Plants Used in the Management and Treatment of Male Reproductive Health Issues: Case Study of Benin People of Southern Nigeria

Through an ethnomedicinal survey, this case study presents a list of medicinal plants used for male reproductive health care by the Benin people of Southern Nigeria and their associated ethnobotanical knowledge and practices. Information was obtained from randomly selected traditional healers, tradomedical practitioners, and native midwives from the main tribal groups within the cities using a semistructured open-ended questionnaire. A total of 30 medicinal plants belonging to 22 plant families were identified, documented including Alchornea cordifolia, Aloe vera, Bambusa vulgaris, Calophyllum inophyllum, Cananga odorata, Carica papaya, Cassia alata, Cassia mimosoides, Chasmanthera dependens, Cissampelos mucronata, Cissus populnea, Citrullus vulgaris, Citrus aurantifolia, Combretum racemosum, Cyathula prostrata, Cynodon dactylon, Diodia scandens, Musa paradisiaca, Nauclea latifolia, Newbouldia laevis, Parkia biglobosa, Plumeria rubra, Rauwolfia vomitoria, Sansevieria trifasciata, Secamone afzelii, Sida acuta, Solanum nigrum, Tectona grandis, Trianthema portulacastrum, and Zea mays. These plants contribute to the cultural well-being of indigenous people and are used in the treatment of venereal diseases like gonorrhea and syphilis, impotency, genito-urethra disorders, cleansing of the genital tracks, boosting sexual appetite and performance (as an aphrodisiac), boosting sperm counts to address pre-testicular, lifestyle and post-testicular causes and factors of male infertility. The dominant plant families are Apocynaceae and Poaceae with three plant representatives each and followed by Rubiaceae, Menispermaceae, and Fabaceae with two representatives each. Together these dominant plant families account for 41.4% of plants encountered in the study. The parts of the plant used in the improvement of male fertility by the Benin people of Southern Nigeria include leaves, fruits, shoot and root, flowers, leaves and root, root and flowers, seeds, stem, whole plant, root and bark, and bark. The medicinal plants documented in this chapter would benefit from research and technological innovations. The vast knowledge and practices associated with medicinal plants need to be acknowledged and conserved not only through sustained local but also global efforts. The chapter contributes toward understanding, promotion, documentation, and safeguarding of indigenous knowledge, practices, and plant resources used in addressing male reproductive issues.