IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM) e-ISSN: 2278-487X, p-ISSN: 2319-7668. Volume 23, Issue 2. Ser. II (February 2021), PP 43-49 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/487X-2302024349 www.iosrjournals.org 43 | Page Trade and Knowledge Level of Local Herb Vendors in Utilization of Medicinal Plants in Port Harcourt, Nigeria 1 Oladele A.T, 2 Alade G.O and 1 Hart P. E 1 Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria 2 Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria Abstract Introduction: Local trade in herbal medicine materials generates income for the vendors in Nigeria. This study investigated the profitability, return on investment (ROI) and knowledge level on utilization of medicinal plants among herb vendors (HVs) in Port Harcourt metropolis. Method: Ten (10) markets were purposively selected (Creek road, Oil mill, Mile 3, Mile 1, Rumuokoro, Rumuokwuta, New layout, Choba, Oyigbo, Umuebulu 1) based on availability of HVs. Well structured pre- tested questionnaires were administered among 77 randomly selected HVs. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, profitability, and ROI. Sensitivity analysis was carried out on ROI to determine the threatened point for each medicinal plant. Results: Female HVs were in the majority (76.6%) with some level of formal education (77.9%). Most of the HVs belong to Igbo (84.4%) and Yoruba (9.1%) tribes. Aframomum melegueta and Jedi-Jedi mixture (Pile) recipe have the highest ROI (400.00% and 260.00% respectively). Sensitivity analysis on ROI revealed Jedi- Jedi mixture was viable at 160.00% increase in cost. Knowledge of Azadirachta indica as anti-malaria drug was prevalent (74.03%) among the HVs while most of the traded plants are orally taken as decoctions. Conclusion: The study further established there are impressive profits and ROI on local herbal materials vending which sustains livelihood among herb vendors in Port Harcourt metropolis. Keywords: Herb vendors, medicinal plants, knowledge, profitability, sensitivity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date of Submission: 28-01-2021 Date of Acceptance: 12-02-2021 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I. Introduction Medicinal plants have served man since the early ages of socio cultural development in the areas of disease treatment and management of ill health conditions. Herbal medicines are produced from plants and are commonly referred to as phytomedicines, plant medicines, green medicine, traditional medicine, herbal potions, traditional remedies, plant drugs, and forest health products among others (Alade et al., 2016). According to Okoli et al. (2007), herbal medicines evolved from environmental resources, which the people of a community adopted in desperation for survival from diseases. There is growing interest on herbal products due to increasing side effects of synthetic drugs. Globally, herbal medicines are earning around $100 billion per annum while annual growth rate is estimated at 6.4% (Gunjan et al., 2008). Up till date, herbal medicine markets keep expanding in all regions of the world. China and India are two of the world’s largest markets for medicinal plants (FAO, 2005). An estimated 400 000 tones of medicinal and aromatic plants are traded annually and the demand for them is globally increasing (Leaman, 2006). For example, Mafimisebi et al., (2013) reported that the demand for traditional medicine products is higher than demand for chemical medicines in Japan. Trade in medicinal plant in South Africa is on the rapid increase and valued between R750 million and R1 billion per annum (Tewari, 2004) while Morocco alone exports average of 58.7 tons of medicinal plants annually (Sofowora et al., 2013). Herbal medicine trade is growing steadily in Nigeria recently due to its’ affordability and accessibility (Kadiri, 2008). Following the strangulated and depressed economy, patronage of herbal medicine has witnessed an upsurge locally in Nigeria. Trade in herbal medicine in Nigeria is diverse in form and space; street hawking, display in scheduled open local markets (daily/weekly/fortnight), lock-up shops, motor parks and sometimes in supermarkets. Marketing of herbal medicine is largely unregulated in Nigeria and many other West African countries. Similarly the trade is not documented at local and regional levels hence contribution to GDP is not known. In many organized periodic local markets across Nigeria, provisions are made for sections where herbal medicine ingredients are sold. The HVs usually organize themselves into groups to secure lock-up shops for the display of herbal material stocks either fresh or dry. Also it is a common practice to see apprentice with the HVs