Abstract:

 Three traditional healers from each of the three Nigerian major ethnic groups (Ibo, Hausa and Yoruba) resident in Maiduguri were interviewed to ascertain the plants used traditionally in their locality to treat malaria. Their selected parts are prepared in various liquid mixtures and administered orally. The herbalists claim that these traditional plants remedies are effective and elicit little or no side effects. However, the traditional healers treat malaria and a wide range of other health problems using medicinal plants of unverified efficacy in various unstandardized dosage forms. Hence, there is need for scientific evaluation and standardization of these formulations and dosages, if found effective, to eliminate the possibility of short to long term toxic effects.