Ethno-veterinary Survey of Plants used in Treating Livestock among the Fulani people of Girei, Adamawa State, Nigeria

The study surveyed plants used in ethno-veterinary practice among the Fulani people of Girei, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Herein, a total of 100 key guided respondents were interviewed or took part in focus group discussion, mainly Jauro, Jemila, and Ardo herdsmen along the Girei-Mubi road, who were highly experienced and inherited ethno-veterinary knowledge from their fore-fathers. The results identified 30 medicinal plants species and the different livestock diseases conditions they treated. The plant names in Fulani, the parts of plants used and mode of preparations were also documented. In the study, we also noted the significant employment of cow milk (Madara or Nunu) and evaporites or potash (Kanwa) as recipes in livestock diseases management. Of the identified plants, the leaves (61.29%) were commonly used, then bark (25.80%), root (6.45%), and fruits (6.45%). The phytochemical screening of the available plants showed the presence of secondary metabolites such as saponins, alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinone, and steroids/triterpenes. These are thought responsible for the antibacterial, antifungal, wound healing, anti-venom, and other pharmacological activities. As a result of our work, we concluded that the identified plant material, when extracted, purified and isolated, could be used in the development of new drugs for the livestock management.