Ethnomedicinal Survey of plants used in the treatment and management of Diabetes in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State.

An ethno botanical survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment and management of diabetes in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria was carried out. Data were obtained by oral interview conducted in English and Tiv langueges and thirty (30) structured questions were administered to thirty respondents made of local herb sellers, herbalists (Tradomedicinal practitioners) who are experience practitioners. A total of 27 plant species were collected from the survey belonging to 24 different families. they were claimed to be useful in the treatment and management of diabetes. The most frequent among them were Moringa oleifera (16.33%), Vernomia amygdalina (10.20%), Cocus nucifera (8.16%), Ocinum gratissium (6.12%) and Picralima nitida (6.12%).

Herbal preparation could be made from either dried or freshly collected plants while water was basically used as the solvent for extraction. Among the respondents method of extraction was boiling, cold and hot water extraction while some were taken in powered form. The part of the plants basically used were leaves, bark of fruit like in Cocos nucifera (coconut), seed, branches or stem, bulb, tuber, rhizoid, fronds and roots. Resident of the study found traditional medicine cheaper and more effective than orthodox medicines.