Pages: (1-7 )
Abstract
The paper examines the reasons for Consumer's preferences for chewing sticks and evaluated the phytochemical properties of some chewing stick materials in the study area. The result shows that some of the samples-Vernonia amygdalina Del., Distemonanthus benthamianus Baillon, Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.)Guill. & Perr., Terminalia schimperiana Hochst, Garcinia kola Heckel, Massularia acuminata (G.Don) Bullock &Hoyle, Pseudocerela kotschyi (Schweinf.) Harms, Altonia boonie can exhibit anti-microbial activities as a result of their phyto-chemical constituents. The perennial reasons for the preference of chewing sticks in the study area is its medicinal/therapeutic value. The major factors considered by users in their choice of chewing stick materials in their order of importance are: cleaning action (32.9%), therapeutic value (29.1%), tooth breath/freshness (15.5%), taste/flavour (12.8%), availability of the species (7.8%), educational level (1.2%) and cultural background (0.8%). The study conclude that the perceived cleaning action and the therapeutic value of chewing stick materials are the principal consideration in the choice of materials to use as chewing stick in the study area and recommends a comprehensive ethno-botanical survey of chewing stick plants with medicinal potentials and validation of their constituents.
Keywords: Chewing Stick, Phytochemical, Consumer, Preferences.,