Ethnobotanical Assessment of Medicinal Plants Used in Brass, Nembe and Ogbia Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Digitemie, K. S. and Tonbra Seiyabo, I. T. Ethnobotanical Assessment of Medicinal Plants Used in Brass, Nembe and Ogbia Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State, Nigeria Afrisophia: Journal of African Experiment, Thought and Experience, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 56-–67. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19528214 Abstract The study aimed to document and evaluate the diversity, uses, and sources of medicinal plants utilized by indigenous communities in Eastern Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study was conducted across three Local Government Areas Brass, Nembe, and Ogbia located within the Niger Delta region. Data was collected from a total of 89 respondents, comprising traditional healers, herbal medicine vendors, and elderly individuals, through structured questionnaires and oral interviews.The survey identified a total of 54 medicinal plant species belonging to 28 botanical families, which are commonly used for the treatment and management of various ailments. Data collection focused on plant identification, local names, plant parts used, preparation methods, and therapeutic applications. The findings revealed that most medicinal plants are sourced from uncultivated lands, communal forests, protected areas, and farmlands. Leaves and stem bark were the most frequently utilized plant parts, while preparation methods commonly involved decoction, maceration, and infusion using water, palm wine, or local gin. The results further indicated a strong reliance on traditional medicine among inhabitants, largely due to its accessibility, affordability, and perceived effectiveness despite increasing availability of synthetic drugs. In conclusion, the study highlights the rich ethnomedicinal knowledge and plant diversity in Eastern Bayelsa State, emphasizing the need for conservation of these plant resources and scientific validation of their pharmacological properties for sustainable healthcare development. Keywords: Weeds, Medicinal plants, Ethnobotany, Plant diversity.