Ethnobotanical Survey of Plants Used as Biopesticides by Indigenous People of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

The quest for sustainable health, environmental protection, and the conservation of beneficial organisms makes the use of biopesticides a desirable option. This research aimed to identify the botanicals used in the management of farm and household pests in Plateau State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was carried out using semi-structured questionnaires and on-the-spot, face-to-face interviews. The main issues captured include the pests, the plants used to manage the pest, the parts used, the cultivation status, the availability, the effects on the pests, the indigenous formulation methods, and the modes of application. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Frequency of Citation (FC), Relative Frequency of Citation RFC (%), and Use Value (UV). A total of 45 plant species belonging to 42 genera, 20 orders, and 30 families were found to be useful in the management of 15 different pests. The FC, RFC (%), and UV values identified the most popularly used plants as Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze, Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip., Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Canarium schweinfurthii Engl., Euphorbia unispina N.E.Br., and Erythrophloem africanum (Benth.) Harms. The plants that showed broad uses by the ethnic groups include Azadirachta indica A. Juss (7 uses), Erythrophloem africanum (Benth.) Harms, Khaya senegalensis (Desr.) A. Juss., and Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. The perception of the respondents indicated that most of the biopesticides are available, affordable, effective, eco-friendly, and safe. This survey provides a pathway for the formulation of stable biopesticides.

A multivariate and quantitative assessment of medicinal plants used by the indigenous Malayali tribes in the Javadhu hills of Tiruvannamalai district, Tamil Nadu, India

“…The remaining species receive citations only occasionally (11–44 FCs). Azadirachta indica was determined to have the highest citation frequency, according to several ethnobotanical researches [ 60 , 61 ].…”

Evaluation of Antiphytoviral and Antibacterial Activity of Essential Oil and Hydrosol Extracts from Five Veronica Species

“…According to previous studies, most plant species with biopesticide activity belong to the Fabaceae and Lamiaceae families, followed by Apocynaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Plantaginaceae [4]. The subjects of this study are representatives of the family Plantaginaceae, i.e., five species of the genus Veronica: V. arvensis L. (Corn speedwell), V. chamaedrys L. (Germander speedwell), V. montana L. (Wood speedwell), V. serpyllifolia L. (Thyme-leaved speedwell) and V. persica Poir.…”