In Nigeria, the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections
(STIs) is fueled by low socioeconomic status and
literacy levels. Although phytomedicine is part of Nigerian
culture, the use of herbs in STIs has become accentuated
by low income status of people, inadequate health
care delivery system, and the resistance of pathogenic organisms
to orthodox drugs. A survey of medicinal plants
used in the treatment of STIs was conducted with a goal
of preserving indigenous knowledge and providing a list
of plants for future research for potential drug production.
A questionnaire-guided survey of three Local Government
Areas (LGAs) of Ibadan, Nigeria, was randomly
conducted on 300 respondents who were knowledgeable
in ethnomedicine for information on their prescriptions for
the treatment of STIs. Based on the responses obtained,
52 prescriptions or formulations were recorded for gonorrhea,
candidiasis, vaginitis, syphilis, HIV/AIDS, and STIassociated
skin infections. The study newly revealed the
use of leaves of Ageratum conyzoides (L.) L. and Nicotiana
tabacum L. in the management and treatment of HIV/
AIDS. Findings of the present ethnobotanical survey will
be beneficial in general health care, ecological control,
forest conservation, biotechnology research, and in providing
leads to medicinal plants from which potential new
drugs may be developed.