Ethnobotanical Survey of Plants Used in Management of Diabetes Mellitus in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State

Diabetes mellitus is a growing public health burden in Cross River State, South South Nigeria, and many patients supplement or replace orthodox treatment with plant-based remedies whose scientific basis remains undocumented. This study conducted an ethnobotanical survey of plants used in managing diabetes mellitus by traditional healers and herbalists in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State. Semi-structured questionnaires and guided field walks were used to collect data from 25 healers and 40 diabetes patients who use herbal remedies. Collected plant specimens were identified at the University of Calabar Herbarium. Informant consensus factor and fidelity level were calculated to assess healer agreement on plant use. A total of 38 plant species from 27 families were documented as antidiabetic. The informant consensus factor for antidiabetic plants was 0.71, indicating high healer agreement. Momordica charantia, Morinda lucida, and Catharanthus roseus recorded the highest fidelity levels (above 80%). Leaves were the most frequently cited plant part (62%), and decoctions were the dominant preparation method. Six documented species had existing pharmacological literature supporting antidiabetic activity, providing preliminary scientific validation. Three species were previously undocumented in Nigerian antidiabetic ethnobotany. The study concludes that Ogoja harbours significant antidiabetic ethnobotanical knowledge that warrants phytochemical and pharmacological investigation. Conservation of high-fidelity species and integration into community health extension services are recommended.

Keywords: ethnobotany, diabetes mellitus, traditional healers, Ogoja, Cross River State