Ethnobotanical Study of Plants Used for Fertility Enhancement Among Women in Nnewi Communities, Anambra State, South East Nigeria

Infertility and subfertility are sources of significant social distress for women in many Nigerian communities, and herbal therapies for fertility enhancement are widely sought outside formal healthcare systems. In Nnewi, Anambra State, South East Nigeria, a rich heritage of plant-based fertility management practices exists among women of reproductive age. This study documents the medicinal plants used for fertility enhancement in three communities within Nnewi North and South local government areas through a structured ethnobotanical survey. Sixty women aged 20 to 50 years and 22 traditional birth attendants and herbal practitioners were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Plant specimens were authenticated at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka herbarium. Twenty-four plant species were documented across 18 families. Uvaria chamae, Vitex doniana, and Newbouldia laevis were among the most frequently cited species. Decoctions prepared from root and stem bark were the predominant form of administration. Several cited plants had documented oestrogenic, progestogenic, or uterotonic phytochemical constituents in recent literature. The study emphasises the importance of critical pharmacological evaluation of these preparations, given potential risks in pregnancy and the need to establish evidence-based guidelines for traditional fertility treatments in South East Nigeria. Keywords: fertility enhancement, ethnobotany, Nnewi, Anambra State, women's health