Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.4, No.20, 2014 196 Botanical Survey of Poisonous Plants within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria Adeniran Lateef Ariyo, Ajagbonna Olatunde Peter, Kilani Muyideen, Lawal Iya Ramota Department of Physiology/Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja. Adeniran Lateef Ariyo (Corresponding Author) Department of Physiology/Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja. PMB 117, FCT. Email: apolloadeniran@yahoo.com; Abstract A total of 125 respondents were interviewed through the use of structured questionnaire administered within five randomly selected local council areas in the FCT, through which demographic data and information on the poisonous plants, poisonous parts, poisonous effects, modes of poisoning, and antidotes was obtained. Forty two species of plants belonging to 34 genera in 19 families were identified. The most frequent families are; Leguminose, (27.2%), Euphorbiaceae, (12.8%); and Solanaceae, (9.6%), while the most frequently identified toxic plant species are Erythrophleum guineense, (15.2%), Sacciolepis africana, (14.4%), Erythrophleum africana, at (6.4%), Datura metel, (6.4%), and Ricinus communis, (5.6%). The result showed the profile of poisonous plants present in the FCT graze land. This data will help clinicians to make quick and rational diagnosis, and management of phytotoxicosis. This study is intended to create more awareness of these plants to the public so as to take caution while consuming them or use them as alternative medicine. Keywords: Poisonous plants, Toxic, Livestock, FCT-Abuja INTRODUCTION A toxic plant may be defined as one which detrimentally affects the health of man or animal when eaten in such amount as would be taken normally or under special circumstances like restriction of choice or diet or extreme hunger (Ayub and Vadlamudi, 2000). However, through contact or ingestion it also hinders or destroys normal processes leading to distressing symptoms, pathology or mortality (Ayub and Vadlamudi, 2000). The toxins in plants do not have any apparent function in the plant except for defense mechanisms or survival in adaptations (Ayub and Vadlamudi, 2000). Poisonous plants may have medicinal properties which are secondary metabolites such as cardiac glycosides, alkaloids, proteins, and amino acids, thus exhibit both beneficial and adverse effects (Fred-Jaiyesimi and Ajibesin, 2012). Some of the plants used in folk medicine in treating human ailments and animal diseases are considered toxic and the therapeutic effects often occur at lower doses whereas overdose can induce poisoning (Botha and Penrith, 2008). Clarke and Clarke (1977) reported phytotoxicicty as a major cause of loss in livestock industry since the days of early settlements. Phytotoxins affect animals in many ways although symptoms and lesion differ depending on the amount of the plant consumed. The common symptoms however include chronic illness, debilitation, decreased weight gain, abortion, abdominal discomfort, salivation, congenital defects, photosensitization and death (Clarke and Clarke 1977). Since most of the livestock in the state were kept under semi intensive or extensive systems of management making them susceptible to poisoning by toxic plants and with increasing human activities such as construction, farming, deforestation and other forms of environmental degradation which affect the fauna and the flora in the FCT, it becomes very important to assess the common poisonous plants found in the FCT. This study therefore was conducted to identify the toxic plants found in the FCT. 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 2.1 STUDY DESIGN This is a cross sectional prospective study. 2.2 STUDY POPULATION Abuja the FCT has a population of 7,000 Cattle, 816,000 Goat, 480,000 Sheep (N.P.D.L record 1992). 2.3 STUDY AREA 2.3.1 Abuja, Nigeria’s new capital city is located in the center of the country. The Federal Capital Territory has a land area of 8000 square kilometers which is two and half time the size of Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria (FCDA). It lies between latitude 8⁰25ʼN and 9⁰20ʼand Longitude 6⁰39ʼ. The FCT is divided into six area councils: Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Abaji, Kuje, Bwari, and Kwali (FCDA). 2.3.2 VEGETATION The FCT falls within the Savannah zone vegetation of the West Africa Sub-region. Patches of rainforest however occur, in the Gwagwa plains especially in the gullied train to the south and the rugged south-eastern part of the