Matrix Science Pharma (MSP) 9(2) (2025) 42-47

Matrix Science Pharma (MSP)

DOI: http://doi.org/10.26480/msp.02.2025.42.47
ISSN: 2521-0815 (Print)
ISSN: 2521-0432 (Online)
CODEN: MSPAFY

RESEARCH ARTICLE
A SURVEY ON THE THERAPEUTIC USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN MONTSERRADO
COUNTY, LIBERIA.
Ebenezer S. Morliaa, Adeyinka O. Adepojub*, Abiola G. Femi-Adepojuc
a Department of Biology/Research Institute for Innovations- African Methodist Episcopal University, Monrovia, Liberia.
b School of Graduate and Professional Studies- African Methodist Episcopal University, Monrovia, Liberia.
c College of Science and Allied Health- African Methodist Episcopal University, Monrovia, Liberia.
*Corresponding author's email: [email protected], [email protected]

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License CC BY 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and
reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

ARTICLE DETAILS ABSTRACT

Article History: Background: Carried out in Liberia's Montserrado County, this ethnopharmacological survey was designed
to record information about common therapeutic plants. Many of the herbal medications of the study area
Received 12 September 2024 are still unpublished, and their usage is either poorly or entirely unrecorded, despite the high rate of their
Revised 27 November 2024
Accepted 17 January 2025
usage in the country. Such a study is of high importance in Liberia, where the effectiveness of a decent number
Available online 18 March 2025 of herbal medicines has been proved but yet to be documented. Objectives: The study sought to chronicle
the many methods of herbal preparations and healing practices used in the study area, as well as to identify
plants (and their various parts) that are often used by herbal medicine practitioners in Liberia's Montserrado
County. Materials and Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design and conducted a
face-to-face interview for 32 willing THMPs (Traditional Herbal Medicine Practitioners) in the county. The
survey documented the socio-demographic information of the respondents, their mostly utilized plants (and
the parts used), mode of use, common and local names and details of the mode of preparation of herbal
medicines. Results and conclusion: Information about the botanical components and formulas of their
medicines, the sources of raw materials, and the kinds of illnesses that the plants are used to cure was
supplied by the government-recognized herbalists in the study area. According to the respondents, a total of
ninety-two (92) medicinal plant species from thirty-one (31) families are commonly utilized to prepare
herbal medications for the treatment of fifteen (15) various medical ailments. The leaves were the most
frequently used plant parts, and the Fabaceae family was the most frequently mentioned. Malaria, goa,
typhoid, dysentery, the common cold, piles, and infertility were the illnesses that required the most
treatment. The documented common medicinal plants used in traditional medicine preparation in the study
area are indications of opportunities for pharmaceutical resources in the country which is known for high
biodiversity. Further research on the identified plants and more is hoped to foster novel medicinal
discoveries which will be of national or global impact in the future.
KEYWORDS
Medicinal plants; Herbal remedies; Ethnopharmacology; Montserrado county; Liberia

1. INTRODUCTION form are known as medicinal herbs (Oladeji, 2016). A traditional healer or
medical practitioner is a person who uses herbs, minerals, animal parts,
Liberia's growing population of around 5.2 million tends to make people and other practices based on their people's cultures and beliefs to treat
susceptible to infections and ailments because of traffic in numerous patients in their community. They are regarded as trustworthy, capable,
places. Additionally, ethnopharmacological surveys are required in Africa adaptable, and experienced. The Organization of African Unity (OAU),
to determine which medicinal plants healers utilize to cure a variety of which is now the African Union (AU), established the Scientific Technical
human illnesses. Such surveys would serve as essential foundations for and Research Commission (STRC) and decided that the term "Traditional
phamacognostic discoveries which solve medical challenges. In Africa, Medical Practitioner" (TMP) is a contemporary, appropriate designation
Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, Egypt, Madagascar, Morocco, Algeria, and (Ozioma and Chinwe, 2019).
Ethiopia included the majority of ethnopharmacological studies and
published data on the anticancer potential of plants (Segun et al., Original plant remedies, written records, and preserved monuments all
2018).The study humans have utilized plants and plant-derived products attest to the fact that using medicinal plants for healing is as old as
since ancient times, and their significance in daily living and global health humanity itself. Centuries of fighting diseases have raised awareness of the
is a major concern (Ozioma and Chinwe, 2019). With 70% to 80% of the use of medicinal plants, which has resulted in the discovery of medications
population using traditional medicine in poor nations, medicinal plants in plant parts like bark, seeds, fruit bodies, and more. current science has
are thought to be a possible source of treatments or curative assistance recognized the significance of these botanicals and included them into
(Sandberg et al., 2001). Before the introduction of Western medicine, contemporary pharmacology (Petrovska, 2012). The most popular
"Traditional Medical Practitioner" (TMP) and other professionals medical system in the world is traditional herbal medicine, which is
employed plants and plant extracts as remedies (Schulz et al., 2010). Herbs practiced in all cultures and societies (WHO, 2013). Herbs, plant materials,
with qualities similar to those of conventional medications but in a crude herbal preparations, and completed herbal products that comprise whole

Quick Response Code Access this article online

Website: DOI:
www.matrixscpharma.com 10.26480/msp.02.2025.42.47

Cite The Article: Ebenezer S. Morlia, Adeyinka O. Adepoju, Abiola G. Femi -Adepoju (2025). A Survey on The Therapeutic Use of Medicinal
Plants in Montserrado County, Liberia. Matrix Science Pharma, 9(2): 42-47.
 Matrix Science Pharma (MSP) 9(2) (2025) 42-47

plants, plant parts, or other plant materials for therapeutic purposes or plants in Liberia, and scientific evidence of their medical properties has
other advantages are all included in this category. been patchy. The few instances are a little out of date. Apart from this,
there are no records of such nature in the study area yet. A physician
Approximately 80% of the population in Africa depends on medicinal stationed in the country's interior recorded the ethnomedical applications
plants to meet their fundamental health needs (WHO, 2013). Traditional of more than 200 medicinal plants among the Mano of Nimba County in
herbal therapy is used extensively; practitioners work with students, the early 1800s, marking the beginning of documenting of this knowledge.
Ebola survivors, pregnant women, breastfeeding moms, primary health The native names and usage of more than 250 significant plant species in
programs, reproductive health, infertility, and hypertensive patients seven groups were documented, some forty years after similar
(WHO, 2001). Traditional herbal therapy is frequently used for a variety documenting of plant use among the Mano tribe by (Marshall and
of reasons, such as accessibility, affordability, efficacy, lack of access to Hawthorne, 2013). An anthropological study of the Kpelle tribe's medical
modern medicine, and cultural and religious preferences (James et al., customs and belief systems was carried out in the Salala District of central
2019). That study the Act creates two committees to advise the board on Liberia. The study occasionally mentioned the regional names of plants
issues pertaining to the standardization and classification of traditional and their traditional therapeutic applications. Pharmaceutical
medicines as well as the professional conduct of practitioners of medications are typically based on chemicals that are present in medicinal
traditional medicine (Peter et al., 2018). plants. These plants are classified as "wild plants" because they grow on
Identification of wild plants gathered by residents of Maden County, their own in natural or semi-natural environments. Because the majority
Turkey, for medicinal purposes was the goal of one study. Over the course of contemporary medications are derived from plants, pharmaceutical
of two years (2008–2010), 131 specimens of vascular plants were companies have developed an interest in traditional medicine (Fokunang
gathered, and the plants' preparation techniques, local plant names, used et al., 2011). The documenting of essential local information on the
portions, and demographic traits were examined. The main ethnic group biological resources and raw materials available to the pharmaceutical
implicated were the Zazas, one of the largest in the area. 88 medicinal industry depends on research into indigenous knowledge of
plants from 41 families were found in the investigation; four of these ethnopharmacological processes and products. In order to chronicle the
plants were employed for the first time as a cure. Asteraceae (>13%), many methods of herbal preparations and healing practices used in the
Fabaceae (>8%), Brassicaceae (>7%), Poaceae (>4%), Rosaceae and study area, this study aimed to identify plants (and their various parts)
Lamiaceae (>17% of use-reports), and Urticaceae (>21%) were the most that are often used by herbal medicine practitioners in Montserrado
often encountered groups of medicinal plants. Decoction and infusion County, Liberia.
were the most widely used preparations. Residents of the study region
have long used herbal remedies, and the majority of ethnobotanical uses
2. METHODOLOGY
were confirmed by comparing data from plants grown in Maden with 2.1 Study Area
experimental data from earlier laboratory investigations. A review of the
literature revealed that medicinal plants from Maden are used to treat the The study was carried out in Montserrado County, located in the
same or related illnesses all over the world. northwest of Liberia, a country in West Africa (Fig. 1). The coordinates of
the county are 30' N 10 34' W (LISGIS, 2022).
There seem to exist a very little information on the local applications of

Figure 1: The study area

It is Liberia's oldest of the country's fifteen political divisions. Liberia's (Ahmed, 2024). Which indicated that at 99%confidence level, the whole
capital, Monrovia, is located in Bensonville, which is also its capital. population should be sampled (100%) if a study's population is smaller
Montserrado County is bordered to the north by Bong County, to the east than 50.
and west by Bomi and Margibi Counties, and to the south by the Atlantic
Ocean (Republic of Liberia, 2008). About 36.7% of Liberia's total 2.4 Data Collection and Analysis
population, or 1,920,965 people, live in Montserrado County (Liberia To gather information about medicinal plants in the study area, semi-
Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, 2022). structured interviews and field observations were engaged with the
2.2 Research Design THMPs in a face-to-face format. Plant samples were gathered in the field,
and photographs were taken to help with identification. Information on
The research design method used in the study was a mix of explorative and the medicinal plants, including their local names, parts used, preparation
descriptive designs. and preservation techniques, and diseases treated, were recorded on the
spot using a data recorder. Excel 2016 was used to analyze the collected
2.3 Population\Sample of the study data and determine the percentages of all numerical data. All collated and
The study took into account the 32 THMPs who were registered with the analyzed data are presented in Tables and Figures.
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare's Complementary Medicines Unit in
the Republic of Liberia. This process was carried out in accordance with
3. RESULT

Table 1: Respondents’ Socio-demographic Information

Characteristics Categories Frequency %

Gender Male 20 63
Female 12 37
Total 32 100
Age Range of Respondents 18-30 2 6

Cite The Article: Ebenezer S. Morlia, Adeyinka O. Adepoju, Abiola G. Femi -Adepoju (2025). A Survey on The Therapeutic Use of Medicinal
Plants in Montserrado County, Liberia. Matrix Science Pharma, 9(2): 42-47.
 Matrix Science Pharma (MSP) 9(2) (2025) 42-47

Table 1 (cont): Respondents’ Socio-demographic Information

31-45 10 31
46-55 8 25
56 and above 12 38
Total 32 100
Marital Status of Respondents Single 8 25
Married 22 69
Widower/Widow 2 6
Total 32 100
Respondents Nationality Liberian 27 84
Others 5 16
Total 32 100
Respondents Career Full-Time HMP 26 81
Part- Time HMP 6 19
Total 32 100
Duration of the business Less than 2 years 1 3
2-5 years 7 22
6-10 8 25
Above 10 years 16 50
Total 32 100
Level of Education Never been to School 25 78
Primary school drop out 6 19
BSc 1 3
Total 32 100

Table 1 shows that of the 32 THMPs that were recorded during the study, respondents (78%) had never attended school, six (19%) had dropped out
20 (63%) were men and 12 (37%) were women. Six responses were under of high school, and one respondent (3%) had a bachelor's degree. About
30, ten were over thirty but under forty-four, eight were over forty-four half of them have over ten years of experience in the field. Few
but under fifty-five, and twelve were above fifty-five. Among those respondents had innate talents, while the majority (30%) entered their
surveyed, the majority had never attended school. Twenty-five professions through training, inheritance, or both.

Figure 2: List of diseases treated and number of Traditional Healers who reported them

Cite The Article: Ebenezer S. Morlia, Adeyinka O. Adepoju, Abiola G. Femi -Adepoju (2025). A Survey on The Therapeutic Use of Medicinal
Plants in Montserrado County, Liberia. Matrix Science Pharma, 9(2): 42-47.
 Matrix Science Pharma (MSP) 9(2) (2025) 42-47

No. of plants used to treat the diseases

ELEPHANTIASIS 2
FRACTURE 5
SKIN DISEASES 7
CONSTIPATION 8
HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE 2
DIABETES 6
STOMACH ULCERS 4
STOMACHACHE 7
INFERTILITY 6
PILE 7
COMMON COLD 8
DYSENTRY 5
TYPHOID 9
GOA (BURULI ULCER) 5
MALARIA 10
0 2 4 6 8 10 12

Figure 3: Number of plants used in the treatment of various diseases

Figures 2 and 3 reveals that 18 out of 32 THMPs (56%) were effective in some, they can treat diabetes (31%), infertility (37%), dysentery (43%),
treating malaria. Of these, about half (50%) having typhoid treatment, and the common cold (46%), and piles (43%). It is common for THMPs to use
roughly 53 percent said they could pose a concern to Goa. According to multiple herbal remedies for the same illness.

Table 2: Names of plants and plants parts used in the treatment of Malaria.
Local names\ Plants Parts Preparation and
No. Plants species Family names
Common names used administration method
Decoction of either stem is
1. Alstonia boonei Apocynaceae Pattern wood Bark
drunk, root is drunk.
Soaked in water for days and
2. Cassia siberiana Fabaceae Drumstick tree Leaves
drunk. Boiled and drunk.
3. Citrus hystrix Rutaceae Fuhtorlorla (G) Leaves Boiled and decoction is drunk
4. Hyoseris radiata Asteraceae Bonbonlah (K) Leaves Boiled and decoction is taken
Boiled and content macerated
5. Magnifera indica Anarcardiaceae Toulelor (K) Leaves
and is drunk
Young leaves are boiled, and
6. Musa sapientum Musaceae Banana Leaves
decoction is taken.
Bark of the stem is soaked in
7. Mitragyna stipulosa Rubiceae Mboi (M) Bark
water for days and drunk
Decoction is combined with the
8. Lantana camara Verbarnaceae Weed wild sage Bark leaves of cympbopogon
cictratus is drunk
Grounded with lime, squeezed
9. Dialium guineense Fabaceae Black velvet Leaves
and juice is drunk.
Leaves and Powered fruits mixed with clay
10. Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae Mango Plum
Bark and applied as lotion

Local Names Legend: Ki: Kissi, K: Kpelle, G: Gbandi, Ma: Mandingo, Me: Mende

Table 3: Names of plants and plants parts used in the treatment of Goa (Buruli Ulcer)
Local names\ Common Plants Parts Preparation and
No. Plants species Family names
names used administration method
Boiled and decoction is
1. Pseudobombax septenatum Malvaceae Covide (G) Bark
drunk
Peeled and boiled,
2. Genus’shelichrysum Asteraceae C-Gbolor (G) Leaves
decoction is drunk
Boiled and decoction is
3. Schefflera digitata Araliaceae Kpakuen (G) Bark
drunk
Powered fruits mixed with
4. Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae Plum-Glang (G) Fruit
clay and applied as lotion
Mixed and boiled and
5. Pultenaea daphnoides Fabaceae Dorborlaylang (G) Leaves
decoction is drunk

Local Names Legend: Ki: Kissi, K: Kpelle, G: Gbandi, Ma: Mandingo, Me: Mende

Cite The Article: Ebenezer S. Morlia, Adeyinka O. Adepoju, Abiola G. Femi -Adepoju (2025). A Survey on The Therapeutic Use of Medicinal
Plants in Montserrado County, Liberia. Matrix Science Pharma, 9(2): 42-47.
 Matrix Science Pharma (MSP) 9(2) (2025) 42-47

Table 4: Names of plants and plants parts used in the treatment of Typhoid.
Local names\Common Plants Parts Preparation and
No. Plants species Family names
names used administration method
Clerodendrum
1. Lamiaceae Wulo (Me) Leaves Decoction is drunk.
unbellatum
2. Fiscus exasperata Moraceae Sandpaper Leave Root Root decoction is drunk.
Macerated and drunk,
3. Parinari excelsa Chrysobalanaceae Rough Skin Plum Root
fruits infused and drunk.
Decoction of leaves is
4. Portulaca olracea Portulaceae Common Purslane Leaves
taken with spice.
Leaves, Root
5. Meganeuron spp Meliaceae Sanga (Me) Decoction is drunk
and Bark
Grounded boiled and
6. Euphorbia leucocephala Euphorbiaceae Yumuyaba (G) Leaves
decoction is drunk
Decoction is mixed and
7. Prunus tomentosa Rosaceae Danglan (G) Leaves
boiled and is drunk
Boiled and decoction is
8. Hyoseris radiata Asteraceae Bonbonlah (K) Leaves
taken
Boiled and content
9. Magnifera indica Asteraceae Toulelor (K) Leaves
macerated and is drunk

Local Names Legend: Ki: Kissi, K: Kpelle, G: Gbandi, Ma: Mandingo, Me: Mende

Table 5: Names of plants and plants parts used in the treatment Dysentry
Local names\ Plants Parts Preparation and
No. Plants species Family names
Common names used administration method
Settled in water for
1. Cnestis ferruginea Connaraceae Nyamawa (Me) Stem
sometime and is drunk.
Dragon blood\ pink Young leave together with
2. Harungana madagascariensis Hypericaceae Leave
stick solanum melagena
Cooked with solanum
Niklif (Ma)\ Bush
3. Microdesmis keanyana Pandaceae Leave melagena and juice is
Flaggy
drunk, decoction is drunk.
Infusion of young shoot is
4. Phyllanthus muellerianus Euphorbiaceae Furuka (Ma) Leave
drunk.
Roasted with beni-seed,
Kundinakara (Ma)\
Newbouldia laevis Bignoniaceae Leave pounded in a mortar and
5. Tree of Life
powered is eaten

Local Names Legend: Ki: Kissi, K: Kpelle, G: Gbandi, Ma: Mandingo, Me: Mende
Tables 2-5 are sample tables showing a list of some plant species, their are making remedies, leaves are the primary ingredient they employ most
family names, common names, plant part used and method of preparation often, followed by roots. According to previous research done all around
for malaria, goa, typhoid and dysentery. From these tables, it was the world by a number of writers, plant's leaves were most commonly
discovered that plants of the fabaceae family are mostly used for disease used to treat a wide range of illnesses (Macfoy, 2013; Kadir et al., 2013;
treatment, levaes are the commonest plant part used and decoction is the Adepoju et al., 2023, 2024). One possible explanation for this could be
mostly used method of administration. because levaes are easier to gather and have been shown to contain more
bioactive components than other plant parts (Bibi et al., 2014; Yaseen et
4. DISCUSSION al., 2015; Zahoor et al., 2017).
This study has examined the ethnomedical significance of common Given how frequently leaves are utilized medicinally in the research area,
medicinal plants in Liberia's Montserrado County. In order to supply the there is minimal chance that medicinal plants, especially trees and shrubs,
necessary information and properly analyze the data for academic results, will be harmed. This is consistent with report (Chen et al., 2016).
herbal medicine practitioners were involved in the study. More research Nevertheless, there are serious hazards to the dominant plants that are
of this type is anticipated soon as it is still relatively new in the area. exploited or their families, which rely on the mother plant and may
Results indicate that 92 plant species from 31 families can treat 15 develop roots, remove bark, and produce leafy-stem harvests. But because
different ailments. These plants can be utilized alone or in conjunction it stops some vegetative development from moving into reproductive
with other plants. Certain preparations were mixed with spices, clay, stages like flowering and fruit/seed set, harvesting leaves also puts
sugar, and honey. The largest family of plants was Fabaceae, which was medicinal plants at risk of declining because it stops plants from naturally
followed by Euphorbiaceae and Bignoniaceae. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae or in the wild from regenerating (Schippman et al., 2002; Kala et al., 2006).
represented three and four species, respectively, while Annonaceae and
Rutaceae each supplied five. Prior research on the ethnomedicinal profile
of plants in Pakistan's southern Punjab produced similar findings by The majority of medicinal plant parts are used either by themselves, in
(Usman et al., 2021). The five species of the Asteraceae and Solanaceae combination with other plants, or in combination with other parts of the
families were next in line, with the Poaceae family being the largest. The same or different species, according to the informants. Additional
groups Brassicaceae and Fabaceae each had four species, whilst the ingredients such as sugar, wine, honey, brine, and other adjuvants may be
Lamiaceae and Moraceae each had three. The Amaranthaceae, used for a number of purposes to increase the product's healing potential,
Amaryllidaceae, Apiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Meliaceae, improve its flavor, or decrease adverse effects (Lin-Lin et al., 2018). For
and Myrtaceae were among the two-species families of plants that were instance, honey has demonstrated potential in the management and
frequently used. treatment of various ailments, such as diabetes, cancer, wound healing,
viral infections, and cardiovascular disorders. Herb-infused honey is also
This study documented each of the following families contributed one utilized in the traditional medicinal system to prevent chronic toxic
species, six families supplied two species each, five families contributed diseases, cure wounds, diabetes, and lymphedema (Kumar et al., 2023).
three species apiece. Additionally, the results indicate that when THMPs
The preference of traditional healers for herbal anti-malarial treatments

Cite The Article: Ebenezer S. Morlia, Adeyinka O. Adepoju, Abiola G. Femi -Adepoju (2025). A Survey on The Therapeutic Use of Medicinal
Plants in Montserrado County, Liberia. Matrix Science Pharma, 9(2): 42-47.
 Matrix Science Pharma (MSP) 9(2) (2025) 42-47

confirms the disease's prevalence in the study area. This survey indicated ajtcam.v8i3.65276
that 10% of medicinal plants are produced, whereas 90% are found in the
wild. Our study is in line with similar percentages of medicinal plant James, P.B., Wardle, J., Steel, A., Adams, J., 2019. Traditional,
complementary and alternative medicine use in Sub-Saharan Africa:
species reported from different regions (Macfoy, 2013; Chen et al., 2016).
a systematic review. BMJ Global Health, 4(5),e00
A higher proportion of medicinal plants originating from wild sources
1517. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2019-001517
suggested a greater species diversity in the study area. Although 16 trees
were used as herbal remedies, generalizations cannot be made because it Kadir, M.F., Bin Sayeed, M.S., Mia, M., 2013. Ethnopharmacological survey
is impossible to pinpoint the precise quantity of plants that the THMPs in of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in Bangladesh for
Montserrado County, Liberia extract annually. gastrointestinal disorders. J. Ethnopharmacol. 147: Pp. 148–156.

5. CONCLUSION Kala, C.P., Dhyani, P.P., Sajwan, B.S., 2006. Developing the medicinal plants
sector in northern India: challenges and opportunities. J
Montserrado County, Liberia, has a rich source of medicinal plants and a Ethnobiology Ethnomedicine 2, Pp. 32. https://doi.
portion of the population still rely on traditional plant medicines which is org/10.1186/1746-4269-2-32
abundant and a large stable, economical, and believed to be effective.
Kumar, S., Verma, M., Hajam, Y.A., Kumar, R., 2023. Honey infused with
Indigenous knowledge of the remedies has been transferred from one
herbs: A boon to cure pathological diseases. Heliyon. 2023 Dec
generation to the next through traditional healers, knowledgeable elders,
4;10(1):e23302. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23302. PMID:
or ordinary people, mostly without any written documentation. However,
38163184; PMCID: PMC10755321.
based on the results, it can be concluded that factors such as cultural
change, particularly the influence of modernization, lack of written Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS). 2022.
documents, deforestation, environmental degradation, resulting in the Liberia Demographic and Health Survey 2019-20. LISGIS and
paucity of raw materials, impose a serious threat to the enhancement of ICF. https://dhsprogram.com/ publications/publication-fr362-
existing knowledge and practices of medicinal plants. The importance of dhs-final-reports.cfm
ethnopharmacological research has been increasing, since potential
sources of drugs could disappear in the future because of the biodiversity's Macfoy, C., 2013. Medicinal Plants and Traditional Medicine in Sierra
quick decline. This research focused on the field that, through appropriate Leone. iUniverse, Bloomington, IN, USA.
identification, recording, and harmonization of medical information, can Marshall, C.A.M.; Hawthorne, W.D., 2013. Important plants of northern
help preserve traditional medical systems. Finally, ethnopharmacological Nimba County, Liberia: A guide to the most useful, rare or
studies and subsequent conservation measures are urgently required to ecologically important species, with Mano names and uses. Oxford
prevent the loss of valuable indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants. Forestry Institute, Oxford, UK.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Ozioma, E.O.J., Chinwe, A.N., 2019. Pharmacological evaluation of aqueous

leaf extract of Spondias mombin Linn. in normal and diabetic rats.
The authors are grateful to the Complementary Medicine Unit, Ministry of Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 12(3), Pp. 113–
Health, Republic of Liberia, the THMPs in Montserrado County, Liberia, 122. https://doi.org/10.4103/1995-7645.253521
and the Forestry Training Institute-FTI, Tubmanburg, Bomi County, for
Petrovska, B.B., 2012. Historical review of medicinal plants' usage.
their assistance all through the work.
Pharmacognosy Reviews, 6(11), Pp. 1–5. Banglore, India.
https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-7847.95849
REFERENCES
Sandberg, J.F.; Hofferth, S.L.; Philips, D., 2001. The use of herbal medicine
Adepoju, A.O., Amusa, M.O., Awotunde, O.S., Ugwu, O.P., 2023. among adults in the United States. Journal of Alternative and
Ethnopharmacological survey on medicinal plants utilization in Complementary Medicine, 7(6), Pp. 663-669.
Freetown, Sierra Leone. RPS Pharmacy and Pharmacology Reports. https://doi.otg/10.1089/107555301317171211
2(3): Pp. 1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/rpsppr/rqad019
Schulz, K.F., Altman, D.G., Moher, D., 2010. CONSORT 2010 statement:
Adepoju, A.O., Tarawally, M., Femi-Adepoju, A.G., Karim, A.B., 2024. Updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials.
Ethnopharmacological Information on Traditional Use of Medicinal BMC Medicine, 8(1), 18. https://doi.org/ 10.1186/1741-7015-8-18
Plants in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone Journal of Biomedical
Research 15(1): Pp. 37-59. DOI: Segun, P.A., Ogbole, O.O., Ajaiyeoba, E.O., 2018. Medicinal plants used in
https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/sljbr.v15i1.6 3 the management of cancer among the Ijebus of Southwestern
Nigeria. J. Herbal Med. 14, Pp. 68–75.
Ahmed, S.K., 2024. How to choose a sampling technique and determine
sample size for research: A simplified guide for researchers. Oral World Health Organization (WHO). 2001. Legal status of traditional
Onchology reports 12 (2024):, Pp. 1-7. DOI: medicine and complementary/alternative medicine: A worldwide
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oor.2024.100662 review. World Health Organizati on. https:
//apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42452
Bibi, T.; Ahmad, M.; Tareen, R.B.; Tareen, N.M.; Jabeen, R.; Rehman, S.-U.;
Sultana, S.; Zafar, M.; Yaseen, G. (2014). Ethnobotany of medicinal World Health Organization (WHO). 2002. The World Health Report 2002:
plants in district Mastung of Balochistan province, Pakistan. J. Reducing risks, promoting healthy life. World Health Organization,
Ethnopharmacol. 157: Pp. 79–89. Geneva.
Chen, SL., Yu, H., Luo, H.M., 2016. Conservation and sustainable use of World Health Organization (WHO). 2013. WHO traditional medicine
medicinal plants: problems, progress, and prospects. Chin Med 11, strategy: 2014-2023. World Health Organization.
Pp. 37 https://doi.org/ 10.1186 /s13020-016-0108-7
Yaseen, G., Ahmad, M., Sultana, S., Alharrasi, A.S., Hussain, J., Zafar, M.,
Fokunang, C.N., Ndikum, V., Tabi, O.Y., Jiofack, R.B., Ngameni, B., Guedje, Rehmanc, S.U., 2015. Ethnobotany of medicinal plants in the Thar
N.M., Tembe-Fokunang, E.A.; Kechia, F.; Gogne, B.A.; Tomkins, P.; Desert (Sindh) of Pakistan. J. Ethnopharmacol. 163: Pp. 43–59.
Barkwan, S.; Asongalem, E.; Ngoupayou, J.; Torimiro, N.J.N.; Gonsu,
K.H.; Sielinou, V.; Kouam, S.F.; Abene, E.; Kamsu, E.M.; Ngadjui, B.T.; Zahoor, M., Yousaf, Z., Aqsa, T., Haroon, M., Saleh, N., Aftab, A., Javed, S.,
Abegaz, B.; Tomkins, P. (2011). Traditional medicine: past, present Qadeer, M., Ramazan, H., 2017. An ethnopharmacological evaluation
and future research and development prospects and integration in of Navapind and Shahpur Virkanin district Sheikupura, Pakistan for
the National Health System of Cameroon. Afr J Tradit Complement their herbal medicines. J. Ethnobiol. Ethnomed. 2017: Pp. 13-27.
Altern Med 8: Pp. 284–295. https://doi.org/10.4314/

Cite The Article: Ebenezer S. Morlia, Adeyinka O. Adepoju, Abiola G. Femi -Adepoju (2025). A Survey on The Therapeutic Use of Medicinal
Plants in Montserrado County, Liberia. Matrix Science Pharma, 9(2): 42-47.