Open AccessA Review Of Traditional Plants Used In The Treatment Of Epilepsy Amongst The Hausa/Fulani Tribes Of Northern Nigeria
Author(s) -
J. Muazu,
A. H. Kaita
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
african journal of traditional complementary and alternative medicines
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2505-0044
pISSN - 0189-6016
DOI - 10.4314/ajtcam.v5i4.31294
Subject(s) - traditional medicine , tribe , hausa , epilepsy , medical prescription , medicine , psychiatry , pharmacology , anthropology , sociology , linguistics , philosophy
Five prescriptions used in the treatment of epilepsy amongst the Hausa/Fulani tribe of Northern Nigeria were collected from traditional healers. The five prescriptions containing eight plants were reviewed as in literature to ascertain scientific basis of their use in treatment of epilepsy. Securidaca longipedunculata (family Polygalaceace) was reported to have such property; Mitragyna inermis (family Rubiaceae) has alkaloids structurally similar to clinically useful anticonvulsant. Celtis integrefolia (family Ulmaceae) was reported to contain gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) that its deficiency may lead to convulsions. The remaining plants were basically helpful in alleviation of associated symptoms of epilepsy except Centaurea praecox (family Asteraceae) which was reported to have neurotoxic substances that may worsen the disease.