Medicinal Plants Used as Herbal Contraceptives in Kebbi State, North-West Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The herbal contraceptives used by the residents of Kebbi state were surveyed. Data on plants, parts of plants, and mode of preparation were collected from 400 respondents using questionnaires and oral interviews. Twenty medicinal plants were identified as herbal contraceptives used in Kebbi state. The most frequently mentioned plant was Momordica charantia (32.8%), followed by Piliostigma thonningii (27.3%) and Moringa oleifera (17.8%). A majority of respondents (50.37%) relied solely on herbal contraceptives, with leaves and seeds being the most used plant parts.

KEYWORDS:

• Birth control
• ethnobotany
• traditional medicine

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).