A SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF ANAEMIA IN NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA.

Anaemia is a hematological condition in which the number of red blood cells or the hemoglobin concentration within them is lower than normal, the principal cause of which is iron deficiency.Anaemia remain one of the major killers of humans worldwide, threatening the lives of more than one third of the world’s population. It occurs when the body’s iron stores become depleted resulting in reduction of haemoglobin and iron dependent intracellular enzymes participating in many metabolic processes.The central discourse of this study is to investigate the plants used by the indigenes of NsukkaLocal Government Area of Enugu State for the prevention and treatment of blood disorders such as anaemia. The research design for this study is Survey design. Materials and method for the study include the use of interviews (two-way communication) and cross sectionalquestionnaire. In the study, 20 botanicals belonging to 13 families that have anti-anaemic properties were identified.The treatise includes the general descriptions of the plants, their local, common, family andscientific names, parts of the plants used and methods of preparation. According to this survey,Acanthaceaeoccured the highest followed by Moraceae, Fabaceae, Anacardiaceae, Zingiberaceae and then other families.The survey revealed that plant continues to provide natural, cheaper and affordable means of treating of anaemia.