DOCUMENTATION OF PLANTS TRADITIONALLY USED IN ABIA STATE, NIGERIA FOR MANAGEMENT OF GOAT REPRODUCTION

Abstract

The current study was designed to identify and document medicinal plant species traditionally used in Abia
state for the management of goat reproduction. Medicinal plants used in goat reproduction by poor resource
goat farmers were selected using structured questionnaires and guided. field walks. Specimens of medicinal plants were collected, tagged, photographed and identified by a taxonomist at Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Medicinal uses of the identified plants were assigned into nine major categories to include that stop bleeding during pregnancy, facilitate delivery of retained placenta, enhance poor conception, facilitate delayed parturition, contraceptive, abortifacient, enhance low libido, improve low milk yield and poor sperm quality; and a number of these plants were listed in more than one category. A total of 32 medicinal plant species distributed between 32 genera and 25 families were documented. Most cited plant species in the study area were Alchornea cordifolia Schum & Thonn, Aframomum melegueta K. Schum, Allium cepa Linn, Musa parasidiaca Linn and Elaeis guinensis Linn. The use of Acioa barteri (Hoof. f. ex. Oliv) to enhance sperm production was documented from this region for the first time. Additional findings and implications of this current survey including english name, families, photo album and documented literature use of the identified plants are discussed in this study. In conclusion, bioactivity guided isolation and purification is recommended to identify lead compounds responsible for claimed medicinal use of these medicinal plant species