Ethnobotanical Survey of Plants Used for the Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections in Taraba State, North East Nigeria

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to constitute a significant public health burden in Taraba State, North East Nigeria, where limited access to clinical diagnostics encourages extensive reliance on traditional herbal therapies. This study documents the medicinal plants used for the treatment of STIs among the Mumuye, Jukun, and Wurkun ethnic groups in Taraba State. Ethnobotanical data were collected through structured interviews with 48 traditional medicine practitioners across Jalingo, Wukari, and Takum local government areas. Plant specimens were collected and identified at the herbarium of Taraba State University. A total of 32 plant species distributed across 21 families were documented. Combretum molle, Carica papaya, and Securidaca longepedunculata were the most frequently cited plants. Roots and bark were the predominant plant parts used, and preparations were typically administered as decoctions or topical washes. Significant informant consensus was recorded for urethritis and genital ulcer conditions. A review of recent pharmacological literature revealed antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory evidence for several of the cited species, lending credibility to their reported applications. The study identifies an urgent need for microbiological and toxicological evaluations of the most used preparations. Ethical considerations regarding reproductive health privacy were maintained throughout data collection. Keywords: sexually transmitted infections, ethnobotany, Taraba State, traditional medicine, antimicrobial plants