ETHNOBOTANICAL CONTROL OF DERMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS IN AKOKO REGION OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

The survey of plant species used in the control of dermatiological disorders in Akoko region of Ondo State, Nigeria was carried out through field visits and interviews of the respondents during the visits. The interviews were conducted with the aid of a semi-structured questionnaire matrix which allowed for focused, conversational, two-way communication between the interviewer and the person being interviewed. A total of 58 plant species, belonging to 33 families, were valued for curing dermatological disorders in the study area. The leaves constituted the major part of the plants utilized as 54% of the plants have their leaves utilized. The most frequently identified species were A. indica, E. hirta and V. amygdalina. The qualitative and quantitative compositions of the three species were determined and found to possess alkaloid, saponin, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids and cardiac glycoside. A. indica had the highest alkaloid, tannin and total phenol values, V. amygdalina had the highest saponin value while E. hirta had the highest saponin and flavonoids values. The presence of these constituents in these plants was suspected to be responsible for their suitability for the control dermatological disorders in the study area.