Aim/Background: Plants and plants extracts are employed in cultures for religious purposes, as beauty therapies, in the detection and management/treatment of diseases. Methodology: In this study, an ethnobotanical studies of plants used in detecting pregnancy in Ijebu and Remo areas of Ogun State were carried out using semi-structured to obtain demographic data, local names of plants, the morphological parts used. Also, a phytochemical analysis of two of the identified plants were carried out. A topical and Urine test of plants in detecting pregnancy were designed to mimic procedures used in traditional medicine for detecting pregnancy. Results: Five plant species were identified belonging to the Araceae, Asteraceae, Convulvulaceae, Nyctaginaceae and Rubiaceae were identified in the survey. The identified plants had the use value (UV) of 0.25 (Culcasia scandens), 0.17 (Ipomoea mauritiana), Boerhavia diffusa while Launea taraxacifolia and Chassalia kolly had the use value of 0.08 respectively. Boerhavia diffusa L, Chassalia kolly (Schumach) Hepper tested positive for the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins.
The onset and duration of symptoms of both Boerhavia diffusa and Chassalia kolly leaves at 2000 and 1000mg were dose dependent. The hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of Boerhavia diffusa and Chassalia kolly exhibited pruritus and restlessness in the in vivo model while the urine of pregnant women caused black spots on the leaves of Launea taraxacifolia (Willd) Amin Ex.C. Jeffrey. Conclusion: This study reports a rare knowledge of using plants in detecting pregnancy in the Remo and Ijebu areas of Ogun State, Nigeria.
Key words: Plants, Pregnancy, Detection, extracts, Remo and Ijebu areas
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