Survey of Plants Used in the Treatment of Respiratory Tract Diseases in Zuru Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Plants have played significant roles in production of drugs for Orthodox and traditional medicines. The practice of herbal medicines even with a particular plant in treatment of the same disease differs and their discovery for pharmaceutical uses is for eternity. This research aimed to survey plants used by the Zuru people for treatment of respiratory tract diseases using administering structured questionnaire methods. Three hundred (300) questionnaires were distributed in five different villages namely: Isgogo, Senchi, Dabai, Dankowasagu, and Yarali in Zuru Local Government Area to both sexes respondents that having the knowledge of traditional uses of plants for treatment of respiratory track and related infection between the ages of 40 and 60 years old. Two hundred and fifty-five (255) questionnaires were returned. A total of 15 plant species belonging to 10 different families were documented. Malvaceae and Combretaceae are the most frequently listed families with 4 and 2 species each. Among the Fifteen (15) listed plants, Sida cordifolia were the most cited (25), followed by Waltheria indica, Ficus glumosa and Cymbopogon citratus appeared up to (20) times each. These findings therefore showed that, the above listed plants are of great pharmaceutical value if properly utilize for drug production in the treatment of respiratory diseases as the herbal medicine according to the respondents is effective to cure Diseases such as cough, asthma, sore throat, common cold, tuberculosis.