Floristic composition and taxonomic distribution of plants in the dryland of Northwestern Nigeria

This study assessed floristic composition of plant species in the dryland of northwestern Nigeria with a view to understanding the inter-annual growth/decline in vegetation activity for sustainable management of species in the region. Quadrat sampling was conducted in nineteen study locations to inventory, identify and record plant species at 100m x 100m plots. Samples of species that were not directly identified in the field were collected on pressers and transported to herbarium of the Department of Biological Sciences of Bayero University Kano for identification. Results of this study revealed that a total of 50 plant species were encountered in the study area. These species fall into 22 families, 35 trees, 13 shrubs and 2 herbs. The families Caesalpiniaceae and Mimosaceae at 7% dominate the area with seven species while Sapotaceae, Mimosoideae, Meliceae, Malvaceae, Lamiceae, Euphorbiaceae, Burseraceae, Bombaceae, Balanitaceae, Ascelpiadaceae, Apocynaceae and Annonaceae are occasional with either one or two members. Analysis of abundance and rarity of species reveals that 10% and 90% of the encountered species were abundant and rare respectively in the study area. These finding poses serious ecological concerns in the study area, thus we recommended that rare species should be deliberately conserved by confronting the factors that increases rarity in the area. This may be achieved through targeted interventions aimed at reducing habitat loss and degradation.Key words: floristic composition, taxonomic distribution, plants, northwestern Nigeri

Ethnobotanical assessment of plants used for the treatment of endocrine disorder in Daura Emirate, Katsina, Nigeria

Medicinal plants are integral components of traditional medical system in Nigeria as in other cultures and societies in Africa. This study examines local knowledge of woody vegetation use for the treatment of endocrine disorders in Daura Emirate with a view to providing information that can assist in management of medicinal plants in the area. This study employed open ended questionnaire and unstructured interview to collect information from local people and traditional healers in the study area respectively. Simple Random Sampling Techniques was used for the selection of 66 respondents and 24 interview participants. Data was collected using questionnaires which were administered in 5 communities of Daura Emirate while 18 traditional healers and 6 herbalists were engaged in an unstructured interview with a view to collecting their opinions on the treatment of endocrine disorders in the area. Result from this study found that endocrine disorders (diabetes, goitre and sexual dysfunction) were treated with 14 plants in combination with other products such as oil obtained from animals and red potash. This study further revealed that leaf (52.17%) was utilised most for the preparation of herbal remedies for endocrine disorders in the study area, while root and pod (04.35%) are the less utilised. It has been found that the remedies were administered orally and nasally. Respondents mentioned two methods employed for management of medicinal plants in the study area. These are: Assisted Natural regeneration (ANR) and seed bank. However, ANR was used by 79% of the respondents. This study recommended that pharmacopoeia of the area should be development in order to avoid knowledge losses. This can be done through collaboration among stakeholders in ethnobotany, medicine, pharmaceutical sciences.Keywords: Ethnobotanical assessment, plants, endocrine disorder

Predictors of pediatric HIV disclosure among caregivers of HIV positive children attending special treatment clinic in Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Nigeria

Background: HIV‑infected children now live longer due to the availability of HIV counseling, testing, and treatment with highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Efforts to help these children to know about the HIV infection and their status are important steps toward long‑term disease management. This study was conducted to determine the factors associated with pediatric HIV disclosure among caregivers of children attending Special Treatment Clinic at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia. Methods: This was a descriptivecross‑sectional study conducted among 160 caregivers of children attending the Special Treatment Clinic (STC) at DASH, Lafia, selected by systematic random sampling technique. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data, while bivariate and multivariate analyses were done with the Epi Info version 7. Results: Pediatric HIV disclosure rate in this study was 33.8%. The mean age at pediatric HIV disclosure was 9.85 ± 1.86 years. The independent predictors for pediatric HIV disclosure following logistic regression were child’s age, 10–14 years (AOR = 4.46; 95%CI 1.47–13.61), child knowledge of caregivers’ HIV status (AOR = 51.18; 95%CI 13.40–195.66), and caregivers’ age ≥40 years (AOR = 3.58; 95%CI 1.25–11.74). Conclusions: The pediatric HIV disclosure was low in this study due to the caregivers’ and their wards’ factors. Health care workers need to intensify health education on the benefit of pediatric HIV disclosure at the STC clinic.&nbsp

Influence of microclimatic elements on the early growth of jatropha (Jatropha curcas (Linn)) seedlings in Kano, Nigeria

No AbstractKeywords: Humidity, Early growth, Jatropha curcas and Temperatur

Effects of humidity and dew on the early growth of jatropha (Jatropha curcas (Linn) seedlings in Kano, Nigeria

This study examined the effects of Humidity and Dew on the early growth of Jatropha curcas seedlings in Kano, Nigeria. The experiment was conducted between 20 April, 2014 and 14 July, 2014. Humidity and Dew values were recorded using two Lascar EL- USB data loggers one at each of the two treatments (shade and sun). Early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings were recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after sowing (WAS). Line graphs were used to describe the mean humidity and dew values. Table was used to show the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to test whether there is significant relationship between the Humidity and Dew and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings. The test was carried out at 0.05 significant levels. The Correlation results showed that there is a significant relationship between the Humidity and Dew and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings in the sun treatment and also between Dew and seedlings emergence in both shade and sun treatments however; it showed that there is no significant relationship between the Humidity and Dew and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings in the shade treatment. Jatropha curcas seedlings nurtured in the sun grows faster than their shade counterparts due to the vital role played by sunlight during photosynthesis and other growth processes. Finally, it is concluded that there is a significant relationship between Humidity and Dew and the early growth characteristics of Jatropha curcas seedlings nurtured in the sun.Keywords: Dew, Early growth, Humidity, and Jatropha curca