Ethnobotany and geographical distribution of Moringa oleifera Lam (Moringaceae) in Nigeria

The increase in awareness about the food, medicinal value and other productive potentials of Moringa oleifera had elicited interest in research and cultivation in Nigeria. The aim of this study was to obtain ethnobotanical information on the use and local knowledge variation, geographical distribution, and to collect different landraces of M. oleifera from different agro ecological regions in Nigeria for further studies (Figure 1).

Ethnobotanical data were collected through face to face interviews, semi structured questionnaires and discussions with selected people having knowledge on the plant. The fidelity level (FL %) and use value for different use categories of M. oleifera and its parts were estimated. The variation in ethnobotanical knowledge was evaluated by comparing the mean use value among ethnic, gender and age groups using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Garmi GPS was used to determine the locations (latitude and longitude) and height in different areas to assess the geographical spread of the species.

Seven categories of use (Food, medicine, fodder, fencing, firewood, gum and coagulant) were recorded for M. oleifera. Food and medicinal uses showed highest fidelity level while the leaves and the seeds were the plant parts most utilized for the same purposes. There were significant differences among the ethnic and age groups regarding the ethnobotanical use value while there was no significant difference between genders across the various uses. The geographical distribution pattern shows that the M. oleifera is well distributed in all ecological zones of Nigeria, well adapted to the varied climatic conditions and gaining unprecedented awareness among the people.

Though considered an introduced species, M. oleifera has found wide acceptance, recognition and usefulness among the various ethnicities in the studied areas. The sources of introduction, domestication and ethnic differentiation influenced the distribution pattern across the geographical areas.