Author: Bello, Olunike A and Bello, Favour A

Abstract:

This ethno botanical survey is part of an on-going study in Nigeria investigating the healing systems and the herbal treatments using for COVID-19 symptoms in this pandemic time. There are many herbs, nutrients, and plant products that have been found to play a role in protecting or helping to heal respiratory related problems, immune booster, malaria and other COVID-19 symptoms. The present study was aimed to collect information on various herbs which are used in treating various symptoms in this pandemic condition. A total of 79 different plants belonging to 32 families were found. A 21 Sudorific Plants for Fever, Cold and detoxification Formulation (17 families), 5 expectorant plants, cough plants (5) having 5families. Remedies for Asthma contained 6 plants (7 families), antimalaria/ fever plants 10 (8 families in which Poaceae and Rubiaceae had the highest (2) species being used as anti-malaria while others had the least species (1), 4 respiratory plants (4 families, 8 blood booster plants (7 families). A total of 11antiviral plants were collated belonging to 8 families of which Apocynaceae had the highest species (3) followed by Menispermaceae and Caesalpinaceae (2) species while others had the least species (1). Immune booster plants: Securidaca longepedunculata, Calotropis procera, Allium sativum and mixtures of Antioxidant plants were also reported.  In all, Alliaceae, Ceasalpiniaceae and Euphorbiaceae had the highest frequency of family species used. The use of plants for primary health care delivery cannot be over-emphasized.           

Keywords:

Treatment, COVID-19, Symptoms, Survey, Herbal medicine