Br. ex G.Don tree 2 3.92 Pterocarpus Camwood Osun osun Craib 2 3.92 Pentaclethra African oil Apaara macrophylla bean tree Benth. 1 1.96

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Pterocarpus African Gbengbe santalinoides L'H rosewood ér. ex DC 2 3.92 Pterocarpus African coral Osun soyauxii Taub wood 1 1.96 Tamarindus Indian Date Ajagbon indica L. 2 3.92 11 Irvingiaceae Irvingia African Ogbono wombolu Vermoe mango sen 1 1.96 12 Lythraceae Egyptian- Laali Lawsonia privet, inermis L. Hennatree 1 1.96 13 Meliaceae Khaya Broad-leaved Oganwo grandifoliolaC.D mahogany C. 1 1.96 Khaya Lagos Oganwo ivorensisA. Chev. mahogany 2 3.92 Trichilia Eyin-eye, rubescens Oliv. Owo 1 1.96 15 Moraceae Treculia Bread fruit Afon africanaDecne. 1 1.96 16 Moringaceae Moringa oleifera Drumstick Ewe Lam. tree igbale 1 1.96 17 Myristicaceae Pycnanthus African Akomu angolensis(Welw. nutmeg ) Warb. 1 1.96 18 Nyctaginaceae Mirabilis jalapa Four O’clock Tanaposo L. plant 1 1.96 19 Phyllanthaceae Potato-bush, Iranje Phyllanthus Sour grape reticulatus Poir. 1 1.96 20 Piperaceae Ashanti Iyere Piper pepper, Beni guineenseSchuma n pepper ch. & Thonn. 1 1.96 21 Rubiaceae Morinda lucida Brimestone Oruwo Benth. tree 1 1.96 Nauclea African Opepe diderrichii(De peach tree Wild. & T.Durand) Merr. 1 1.96 Guinea Egbesi Sarcocephalus peach, latifolius (Sm.) African E.A.Bruce peach 1 1.96

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Rothmannia Rothmannia Buje nla whitfieldii (Lindl.) Dandy 1 1.96 22 Rhizophoraceae Red Ogba Rhizophora mangrove racemosa G.Mey. 1 1.96 23 Sapotaceae Miracle berry Agbayun Synsepalum dulcificum (A.DC.) Daniell 1 1.96 24 Simaroubaceae Mjoho Ewe orijin Quassia undulata D. Dietr. 1 1.96 25 Solanaceae Nicotiana Cultivated Ewe taba tabacum L. tobacco 1 1.96 Angular Koropo Physalis angulata winter-cherry L. 1 1.96 Total 25 40 40 51 100

The ethno-medicinal potentials of the The most frequently used parts include; endangered species encountered in the study stem-bark, leaves and roots. The ailments areas as well as the parts used for treating ranging from fever, diarrhea, small pox, different ailments are shown in Table 3. The measles, back pain, digestive problems, leaves, fruit, fruit pulp, stem-bark, flower, snake bite, constipation, and fungal latex, sap, seed, kernels, stem and root are infection among others have been treated all employed in treating series of ailments. with these endangered species. Table 3: Ethno-medicinal uses of endangered species encountered within the study areas S/N Species Common Parts used Uses name 1 Adansonia digitata L. Baobab Leaves, Fever, Diarrhoea, Fruit pulp, Small pox, Measles Bark 2 Afzelia africana Persoon African Bark, Pulp, Pain relief, digestive mahogany Root, problem Leaves 3 Afzelia quanzensis Welw. Pod mahogany Root, Snake bite, Leaves Stomachache 4 Albizia adianthifolia Flat crown Bark sap, Blood pressure, (Schumach.) W.F.Wight albizia Root Brain function

5 Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth. Broome rain- Seed, Bark, Kidney disease,

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tree Leaves, Asthma Fower 6 Artocarpus heterophyllus Jack tree Leaves, Sickle-cell disorder, Lam. Fruit, Bark, Skin disease Latex 7 Baphia nitida Lodd. African- Bark, Eczema, Scabies, sandalwood Leaves Asthma 8 Berlinia Bois de rose Bark Hemorrhoids, Liver grandiflora Hutch. & complaints Dalziel

9 Blighia sapida K.D.Koenig Ackee apple Bark, Yellow fever, Leaves, Epilepsy Seed 10 Buchholzia coriacea Engl. Wonderful kola Bark, Fever, Bark pain Leaves, Kernels 11 Carapa procera DC. Monkey cola Bark, Boil, Ulcers, Rashes Leaves, Roots 12 Colamillenii K.Schum. Monkey kola Leaves, Ring worms, fruits Scabies, Headache 13 Cola nigerica Brenan & Nigerian kola Seeds Hepatitis Keay 14 Dialium guineense Willd. Velvet Stem, Bark Cough, Toothache tamarind 15 Entandrophragma Mountain Bark Fever, Rheumatism, angolense (Welw.)C.DC. mahogany, Arthritic pain Tiama mahogany 16 Ficus exasperata Vahl. Sand paper tree Bark, Venereal disease, Leaves Hemorrhoids 17 Irvingia Bitter bush Bark, Hemorrhoids, wombolu Vermoesen mango Leaves, Diarrhoea Kernels 18 Isoberlinia doka Craib & Doka Bark, Jaundice Stapf. Leaves, Roots 19 Khaya grandifoliolaC.DC. African Bark Fever, cough mahogany 20 Khaya ivorensis A. Chev. Lagos Bark, Root, Malaria, Fungal mahogany Leaves infection 21 Kigelia africana (Lam.) Sausage tree Fruit, Bark Leprosy , Ulcer Benth.

22 Lawsonia inermis L. Henna Root, Sore eyes, Diuretics, Leaves Nervous disorder,

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Malaria 23 Mansonia altissima Mansonia Root, Bark Leprosy (A.Chev.) A.Chev. 24 Millettiagriffoniana Baill. African Leaves Diarrhoea millettia 25 Millettia thonningii Millettia Leaves, Miscarriage, blood (Schum. & Thonn.) Bak. Stem, Root purification, worms expulsion,dysentery 26 Mirabilis jalapa L. Four O’clock Root, Wounds, Leprosy, plant Leaves Dropsy 27 Morinda lucida Benth. Brime-stone Leaves, Fever, Pile, Malaria tree Bark, Root 28 Moringa oleifera Lam. Drumstick tree Leaves, Diabetes Seeds 29 Myrianthus Giant yellow Leaves, Toothache, arboreus Beauv. Mulberry, Bush Leaf-sap, Pregnancy pineapple Bark complications, Dysmenorrhea, Heart-troubles, Sore-throat 30 Nauclea diderrichii (De African peach Root, Bark, Anemia, Wild. & T.Durand) Merr. tree Leaves inflammation, constipation 31 Newbouldia laevisSeem. Boundary tree Bark, Dysentery, Malaria, Leaves, High blood pressure Root 32 Nicotiana tabacum L. Tobacco Leaves, Pile, Dysmenorrhea, Bark Constipation 33 Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Locust bean Bark, Stroke, Diarrhoea, R.Br. ex G.Don tree Leaves, High blood pressure Pod, Fruit 34 Pentaclethra macrophylla African oil Leaves, Weakness, Fever, Benth. bean tree Bark, Root Stomachache, Appetizer 35 Phyllanthus reticulatus Potato-bush, Bark, Anemia, Diarrhoea, Poir. Sour grape Leaves, Root 36 Physalis angulata L. Cut-leaf ground Leaves smallpox pustules, cherry Wound, Rheumatic pain, Whitlow lesions 37 Piper guineense African black Root, Pain killer, Tumours Schumach. & Thonn. pepper Leaves 38 Pterocarpus osun Craib Osun Leaves, Cough Stem, Bark 39 Pterocarpus African Bark, Root, Fungal infection, santalinoides L'Hér. ex rosewood Leaves Painkiller

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DC.

40 Pterocarpus soyauxii Taub African coral Leaves, Yellow fever, Pains, wood Bark Diabetes 41 Pupalia lappacea Juss. Forest burr Leaves, Cough, Boils, Fever Fruit 42 Pycnanthus angolensis African nutmeg Sap, Bark Bleeding, Poison, (Welw.) Warb. Antidote, Leprosy 43 Quassia undulata D. Dietr. Mjoho Stem-bark Fever, cough 44 Rauwolfia serpentina Serpent wood Root, Hypertension, Snake Benth. Leaves, &Scorpion Bark poisoning,insanity, wounds and itches,

45 Rauwolfia vomitoria Afzel. African Root, Blood pressure, serpentwood Leaves, Brain function Bark 46 Rhizophora Red mangrove Leaves, Antibacterial, racemosa G.Mey. Vermifuge, Diabetes, Cancer, Insecticidal 47 Rothmannia whitfieldii Rothmannia Fruit Analgesic, (Lindl.) Dandy Dysentery 48 Sansevieria liberica hort. Leopard lily Leaves Malaria, Convulsion ex Gérôme & Labroy 49 Sarcocephalus Guinea peach, Leaves, Malaria, Dizziness, latifolius (Sm.) E.A.Bruce African peach Stem, Fruit Pain 50 Senna alata (L.) Roxb. Candle bush Leaves Ringworm, Skin infection 51 Spondias mombin L. Jamaican-plum Bark, Gonorrhoea Leaves, Fruit 52 Synsepalum dulcificum Miracle berry Fruit Diabetes (A.DC.) Daniell 53 Tamarindus indica L. Tamarind, Root, Fruit, Bellary disease, Indian Date Leaves, Yellow fever Stem 54 Terminalia Ivory Coast Bark, Sap, wounds, sores, ivorensis A.Chev almond, Black Young hemorrhoids, ulcers, afara leaves muscular and rheumatic pain, blennorrhoea and kidney disorders 55 Treculia Africana Decne. Bread fruit Fruit, Stem, Leprosy, Coughs, Root, Bark Swelling 56 Trichilia rubescens Oliv. Sacred gallic Leaves, Venereal disease Bark, Root

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57 Urena lobata L. Caesar weed, Leaves, Snake bite Congo jute Root

The diversity Indices of all the species (44) while IITA had the least (23). The distributed across the two study areas are number of individuals was 51 for Igbo-Nla presented in Table 4. Diversity indices are while 24 was recorded for IITA given a total generated to bring the variation and of 75 Taxa. The results of Simpson Index abundance of species in different habitats to (1-D) for the two areas were 0.95 and 0.98 similar scale for comparison and the higher with IITA having the highest dominance (1- the value, the greater the species richness D = 0.05) while the lowest dominance was (IIRS, 2002).The Shannon-weiner, evenness recorded in Igbo-Nla (0.02). The results of and Simpson concentration recorded for the Shannon - Weiner diversity index (H) for two study areas compared favourably within the study areas were 3.74 for Igbo-Nla and the range. The areas showed varied numbers 3.12 for IITA. of Taxa with Igbo-Nla having the highest Table 4: Species Diversity within the study areas IITA Igbo-Nla Taxa_ S 23 44 Individuals 24 51 Dominance_ D 0.05 0.02 Simpson_ I- D 0.95 0.98 Shannon _H 3.12 3.74 Evenness_e^H/S 0.98 0.96

It can be deduced from these findings that Rauwolfia vomitoria stem-bark and roots enormous efforts on the conservation and against parasitic stages of Schistosoma protection of the plant species found in the mansoni and HepG2/Chang liver cells. study areas are therefore crucial. These are Also, Yu et al., (2013) reported the necessary because majority of the species antitumor potential of this plant against encountered are endangered indigenous ovarian cancer. Reserpine, an species that play important role in the indole alkaloid drug used for the treatment traditional health care delivery of the rural of high blood pressure, usually in communities. Exploitation of plants wealth combination with a thiazide diuretic was for use in medicine has been a regular isolated from the roots of Rauwolfia practice. Numerous researches have been vomitoria (Sharma and Gaikar, 2012). carried out to scientifically validate the Ajaiyeoba et al., (2003) isolated lupeol and medicinal potentials of these plant species, beta-sitosterol from the most active which has led to the isolation of drug fractions of the methanol extract of compounds used in pharmaceutical Buchholzia coriacea stem-bark, which companies for instance, aspirin was isolated showed a high concentration-dependent from willow bark, dioxin from foxglove, antimicrobial activities compared to the quinine from cinchona bark and morphine standard antibiotics (ampicillin and was obtained from opium poppy. Tekwu et tioconazole). Okoli et al. (2010) has al. (2017) established the anthelminthic scientifically proven the antimalarial activities as well as the cytotoxicity of property of Buchholzia coriacea seed. Anti-

Journal of Forestry Research and Management. Vol. 16(3).12-26; 2019, ISSN 0189-8418 www.jfrm.org.ng fertility effect in male rat with the site of Our profound gratitude goes to the action most probably the epididymis was management and staff of Forest unit, IITA, also established (Obembe et al., 2012).This the people of Igbo-Nla for their cooperation result obtained also concurred with Gill during the course of this study. (1992) and Lawal et al. (2009) that parts of References medicinal plant species are well used by people to cure various ailments. Ajaiyeoba, E.O., Onocha, P.A., Nwozo, S. Furthermore, species richness and species O., Sama W. (2003). Antimicrobial and evenness are probably the most frequently cytotoxicity evaluation of Buchholzia used measures of the total biodiversity of coriacea stem bark. Fitoterapia 74:706- the region. The study areas are dispersed 709. productive forests judging by its tree Akinyemi, B. (2000). Recent concept in dominance and individuals, therefore, the plaque formation. Journal of Clinical conservation efforts should be stepped up in Pathology 30:13-16. order to prevent medicinal plant species Ako, B. D. (1979). Geophysical prospecting from going into extinction. for groundwater in parts of South- western Nigeria. PhD. Thesis, Conclusion Department of Geology, University of This study assessed the distribution of Ife, Ile-ife, Nigeria. threatened medicinal plants species diversity Anokbongoo, W.W., 1992. The role of from two locations in Nigeria. Plant African traditional medicine in health diversity which is the basis for life care delivery alongside modern medicine, sustenance on the planet is playing an Botany 2000: East and Central Africa. important role in the economy of the present Natural Products Research Network for century therefore, a strategic and Eastern and Central Africa (NAPRECA) progressive vision for conservation of Monograph 5, 25–35. medicinal plant diversity and sustainable Azeez, I. O., Ikponmwonba, O. S., Popoola, use of plant resources is of far reaching L., Amusa, T. O. (2010). Land use significance for sustainable development. activities among forest environments’ As a matter of fact, the medicinal plant dwellers in Edo State, Nigeria: sector in Nigeria has been recognized as a Implications for livelihood and priority domain of intervention. It can be sustainable forest management. termed as a thrust sector that needs International Journal of Social Forestry intervention in different forms. Efforts 3:164-187. should be made to conserve the plants in Burkill, H. M. (1995). The Useful Plants of their native land on both small and large West Tropical Africa. 2nd Edition, scale as conservation of plant species in-situ Volume 1, Families A–D. Royal Botanic necessarily requires protecting the habitat in Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United which it lives. The establishment of DNA Kingdom. pp. 21-25. banks is one of the ex-situ conservation Farnsworth, N. R. (1988). Screening of methods, an activity that requires adequate Plants for New Medicines. In: Wilson, E.O., Ed., Chapter 9 in Biodiversity, planning. The extraction of genetic material and storage should be made readily National Academy Press, Washington, available for molecular applications. DC. Gbile, Z. O., (1984). Vernacular Names of Acknowledgements Nigerian Plants (Yoruba). Forestry

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