Abstract

ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIALS OF SELECTED APOCYNACEAE SPECIES IN ILE-IFE, NIGERIA

Aiyedatiwa Adepeju Morenike*, Owa Seyi Sunday, Dada Caleb Mayokun, Folorunso, Abayomi Ezekiel

Abstract

This study investigated the ethnobotanical status and therapeutic potentials of selected medicinal plants in the family Apocynaceae in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. The study aimed to document the indigenous medicinal uses of the selected species, identify the plant parts utilized, determine the methods of preparation and routes of administration, and assess their therapeutic importance among local herbal practitioners and herb sellers. Ethnobotanical information was obtained through semi-structured questionnaires, oral interviews, and direct field observations involving knowledgeable informants within the study area. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, while quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), were employed to assess the cultural significance and medicinal value of the species. Morphological characteristics of the selected species were also examined to facilitate proper identification and taxonomic description.

Keywords: Apocynaceae, Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine, Fidelity Level, Use Value, Informant Consensus Factor, Relative Frequency of Citation.