Comparative Study of Antimalarial Plant Knowledge Among Rural and Urban Communities in Osun State, South West Nigeria

The utilisation of medicinal plants in the management of malaria varies considerably between rural and urban communities due to differences in healthcare access, cultural exposure, and educational attainment. This study compares the antimalarial ethnobotanical knowledge held by rural and urban residents in Osun State, South West Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was conducted across six communities, three classified as rural and three as urban, using pre-tested structured questionnaires administered to 240 respondents selected through stratified random sampling. Fidelity level, use-value, and informant consensus factor were computed to assess ethnobotanical significance. A total of 28 plant species were identified across both settings, with Momordica charantia, Cymbopogon citratus, and Cassia occidentalis most frequently cited. Rural informants demonstrated significantly higher plant knowledge and reliance compared to their urban counterparts, particularly among respondents above 45 years of age. Younger urban residents showed declining ethnobotanical knowledge, raising concerns about intergenerational knowledge erosion. Decoctions prepared from leaf combinations were the predominant form of use in both groups. The study underscores the need for systematic documentation and validation of antimalarial plant knowledge before it is irretrievably lost. Recommendations include community-based knowledge preservation programmes and targeted pharmacological screening of consistently cited species. Keywords: malaria, ethnobotany, Osun State, urban-rural comparison, plant knowledge