Botanicals used as antimalaria in Southwestern Nigeria

In view of the cultural practice of the use of botanicals in treatment of diseases and the prevalence of malaria in Nigeria, this study investigated traditional recipes used in treatment of malaria in southwestern part of Nigeria. The respondents were 50 Traditional Medicine Practitioners with minimum of 10 years of experience in traditional medicine. The interview was conducted in Yoruba language. The recipes, plant parts used in regimen, methods of preparation and administration were recorded. This research documented 80 botanicals from 46 families and 60 traditional recipes. The most important plant family was Fabaceae. The frequency of priority species in recipes was Carica papaya L. (22%); Xylopia aethiopica (Dunal) A. Rich. (18%); Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schumach. & Thonn.) Taub. (22%); Alstonia boonei De Wild (17%); Morinda lucida A. Gray (12%) and Mondia whitei (Hook. f.) Skeels (12%). This study presents a long list of antimalaria botanicals for future research activities.