An Ethnomedicinal Survey and Assessment of Honey Adulteration Perceptions in Yauri Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Ambursa A.S.; Abdulrahman; A.; Chukwunenye; G.; Gwimmi D.P.; Usman H.; Salisu; A.; Zogirma; F.U.; Wele; H.K.; Zayyanu; M.A.

doi:10.56201/ijmepr.v10.no2.2026.pg124.132

An Ethnomedicinal Survey and Assessment of Honey Adulteration Perceptions in Yauri Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Ambursa A.S., Abdulrahman, A., Chukwunenye, G., Gwimmi D.P., Usman H., Salisu, A., Zogirma, F.U., Wele, H.K., Zayyanu, M.A.

Abstract

Honey holds significant cultural and medicinal value in Nigerian traditional medicine, yet adulteration threatens its therapeutic efficacy and consumer trust. This study investigated indigenous knowledge, medicinal applications, and perceptions of honey adulteration among residents of Yauri Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design employing mixed methods was utilized. One hundred and eighty structured questionnaires were distributed to elders, traditional healers, and honey traders, with 127 valid responses retrieved (70.6% response rate). Purposive sampling identified knowledgeable respondents, while random sampling guided honey sample collection. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and inferential statistics (t- tests, ANOVA). Qualitative interview data underwent thematic analysis. Respondents were predominantly male (59.1%), aged 31-40 years (39.4%), with secondary education (35.4%). Medicinal honey use was reported by 85% of respondents, with knowledge transmitted primarily through oral tradition (81.9%) from parents/grandparents (62.2%). Common ailments treated included cough/cold (70.9%), sore throat (59.1%), stomach ulcers (43.3%), and skin conditions (39.4%). Alarmingly, 64.6% had encountered adulterated honey, with sugar solution (43.3%) and glucose/syrup (25.2%) as predominant adulterants. Perceived adulteration prevalence was "very common" (51.2%) or "common" (23.6%). Yauri possesses rich ethnomedicinal honey knowledge consistent with scientific literature, but widespread adulteration threatens this heritage. Findings align with regional studies confirming adulteration through laboratory analysis. Urgent interventions including community-based quality assurance, knowledge documentation, and regulatory enforcement are recommended to preserve indigenous knowledge and protect consumers.

Keywords

Indigenous knowledgehoney adulterationethnomedicineapitherapyNigeriafood fraud

References

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An Ethnomedicinal Survey and Assessment of Honey Adulteration Perceptions in Yauri Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

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