Plants Used for Different Ailments Based on the ‘Doctrine of Signatures’ (Southwestern Nigeria)

Researchers: Aworinde David Olaniran, Erinoso Sakiru Morenikeji, Ogundele Alimi Adeyemi, Teniola Olasimbo Anuoluwapo and Ojo Samuel Omoniyi

Institutions: Department of Biological Sciences, Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Nigeria; Department of Biology, Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo, Nigeria.Received 2 March, 2018; Accepted 20 April, 2018

Abstract:The knowledge and application of the notion of “doctrine of signatures or correspondences” was evaluated among the Ikale and Ilaje people of Ondo State, Southwestern Nigeria. Information was solicited by administering questionnaires to one hundred and five (105) informants. Periodic field observations were also made. The research yielded 60 plants belonging to 37 families. The plants have characteristics such as colour, taste, habit, structure, and appellation which are suggestive of their trado-medical uses. Azadirachtha indica, Petivera alliaceae, Vernonia amygdalina, and Morinda lucida commonly known as “bitters” are used as antimalarial plants. Due to the shape of their fruits/tubers, Kigelia africana and Ipomoea batatas formed part of recipes used in the treatment of breast disorders while others such as Carica papaya and Alstonia boonei are useful as botanical galactogogues. Plants used for magical preparations are also documented. This study confirms the application of the doctrine in plant knowledge and uses. This doctrine can be applied in future bio-prospect and drug development.

Profile of plants used for different ailments based on the “Doctrine of Signatures” in Ikale and Ilaje Communities of Ondo State,
Southwestern Nigeria.

S/N	Local Name (Nigeria: Yoruba)	Botanical Name	Common Name	Family	Part Used	Signature	Medicinal Use
1.	Dongoyaro	Azadirachtha indica A. Juss	Neem tree	Meliaceae	Leaf, Bark	Taste	Malaria
2.	Awogba arun	Petiveria alliaceae L.	Congo root	Phytolacaceae	Stem bark	Taste	Malaria
3.	Ewe tea	Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf	Lemon grass	Poaceae	Leaf	Taste	Malaria
4.	Ogbe akuko	Heliotropicum indicum L.	Cock’s comb	Boraginaceae	Fruit	Shape	Mouth wash
5.	Aran	Spigelia anthelmia L.	Worm weed	Loganiaceae	Whole plant	Name	Memory enhancer
6.	Alupayida	Uvaria picta (Jacq.) Desv.	Dabra	Fabaceae	Leaf	Name	Magic/Voodoo
7.	Anikanwogbarun	Anthocleista vogelli Planch.	Cabbage tree	Gentianaceae	Leaf, Bark	Name	General remedy
8.	Ewuro	Vernonia amygdalina Delile	Bitter leaf	Asteraceae	Leaf	Taste	Malaria
9.	Afon	Treculia africana	Afr. breadfruit	Moraceae	Fruit	Shape	Miscarriage
10.	Jogbo	Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit	Bush tea	Lamiaceae	Whole plant	Taste	Malaria
11.	Eriri-Ijebu	Vernonia colorata (Wild.) Drake	Bitter tree	Astercaeae	Leaf, Root	Name	Poison antidote
12.	Oju ologbo	Abrus precatorius L.	Precatory-bean	Fabaceae	Leaf	Minty leaf tip	Cough/Expectorant
13.	Ose	Adansonia digitata L.	Baobab	Malvaceae	Fruit	Shape	Bladder disease
14.	Ato	Chasmanthera dependens Hochst.	Chasmanthera	Menispermaceae	Stem	Name	Bone fractures
15.	Ewe jokoje	Cissampelos owariensis P.Beauv. ex	Cissampelos	Menispermaceae	Leaf	Name	Magic/Voodoo
16.	Ewe aje	Myrianthus arboreus P. Beauv.	Cork wood	Urticaceae	Leaf	Name	Business booster
17.	Eegun eja	Phyllanthus muellarianus (K.untze)	Mllyrobalan	Phyllanthaceae	Stem, Leaf	Thorns	Skin diseases
18.	Abiwere	Hybanthus enneaspermus (L.) F. Mue	Spade flower	Violaceae	Whole plant	Name	Easy delivery
19.	Ijebo	Entandrophragma utile Dawe & Sprague	Utile	Meliaceae	Bark, Root	Colour	Blood tonic
20.	Emi	Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.	Shea butter	Sapotaceae	Seed	Colour	Nasal congestion
21.	Gbogbonse	Uvaria afzelii Scott-Elliot	Cluster pear	Annonaceae	Root, Fruit	Name	General remedy
22.	Irosun	Baphia nitida Lodd.	Cam wood	Fabaceae	Leaf	Name	Tooth decay
23.	Ira-Odan	Bridellia ferruginea Benth	-	Phyllanthaceae	Stem	Name	Mouth wash
24.	Abeere-oloko	Bidens bipinnata	Marigold	Asteraceae	Fruit	Name	Easy delivery
25.	Owo	Lophira alata Banks ex C.F. Gaertn	Iron wood	Ochnaceae	Leaf	Name	Respect/Favour
26.	Sawerepepe	Cyathula prostata (L.) Blume	Pasture weed	Amaranthaceae	Whole plant	Name	Pain relief
27.	Odundun-owo	Emilia coccinea (Sims) G. Don.	Emilia	Asteraceae	Leaf	Name	Malaria/Jaundice
28.	Oro-wewe	Euphorbia laterifolia Schum & Thonn.	-	Euphorbiaceae	Leaf, Root	Colour of latex Ear infections
29.	Fuyafuya	Lapartea aestuans (L.) Chew.	Indian woodnette	Urticaceae	Whole plant	Name	Stops bedwetting
30.	Ibo	Landophia hirsuta (Hua) Pichon	Ibo tree	Apocynaceae	Stem	Name	Erectile dysfunction
31.	Okikan	Spondias mombin	Yellow mombin	Anacardiaceae	Leaf	Name	Placenta evacuation
32.	Abere	Parinari sp. Aubl.	-	Chrysobalanaceae	Fruit	Name	General favour
33.	Isirigun	Carica papaya L.	Pawpaw	Caricaceae	Leaf, Latex	Colour	Lactation
34.	Patanmo	Mimosa pudica L.	Sensitive plant	Fabaceae	Whole plant	Name	To prevent wastefulness
35.	Akomu	Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb	Wild nutmeg	Myristicaceae	Bark	Name	To prevent sore gum
36.	Ojiji	Dalbergia lactea Vatke	-	Fabaceae	Stem	Shape	Skin diseases
37.	Alawefon	Sterculia tragacantha Lindl	-	Malvaceae	Leaf	Sticky leaves	Dysentery/Pile
38.	Odundun	Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken	Resurrection plant	Crassulaceae	Leaf	Shape	Fever/Ear ache
39.	Sagere	Strophanthus hispidus DC.	Br. Strophanthus	Apocynaceae	Stem	Name	Rheumatism/Stroke
40.	Atare	Aframomum melegueta K. Schum	Alligator pepper	Zingiberaceae	Fruit	Seed set	Prevents miscarriage
41.	Apata	Microdesmis puberula Hook. F. ex. Microdesmis Planch	Microdesmis	Pandaceae	Pod	Shape	General weakness
42.	Afefe	Trema orientalis (L.) Blume	Charcoal tree	Cannabaceae	Stem bark	Texture	Measles
43.	Pandoro	Kigelia africana (Lam.) Benth.	Sausage tree	Bignoniaceae	Fruit	Shape	Breast cancer
44.	Worowo	Senecio biafrae Oliv. & Hien	English spinach	Asteraceae	Leaf	Name	Blood tonic
45.	Oruwo	Morinda lucida Benth.	Indian mulberry	Rubiaceae	Leaf	Taste	Malaria
46.	Eekan ehoro	Allophyllus africanus P. Beauv.	Afr. false currant	Sapindaceae	Leaf	Shape	Skin rashes
47.	Kankan ayaba	Luffa cylindrica M. Roem	Loofah	Cucurbitaceae	Fruit	Structure	Sponge
48.	Iseketu	Sida acuta Burm.f.	Wire weed	Malvaceae	Whole plant	Name	Treatment of ulcer
49.	Kukunduku	Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.	Sweet potato	Convolvulaceae	Tuber	Shape	Breast cancer
50.	Iyere	Piper guineense Schum. & Thonn.	Afr. black pepper	Piperaceae	Fruit	Taste	Treatment of hypertension
51.	Akerejupon	Sphenocentrum jollyanum Pierre	Sphenocentrum	Menispermaceae	Root	Colour	Pile
52.	Iru	Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) R.Br.ex Don	Afr. Locust bean	Fabaceae	Seed	Shape	Visual modality
53.	Eyin olobe	Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn.	Phyllanthus	Phyllanthaceae	Leaf	Shape	Kidney stones
54.	Emi-ile	Euphorbia hirta L.	Asthma herb	Euphorbiaceae	Whole plant	Latex	Poison anti-dote
55.	Ahun	Alstonia boonei De Wild.	Pattern wood	Apocynaceae	Stem latex	Colour	Galactogogue
56.	Awusa/Asala	Plukenetia conophora Mull. Arg.	Afr. walnut	Euphorbiaceae	Root	Taste	Snake bite anti-dote
57.	Agbayun	Synsepalum dulcificum (Sch. & Th.)	Miracle plant	Sapotaceae	Fruit	Shape	Weight loss
58.	Oka-baba	Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.	Sorghum	Poaceae	Stem, Leaf	Colour	Blood tonic
59.	Elemi	Dacryodes edulis H.J. Lam	Bush pear	Bursaceae	Fruit	Structure	Kidney stones
60.	Orogbo	Garcinia kola Heckel	Bitter kola	Clusiaceae	Seed	Shape	Hepatoprotective

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Source: Journal of Medicinal Plants Research – The “Doctrine of Signatures” in herbal prescriptions in Ikale and Ilaje communities of Ondo State,
Southwestern Nigeria by Aworinde David Olaniran, Erinoso Sakiru Morenikeji etal. Received 2 March, 2018; Accepted 20 April, 2018

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