Survey and Identification of Medicinal Plants in Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University Lapai, Niger State

The aim of this study was to undertake a survey of medicinal plants diversity in the campus of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State to document the indigenous knowledge and promote conservation. A total of 30 species of medicinal plants across 18 botanical families were identified using a systematic approach comprising three transects, each 1 km long, and stratified random sampling in the botanical gardens, woodlands, and uncultivated lands. Identification was done by direct field identification, consultation with two of the local herbal practitioners, and by checking with the standard taxonomic key. The most common species with high frequency were Terminalia mantaly (15.4%), Mangifera indica (7.5%), and Anacardium occidentale (6.5%), and these are used mainly to treat fever, malaria, and gastrointestinal diseases. Results show that the IBBUL has a high ethnobotanical potential with a wide variety of flora. A special medicinal plant garden is suggested, and integration of these findings in pharmacological research and conservation strategies is suggested to prevent the loss of biodiversity.