EVALUATION OF HERBS AS POTENTIAL DRUGS AMONG THE JUKUM PEOPLE DONGA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF TARABA STATE

ABSTRACT Donga Local Government Area of Taraba State, Nigeria, have a rich cultural heritage deeply intertwined with their traditional healing practices. These traditional healing practices are often passed down through generations and play a significant role in the community's healthcare system. Plants have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years in almost every culture, Different traditional beliefs, superstitions and mythology are firmly deeply rooted within our societies and the culture of a people has a direct relationship with their health seeking behaviour. The health seeking behaviour of Nigerians is known to be poor, many herbal preparations are used based on empirical evidence and traditional knowledge, without rigorous testing for safety, efficacy, and standardization. As a result, there are concerns regarding the quality, consistency, and reliability of herbal medicines, as well as potential risks associated with their use The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the herbs used by the Donga as potential drugs or medicines through scientific assessment and documentation. Specifically, the study aims to: Identify and document the medicinal plants used by the Donga for treating common ailments and promoting health, conduct phytochemical analysis to identify the bioactive compounds present in selected medicinal plants, Evaluate the pharmacological properties of herbal extracts through in vitro and/or in vivo studies, focusing on their potential therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action. The research design that was use for the study is descriptive survey design. Descriptive survey involves collecting data, and evaluating in a systematic manner, the features and facts about a given population. The choice of this design is formed by the fact that the study is interested in gathering data on evaluate the herbs used by the Donga in Taraba state as potential drugs. The population of this study comprises men and women in the study area and some native doctors in the study area because there is the custodian of the herbs that know more about the use and disease each herb and their remedy. The study revealed that medicinal herbs play a crucial role in the healthcare system of Donga People. Fifty common herbs were identified, with key examples being bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina), Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Scent Leaf (Ocimum gratissimum)