Ethnomedicinal study and in vitro validation of medicinal plants used for treating Jaundice in Zuru emirate of Kebbi State, Nigeria

Background: For decades, the resident of Zuru emirate have used herbal medicine to treat liver-related diseases including jaundice. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate and document the herbal medicine used for treating jaundice in Zuru emirate.

Method: Oral interviews and questionnaire were used to document information on medicinal plants, medicinal practices, and demographic profiles of respondents. The medicinal plants that were mentioned were collected, identified, and assigned voucher numbers. The names were further authenticated using www.theplantlist.org and theworldfloraonline.org. Thereafter, the methanol stem bark extracts of three of the most frequently mentioned plants were subjected to in vitro bilirubin degradation assay.

Result: A total of 46 TMPs Traditional medicine practitioners responded and cited 28 medicinal plants and medicinal practices used to treat jaundice. The most frequently mentioned plants were Erythrina senegalensis (19.6%) followed by Cochlospermum planchonii (13%), and Anogeissus leiocarpus (13%). The herbal remedies were prepared using different parts of the plants as boiled juice or powder and mostly taken as juice with pap or fresh raw cow milk. The in vitro bilirubin degradation assay revealed a time-dependent and dose-dependent bilirubin degradation by Anogeissus leiocarpus (63.05 %), Erythrina senegalensis (46.33%), and Cochlospermum planchonii (27.45%).

Conclusion: The present findings revealed the medicinal plants that are used to treat jaundice and the potential jaundice ameliorative effect of these plants may involve bilirubin degradation. Future in vitro and in vivo mechanistic studies should investigate the jaundice ameliorative potency of these plants.