Ethnobotanical Documentation of Plants Used for Malnutrition Management in Children Under Five in Yobe State, North East Nigeria

Child malnutrition remains a critical public health issue in Yobe State, North East Nigeria, where a combination of food insecurity, displacement, and healthcare access deficits has contributed to persistently high rates of acute and chronic undernutrition. Traditional caregivers employ a range of plant-based nutritional supplements and remedies to address malnutrition-associated conditions in children under five. This study documents the medicinal and nutritional plants used for childhood malnutrition management in Damaturu, Gashua, and Nguru local government areas. A cross-sectional ethnobotanical survey was carried out involving 80 mothers, grandmothers, and community health workers. Plant specimens were authenticated at the University of Maiduguri Herbarium. Twenty-nine plant species were recorded, with Moringa oleifera, Vigna unguiculata, Hibiscus sabdariffa, and Adansonia digitata cited most frequently for their nutritional and tonic properties. Preparations included porridge fortification, herbal teas, and oral tonics. Proximate and micronutrient analyses were performed on the three most-cited plants. Moringa oleifera demonstrated the highest protein and iron content, while Adansonia digitata pulp showed elevated vitamin C and calcium levels. These findings provide a nutritional pharmacognosy profile for priority plants and support the development of community-level supplementation programmes drawing on locally available medicinal and food plants in North East Nigeria. Keywords: malnutrition, children, Yobe State, medicinal plants, nutritional pharmacognosy