ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN DAWAKIN KUDU LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KANO STATE, NIGERIA

The study Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal used in Dawakin Kudu Local Government area of Kano State, was conducted to examine and catalog the traditional methods of preparation, dosing, and administration of medicinal herbs. Purposive sampling techniques was used to select the target respondents while structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data obtained from the study. The result revealed that, the majority of the respondents 82% were males, while 18% were females. The result shows that 40% represent 40 years and above while 18-25 year has the least age with 8%. The results also shows that 54% were married, while 10% represent the single. Majority of the respondent 76% were herbal medicine practitioners, while 24% of the respondents were herbal medicine vendors. Majority of the respondents 48% possessed Primary school education 36% while 2% of the obtained Degree. The findings revealed that 12 medicinal plants were used to treat Sexually Transmitted Diseases belongs to the families of Anacardiaceae, Caricaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Malvaceae, Musaceae, Sapotaceae, Moraceae, Arecaceae, Moringaceae, Rhamnaceae, and Leguminosae. Majority of the respondents 86% were of the opinion that using traditional medicine does not cause any side effect while 24% of the respondents opposed them. This research documented the medicinal plants used in Dawakin Kudu Local Government and their mode of preparation and the part of the plants used. The study also recommended that Government should encourage and support the sale and use of medical plants due it efficacy of curing people ailments and relatively lower cost.