Some Edible Spices of Southeastern Nigeria with Antiparasitic Properties: A Review

Records of information on the use of animal and plant parts to produce medicines are traceable to countries like China, India and Egypt. This indigenous knowledge was discovered through series of trials and then scientifically proved to be effective when compared to modern day medicines. Herbal remedies have thus become popular and therefore used in primary health acre deliveries of most countries. Fulani herdsmen of Nigeria and other peasant farmers also use herbs to treat their animals when they are sick and to prevent parasitic diseases. Variable successes have been reported on the use of orthodox medicaments for the treatment of internal and external parasites. However, their toxic effects on humans and livestock, the development of resistance to them by target parasites, as well as high cost of drugs, have led to the use of herbal remedies as reasonable alternatives. Herbal therapies are natural products, environmentally friendly and cheap. These short comings have thus, necessitated this study, which aims primarily to review the uses of Piper guineense, Ocimum gratissimum and Gongronema latifolium as alternatives to conventional antiparasitics.

Author(s): Opara M.N*

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