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Annals of Biological Research, 2010, 1 (4) : 261-273
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ISSN 0976-1233
CODEN (USA): ABRNBW

Ethnobotanical Survey of Anti-Cancer Plants in Ogun State, Nigeria

1,*

Mike O. Soladoye, 1N. A Amusa 2Salmot .O. Raji-Esan, 2Emmanuel C. Chukwuma and
1
Ayanbamiji, A. Taiwo.
1

Department of Biological Sciences, Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria.

Department of Plant Science and Applied Zoology, Olabisi Onabanjo University,
P.M.B. 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.
______________________________________________________________________________
2

ABSTRACT
Ethnobotanical survey of the plants used in the management of cancer was carried out in Ogun State,
Nigeria. Herbalists, herb sellers and traditionalists living within the area of study were interviewed by the
administration of questionnaires. Seventy-three different species of Angiosperm were found to be used
for the management of cancer. Prominent among these are the members of Liliaceae family which were
found to be very important and useful in the management of the disease based on their frequency of
occurrence in the recipes. Several plants parts which were said to be useful were indicated in the
recipes. Some of the plants have been characterized for their active chemical components in literature
but their efficacy is not yet established. A need for further scientific research based on the findings of this
survey is indeed very necessary and recommended so that adequate records of indigenous methods for the
management of cancer can be kept for posterity especially in the study area. A need for analytical work
on the plants identified as useful for the management of cancer is also necessary in order to determine the
actual dosage applicable so that the medicinal value of these plants could be made available to humanity
and hence reduce pain, cost and sudden death of Nigerians.
Key words: Ethnobotany, Cancer, Medicinal plants, Herbalists, Traditional healers, Traditional medicine.

INTRODUCTION
Man since creation has depended on plants for food, drinks, shelter, clothing, equipment, dental care and
medicine (Gbile, 1986). The use of plants by early man was established by trial and error. Since plants
were eaten by animals and this does not result to fatality, it was adopted by man as food and sometimes as
medicine. Our forefathers depended on plants, herbs for treatment of various diseases before the
introduction of orthodox medicine. According to Kafaru (1999), the history of the use of herbs could be
traced back to the time of the early man who had the crudest tools as his implements. The art of using
herbs to enhance his health must have come to him in the most unscientific manner. In her opinion, some

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people may believe that early man used his instinct to identify poisonous herbs while others will accept
that there were external forces or invisible helpers who guided the early man to know what he could eat
freely to keep safe. No matter which view is accepted, the truth is that the early man used herbs in their
raw and cooked forms to keep him/her fit.
Herbs are generally valued for their virtues as food as well as medicine (Oliver 1960). Herbs may be
prepared in different ways for use in the treatment of ailment, diseases and infections. They could be
prepared as infusion, decoction, tincture, maceration, poultices and bathing remedies. Of the 265,000
species of flowering plants that have been identified on planet earth, only 0.5% of them have been studied
in detail for chemical composition and medicinal value. In fact, the modern scientists only know the
chemical composition of less than 5% of the flora in the rainforest (Jackson, 1989). However, indigenous
people who live in the rainforest can identify species uses for 49-82% of the trees in their local
environment (Weeks, 2000). In general, 75% of the world population still use plants and plant extract for
their medicinal needs (Abelson, 1990).
Ethnobotany is the study that deals with traditional usage of one or more plant parts in the treatment of
fungal, bacteria, viral and protozoan diseases. Traditional medicine however, is the total combination of
knowledge and practice, whether explicable or not, used in diagnosing, preventing and eliminating a
physical, mental or social disease and which may rely exclusively on past experience and observation
handed down from generation to generation verbally or in writing. Kadans (1970) pointed out clearly that
Traditional medicine otherwise known as herbalism is the most ancient method of curing disease and it
has been said that plants are the very first and only true medicines ever used. Similarly, Osai (1998)
opined that Herbal medicine which consists of medicinal drugs used in the treatment and cure of sickness
and diseased conditions has been in existence for well over fifty centuries which until the last two and a
half centuries was the main source of treatment to man and his domestic animals. This implies that man
cannot do without the presence of herbs for survival. According to the National Investigative Committee
on Traditional and Alternative Medicine (NICTAM) todays herbal healers are no longer the unlettered
old men or women in the bush, usually associated with sorcery, witchcraft or fetishism (Adodo, 2005).
Cancer has been defined as a disease in which there is uncontrolled multiplication and spread within the
body of abnormal forms of the bodys own cells (Rang et al, 2001). All cancer types arise through a series
of steps characterized by progressive loss of normal growth control. There are proteins in the cells that
ensure this continuity (Brooks and La Thanque, 1999). Death from cancer often comes not from the
primary site but from metastases. Cancer may affect people at all ages even foetus but the risk for most
varieties increases with age. The disease causes about 13% of all death. Reports have shown that during
2007, about 7.6 million people died from cancer in the world. All cancers are caused by abnormalities in
the genetic material of the transformed cells and these abnormalities may be due to the effect of
carcinogens such as tobacco, smoke, radiation, chemicals or infectious agents.
This ethnobotanical study was embarked upon to identify the various plants used in the traditional
preparations for the management of this deadly disease and thereafter provide more information to the
growing knowledge about the effective use of these local herbs. The medicinal value of these plants lies
in some chemical substances they contain that produce a definite physiological action on the human body
(Edeoga et al., 2002).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This survey was carried out in Ogun State. Ogun State is located in the South-Western Part of Nigeria
between Latitude 7 09' N and Longitude 3 13' E on the World map. Herbalists, traditional healers, herb
sellers, old men and women who have deep knowledge of the herbs and those that inherited the
knowledge from their forefathers within the area of study were all interviewed with the aid of

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questionnaires. Healing homes were not left out in this exercise. Relevant information regarding the plant
species, recipes, their local names, mode of administration and dosage were also collected to enhance
permanent record. Plant specimens indicated in the recipes were collected, pressed and dried, mounted
and identified in accordance with taxonomic practice. Identification was done by the senior author, a plant
taxonomist and thereafter authenticated at the Forest herbarium Ibadan (FHI). Voucher specimens were
deposited at Elikaf Herbarium of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, although this herbarium is yet
to be listed among the internationally recognized herbaria (Holmgren & Keuken, 1974).

RESULTS
A total of 73 plant species belonging to 43 families were said to possess anti-cancer properties. Most of
the recipes were given by the traditional healers while others were collected from the herbalists and herb
sellers. Table 1 shows the list of the plant species with their families, botanical names, local names as
well as plant parts used. The 43 families are presented in Table 2 showing the distribution according to
the number of occurrence in the recipes. Each plant species has procedure of preparation to meet the
needs of cancer disorder. The recipes can be in combined form with few others. The methods of
preparation and the plant parts used as well as the application are also included in this work. Owing to
space, only 10 of the 30 recipes obtained are detailed in this work as shown in Table 3. Graphical
representations showing the percentage occurrence of the plant families and the plant parts used in the
management of cancer are shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively.
Table 1: Medicinal plants used by Traditional healers in Ogun State, Nigeria for the management
of Cancer
S/NO

FAMILY NAME

1.
2.
3.
4.
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

Amaryllidaceae
Anacardiaceae
Anacardiaceae
Annonaceae
Annonaceae
Annonaceae
Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
Apocynaceae
Araceae
Araceae
Araceae
Asclepiadaceae
Asclepiadaceae
Asclepiadaceae
Bignoniaceae
Bignoniaceae
Bromeliadceae
Celastraceae
Chenopodiaceae
Combretaceae
Compositae
Connaraceae
Crassulaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Euphorbiaceae

BOTANICAL NAME
Crinum jagus (Thomson) Dandy
Lannea egregia (Hiern) Engl
Magnifera indica Linn
Xylopia aethiopica (Dunnal) A. Rich
Uvaria chamae P.Beauv
Uvaria afzelii Elliot
Strophonthus hispidus DC
Alstonia congensis De wild
Alafia barteri Baker
Pistia stratiotes Linn
Culcasia scandens P. Beauv
Anchomanas difformis (Blume) Eng
Secamone afzelii K Shulfes
Calotropis procera R.B
Tylophora spp
Kigelia africana Benth
Spathodea companulata P.beauv
Ananas comosus (L.) merr
Celastrus indica L
Chenopodium ambrosioides Linn
Terminalia avicennioides Gull et Perr
Vernonia amygdalina Linn
Brysocarpus coccineus Schum et Thonn
Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam) Oken
Securinega virosa (Roxb) Bail.
Bridelia ferruginea (Benth)

VERNACULAR
NAME
Lsu merin
Ekudan
Mongoro
Eru
Eruju
Gbogbonse
Sagers
Awun
Agbari-etu
Oju oro
Agumona
Eego
Arilu
Bomubomu
Olubara
Pandoro
Orudu
Ope-oyinbo
Ponju owiwi
Arunpale
Idin
Ewuro
Amuje
Abamoda
Iranje
Ira

PLANT
PARK USED
Tuber
Leaves
Bark
Seed
Bark
Root
Root
Bark
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves
Leaves
Leave
Leaves
Leave bark
Bark
Juice
Root
Leave
Bark
Leaves
Root
Root
Leaves
Bark

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27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73

Euphorbiaceae
Guttiferae
Guttiferae
Hyperiaceae
Icacinaceae
Labiatae
Lecythidaceae
LeguminosaeCaesalpinioideae
LeguminosaeCaesalpinioideae
LeguminosaeCaesalpinioideae
LeguminosaeCaesalpinioideae
LeguminosaeMimosoideae
LeguminosaeMimosoideae
Liliaceae
Liliaceae
Liliaceae
Liliaceae
Longaniaceae
Meliaceae
Meliaceae
Meliaceae
Menispermaceae
Menispermaceae
Moraceae
Musaceae
Myristicaceae
Nympheaceae
Olacaceae
Palmae
Periplocaceae
Phytolacaceae
Piperaceae
Plumbaginaceae
Poaceae
Polygalaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rubiaceae
Rutaceae
Rutaceae
Rutaceae
Sapindaceae
Solanaceae
Solanceae
Zingiberaceae
Zingiberaceae
Zingiberaceae

Euphorbia unispina (L) Pax

Psorospermum febrifugum Spach
Garcinia kola Heckel
Harungana madagascarensis Lan. ex poir
Pyrenacantha staudii Engl
Ocimum basilicum Linn
Napoleona vogelii Bak.f
Senna fistula Linn

Oro adete
Legun-oko
Orogbo
Aroje
Arukuna
Efinrin
Ito
Aridantoro

Root
Bark
Root
Bark
Leave
Leaves
Bark
Leaves

Senna alata Linn

Asunwon

Leaves

Berlinia grandiflora (Vahl) Hutch. &

Dalziel
Cynometra mannii Oliv.

Apado

Bark

Akaaka

Bark

Calliandra haematocephala (Jacq) Benth

Tude

Root

Tetrapleura tetraptera Schum & Thonn

Aidan onigun

Seed

Aloe barteri (Baker)

Allium cepa Linn
Allium sativum Linn
Allium ascalonicum Linn
Anthocleista djalonensis A.cheu
Khaya grandifoliola C.D.C
Pseudocedrela kotschyi Engl
Tricalysia macrophylla K. Schum
Jateorhiza palmata (Lam.) Miers.
Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre
Antiaris Africana Engl
Musa sapientium Linn.
Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb
Nymphaea lotus Linn
Olax subscorpioidea Oliv.
Elaeis guineensis (Jacq)
Parquetina nigrescens (Afzel) Bullock
Petiveria alliacea Linn
Piper guineense Schum & Thonn
Plumbago zeylanicca Linn
Saccharum offinarum Linn
Securidaca longepedunculata Frer
Nauclea latifolia Smith
Coffea bracteolate L.
Morinda lucida Benth
Clausena alata (Wil) Hook
Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swingle.
Citrus aurantium Linn
Paullina pinnata Linn
Capsicum frutescens (Benth)
Nicotina tabacum Linn
Zingiber officinale Roscoe
Curcuma domestica Bull. Jard
Aframomum melegueta (Loskoe) K. Schum

Eti erin
Alubosa onisu
Alubosa ayu
Alubosa elewe
Sapo
Oganwo
Emigbegiri
Oloja ebano
Wowo
Akerejupon
Oro
Ogede wewe
Akomu
Ewe osibata
Ifon
Ope
Oogbo
awogba
Iyere
Inabiri
Ireke
Cpeta
Egbesi
Poropiwo
Oruwo
Atapari-Obuko
Orombo
Ijaganyin
Kakasela
Ata ijosi
Taba juku
Atale pupa
Atale funfun
Atare

Leaves
Leave
Bulb
Bulb
Leave
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Seed
Bark
Tuber
Bark
Leaves
Root
Bark
Leaves
Root
Seed
Root
Juice
Root
Root
Leave
Bark
Bark
Juice
Root
Leaves
Fruit
Leave
Seed/Pod
Seed/Pod
Seed

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Table 2: Species distribution according to families
FAMILIES
Amaryllidaceae
Anacardiaceae
Annonaceae
Apocynaceae
Araceae
Asclepiadeceae
Bignoniaceae
Bromeliaceae
Celastraceae
Chenopodiaceae
Combretaceae
Connaraceae
Compositae
Crassulaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Guttiferae
Hyperiaceae
Icacinaceae
Labiatae
Lecythidaceae
Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae
Leguminosae-Mimosoideae
Liliaceae
Longaniaceae
Meliaceae
Menispermaceae
Moraceae
Musaceae
Myristicaceae
Nymphaeaceae
Olacaeae
Palmae/Arecaceae
Periplocaceae
Phytolacaceae
Piperaceae
Plumbaginaceae
Poaceae/Graminea
Polygalaceae
Rubiaceae
Rutaceae
Sapindaceae
Solanaceae
Zingiberaceae

No of species
1
2
3
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
4
2
4
1
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
3
1
2
3

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Table 3 Enumeration of Recipes
RECIPE 1
PLANTS
Uvaria chamae
Xylopia aethiopica
Khaya gradifolia
Other ingredient Potash

VERNACULAR NAME
Eruju
Eru
Oganwo

PLANT PART USED

Bark
Seed
Bark

Kanwun bilala

Preeparation: - The bark and seed are ground together when dried and then added to ground potash
(kanwun bilala- yoruba) in a bottle of schnap.
Application: - One small glass cup thrice daily.
RECIPE 2
PLANTS
VERNACULAR NAME PLANT PART USED
Garcinia kola
Orogbo
Bark
Kigelia africana
Pandoro
Pod
Calotropis procera
Bomubomu
Leaves
Xylopia aethiopica
Eru
Fruit
Anchomanes difformis
Eego
Tubers
Preparation: - The bark and seed should be rinsed and boiled in 4 litres of fermented corn water for 6
hours.
Application: - It is taken as tea, 3 times daily with a glass cup
RECIPE 3
VERNACULAR NAME
PLANTS
Calliandra haematocephala
Tude
Bridellia ferruginea
Ira
Mangifera indica
Mongoro
Tricalysia macrophylla
Oloja ebano
Antiaris Africana
Oro
Trichilia monadalpha
Orudu
Allium ascalonicum
Aluboa elewe
Citrus medica
Osan ijaganyin
Nauclea latifolia
Agbesi
Preparation: - The bark seed and leaves as indicated above should be
40 minutes. Citrus medica fruit juice is added when cooled.
Application: - Take a glass cup as tea 3 times daily for two months

PLANT PART USED

Root
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Bark
Leaves
Fruit juice
Bark
rinsed and boiled in the water for

RECIPE 4
PLANTS
VERNACULAR NAME
PLANT PART USED
Citrus medica
Ijaganyin
Root
Citrus aurantifolia
Orombo
Root
Plumbago zeylanica
Inabiri
Root
Aframomum melegueta
Atare
Seed
Xylopia aethiopica
Eru
Seed
Preparation: - It should be ground together smoothly and mixed with black soap and gun powder.
Application: - Use the preparation to wash all the part of the body, once in a week.

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RECIPE 5
PLANTS
VERNACULAR NAME
PLANT PART USED
Zingiber officinale
Atale funfun
Seed
Curcuma domestica
Atale pupa
Seed
Tetrapleura tetraplera
Aidan onigun
Pod
Crinum jagus
Isu meri
Tuber/bulb
Piper guineensii
Iyere
Seed
Allium sativum
Alubosa ayun
Bulb
Preparation: - All the plants should be ground together when dried and taken with honey.
Application: - One teaspoonful is taken 3 times daily.

RECIPE 6
PLANTS
VERNACULAR NAME
Garcinia kola
Orogbo
Morinda lucida
Oruwo
Terminalia avicennioides
Idin
Psorospermum febrifugum
Legun oko
Antiaris welwitschis
Oro
Harungana madagascarense Aroje
Preparation: - The bark and leaves should be rinsed in clean water
corn water for 6 hours.
Application: - Take one full glass cup as tea 3 times daily.

PLANT PART USED

Bark
Leaves
Bark
Leaves
Bark
Bark
and boiled in 6litres of fermented

RECIPE 7
PLANTS
VERNACULAR NAME
PLANT PART USED
Alafia barteri
Agbari-etu
Root
Alafia barteri
Agbari-etu
Leaves
Lannea engregia
Ekundan
Leaves
Securinega virosa
Iranje
Root
Securinega virosa
Iranje
Leaves
Xylopia aethiopica
Eru
Pod
Preparation: - The leaves and root are rinsed and boiled in clay pot with fermented corn water.
Application: - One small glass cup thrice daily

RECIPE 8
PLANTS

VERNACULAR
PLANT
PART
NAME
USED
Musa sapientum
Isu idi ogede wewe
Tuber
Senna alata
Asunwo
Root
Uvaria chamae
Eruju
Root
Olax subscorpioidea
Ifon
Root
Securidaca longepedunculata
Ipeta
Root
Xylopia aethiopica
Eru
Pod
Preparation: - The root and tuber are rinsed with water and boil with palm oil and water.
Application: - Drink when hot with a glass cup twice daily.

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RECIPE 9
PLANTS

VERNACULAR
NAME
Nymphaea lotus
Osibata
Pistia stratiotes
Oju oro
Saccharum offinarum
Ireke
Morinda lucida
Oruwo
Citrus aurantifolia
Osan wewe
Xylopia aethiopica
Eru
Preparation: - The bark leaves and seed should be rinsed and
juice and palm oil for 2 hours.
Application: - Two teaspoonful morning and night.

PLANT PART USED

Leaves
Leaves
Crushed stem
Bark
Juice
Seed
boiled in one litre of Citrus aurantifolia

RECIPE 10
PLANTS

VERNACULAR
PLANT PART
NAME
USED
Secamone afzelii
Ailu
Leaves
Petiveria alliacea
Awogba
Root
Securidaca longepedunculata
Ipeta
Root
Khaya ivorensis
Oganwo
Bark
Chenopodium ambrosioides
Arunpale
Root
Nauclea latifolia
Agbesi
Root
Elais guineensis
Ope
Root
Jateorhiza palmate
Wowo
Root
Olax subcorpiodea
Ifon
Root
Nicotiana tabacum
Taba juku
Leave
Allium ascalonicum
Alubosa elewe
Leave
Potash
Ako kanwun
Citrus aurantifolia
Omi-osan wewe
Juice
Preparation: - Soak all the above with lime and dry gin with gun powder for 3 to 7 days.
Application: - One small glass cup thrice daily

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Amarylidaceae 1%
Anarcadiaceae 3%

Zingiberaceae 4%

Annonaceae 4%

Solanaceae 3%
Sapindaceae 1%

Apocynaceae 4%

Rutaceae 4%

Araceae 4%
Rubiaceae 4%
Polygalaceae 1%

Asclepidiaceae 4%

Poaceae/Graminae 1%
Plumbaginaceae 1%
Piperaceae 1%

Bignoniaceae 3%

Phytolacaceae 1%
Bromeliaceae 1%

Periplocaceae 1%

Celastraceae 1%

Palmae/Aracaceae 1%

Chenopodiaceae 1%

Olacaceae 1%

Combretaceae 1%

Nymphaeceae 1%

Compositae 1%

Myristicaceae 1%

Connaraceae 1%

Musaceae 1%

Crassulaceae 1%

Moraceae 1%
Menispermaceae 3%

Euphorbiaceae 4%

Meliaceae 4%

Guttiferae 3%
Hypericaceae 1%

Longaniaceae 1%

Icacinaceae 1%

Liliaceae 5%
Leguminosae 8%

Labiatae 1%
Lecythidaceae 1%

Figure 1. Pie-chart showing the percentage no. of species in each of the families

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Tuber
3%

Seed
10%

Bark
27%

Root
19%

Bark
Bulb
Fruit
Juice
Leaves
Bulb
3%
Fruit
1%

Root
Seed
Tuber

Juice
4%

Leaves
33%

Figure 2. Graphical representation of the percentage occurrence of the plant parts used in
treating cancer.

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DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Results from this work revealed that quite a number of plant parts from the 73 species especially the
leaves, roots, barks and seeds have been found efficient in the management of cancer. However, the
prominent plant species in the recipes are. Xylopia aethopica, Garcinca kola, Kigelia africana,
Anthocleista djalonensis and Citrus and Allium genera which are indicative of their importance in the
management of the disease. Similarly, Leguminosae and Liliaceae families occurred more frequently in
the list of plants identified but the occurrence of other families also suggest the importance of all those
families as repository of useful chemical compounds which may be explored for drugs in the management
of cancer.
In orthodox medicine, cancer can be treated with drugs and radiotherapy if detected early. Otherwise
surgical operation is used at some stage after which it can become very difficult and hopeless. However,
nature has some remedy for cancer patients. Some substances have been found to be anti-carcinogenic, i.e
they fight cancer forming cells and help to eliminate them from the body, for example cumaric acid and
lycopen which are found naturally in tomatoes fruits (Lycopersicum esculentum L.) and the leaves of
bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina Del.). Also, a lot of research has been and is still being done on the
effectiveness of Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f., Morinda lucida Benth, Nympheae lotus L. and Pycanthus
angolensis Welw. Warb. for managing cancer. Literature has revealed that most of the synthetic drugs
that have been used in the past have negative effects that were of grave consequence in some cases,
especially when taken by patients on self prescription after an initial visit to the physician (Olapade,
2002). For this reason, it is imperative for ethnobotanists and pharmacognosists to do more analysis on
the 73 wonderful plants mentioned in this work. Our medical health practitioners should also focus
attention on more intense research on medicinal plants which can save the life our people without side
effects.
Formulation of the dosage of the extracts from the recipes must be strictly adhered to for maximum
efficacy and also the avoidance of over dosage which may lead to other complications in patients. One
major advantage of Traditional medicine is that, it is cheaper than orthodox medicine. While drugs alone
are not the only means of providing health care, they do play an important role in protecting, maintaining,
and restoring the health of people (Sofowora, 1993). Information gathered from the herbalists shows that
increasing number of people are turning to the use of anti-cancer which shows that they are effective and
efficient in the management of cancer.
According to Olapade (1995), traditional medicine has higher benefits than any other health care system
as it is cheaper, readily available and could cure permanently. Apart from this, it has no side effect and is
capable of saving for the nation, huge foreign exchange which can be used for other development
programme.
The vulnerability of medicinal plants to over exploitation and extinction needs to be dealt with seriously.
Issues relating to the conservation of these medicinal plants should be addressed by the government and
non-governmental organizations. Conservation methods such as In-Situ and Ex-Situ should also be
adopted to protect our natural biodiversity (Soladoye et al., 2006).

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[11] Olapade, E.O. (1995). Medicinal Plants: Conservation, Exploitation and Uses with special
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[15] Sofowora, A. (1993). Medicinal Plants and Traditional medicine in Africa. 2nd Edition.
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