By: Ademola A. A.; ADEDAYO A. G.;
Abstract:
Chewing sticks possesses the ability to clean the teeth due to its antimicrobial activities disinfect the mouth,
strengthen dental and specifically serve as medicinal values to human health. Ethno-medicinal survey of chewing
sticks species was conducted in Idanre forest reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria. Specifically, the study identifies the
chewing sticks plant species used and their abundance, their medicinal uses and socio-economic contributions to the
livelihood of the people. Three (3) communities were purposively selected in Idanre forest reserve. The
communities were Arun, Owena-Egbeda and Fayomi-Bolorunduro. Semi-structured questionnaire was
administered to elicit information from the respondents in the area. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the
data collected from the respondents. The results obtained indicated that stem, stem branches, root and bark of some
plants were the parts used as chewing sticks by people for oroddental hygiene and medicinal purposes. Atotal of 37
plant species belonging to 22 families were discovered to be used as chewing sticks. The relative abundant of
chewing sticks plants revealed that 37.8%, 32.4% and 29.8% of the chewing stick species were very abundant,
moderately abundant and rare respectively. The results further revealed that almost everybody had access to various
species of plants used as chewing sticks for oral hygiene and medicinal purposes. The very few people collected
chewing sticks for sale generated below N5,000.00/annum. This contributes little to their livelihood sustainability.
These are the plants used as chewing sticks; Pako-ijebu (Massularia acuminate), Otupe (Carpolobia lutea), Igi
Orogbo (Garcinia kola), Epora (Bridelia ferruginea), Atori (Glypheae brevis) and Osopupa (Enantia chlorantha).
Some of the sicknesses cured by the use of chewing sticks are; tooth ache, mouth wound, sore gum, sore throat,
cough, stomach ache and black tongue. Our findings revealed that some of the plant species used for chewing stick
are currently endangered and as such require urgent conservative measure. Therefore, concerted effort should be put
in place to address the challenges of conservation of plants used as chewing sticks.
Keywords: Chewing stick; Ethno-medicine; Socio-economic contribution; Livelihood;
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