The prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in Nigeria is still high. In this study, an ethno medicinal survey was conducted to record the different plant families, species and plants parts used for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in Abia State of Nigeria. The result revealed that a total of 62 plant species in 48 genera from 44 families mostly the Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Rutaceae, and Malvaceae were used to treat diseases such as gonorrhoea, syphilis, trichonomiasis, chlamydia, urethritis, and to suppress the replication of HIV. The most plant parts used were leaves (32.5%), stem bark (23.75%) and root (20%). Other parts used included the fruits (7.5%), the seeds (3.75%) and the aerial parts (12.5%). More research is needed to extract and isolate the active chemical compounds under sound hygienic condition and study their mode of function.
Contribution/ Originality
This work contributes in the existing literatures on the use of ethnomedicinal plants in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in Abia State and Nigeria. This work is one of the very few studies which investigated the use of plants in treating sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV and Chlamydia. The primary contribution of this paper is in the finding that different plant parts can be used as a remedy for sexually transmitted diseases in Abia State of Nigeria. The study therefore documents an inventory of plants, plant parts, families, botanical, common and local names of plants used in the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in Abia State of Nigeria.
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