JMPHTR 4 (2016) 25-29 ISSN 2053-1826 Medicinal plant used for the treatment of skin diseases in Edo State, Nigeria Erhenhi A. H. 1 *, Lemy E. E. 2 and Okunbor R. A. 1 1 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. 2 Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. Article History ABSTRACT Received 20 January, 2016 Received in revised form 18 April, 2016 Accepted 25 April, 2016 Keywords: Medicinal Plants, Skin diseases, Treatment, Umelu Village, Edo State. Article Type: Full Length Research Article An ethnomedicinal survey of medicinal plants used by the people of Umelu village, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State in the treatment of skin diseases was conducted. Information and data were collected through the use of personal interviews with healers and the local dwellers during various field trips as well as the use of relevant literature. A total of 21 indigenous plants belonging to 18 families, 21 genera and 21 species were identified and documented. The various plant habits range from trees (52.38%) which were found to be most frequently used; followed by herbs, (33.33%) and shrubs (14.29%). Notable skin diseases identified included measles, eczema, ringworm, scabies, leprosy, boil, small pox and guinea worm. Jatropha curcus L., Carica papaya L. and Psidium guajava L. were among the different plants commonly used for the treatment of these skin diseases. Decoction, infusion, squeezing of the various plant parts was the mode of preparation while administration was majorly by topical application on affected regions of the body. Most of these plants have some bioactive and biological activities and can provide remarkable basis of information for drug industries. The knowledge of effectiveness of these plants can enhance the healthcare system of Umelu people and Edo State at large. ©2016 BluePen Journals Ltd. All rights reserved INTRODUCTION Medicinal plants are plants used as natural medicines. They are those plants with a recognized medical value. Plants form the main ingredients of medicines in traditional systems of healing and have been the source of inspiration for several major pharmaceutical drugs. Roughly 50,000 species of higher plants (about 1 in 6 of all species) have been used medicinally. The use of medicinal plants can not be underemphasized. It is increasing world wide in view of the tremendous expansion of traditional medicine and a growing interest in herbal treatment. Plants are used in medicine to maintain and augment health, physically, mentally and spiritually as well as to treat specific conditions and ailments. It is up to us to explore, seek, search and reap the benefits of these treasures (Titilayo, 2015). In recent times, research on herbal therapy has gone beyond the third the issues of developing countries but also in developed countries. Studies on risk assessment of herbal therapy, active components as well as ethno- medical importance worldwide are ongoing with respect to thousands of plants and extracts, methods of preparations and their subsequent products important in promoting the wider usages of drugs of medicinal plants origin (Kuldeep et al., 2014). The plant kingdom has contributed and is still contributing immensely to human health when no synthetic medicines were available and when no concept of surgery existed. There is therefore need to conserve these plants associated with indigenous knowledge for our development and good health. Synthetic drugs gained popularity against green remedies because of their fast acting effects however people have begun to realize the benefits associated with natural remedies. Chemically prepared drugs may act quickly, but they have side effects with our body negatively in the long run. Whereas medicinal plants work in an integrated or pro- biotic approach with little or no adverse effects on the body (Natesan et al., 2006).