The medicinal plants utilized by Butuanon in Butuan City, Philippines

Leila A Ombat; Meljan T Demetillo; Bluman O Tiongson; Jonathan Ian H Ponio

doi:10.14719/pst.2419

Authors

Leila A Ombat Department of Biology, College of Mathematics and Natural Science, Caraga State University, Ampayon, Butuan City, 8600, Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7289-3942
Meljan T Demetillo Department of Biology, College of Mathematics and Natural Science, Caraga State University, Ampayon, Butuan City, 8600, Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7341-4691
Bluman O Tiongson Department of Biology, College of Mathematics and Natural Science, Caraga State University, Ampayon, Butuan City, 8600, Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7088-8410
Jonathan Ian H Ponio Department of Biology, College of Mathematics and Natural Science, Caraga State University, Ampayon, Butuan City, 8600, Philippines https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2389-1163

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.2419

Keywords:

Ethnomedicine, Philippine medicinal plants, Alternative medicine, Ethnolinguistic group

Abstract

The Butuanon is one of the ethnolinguistic groups in the Philippines. The artefacts discovered by the locals and treasure hunters in Butuan City demonstrated that Butuanon is rich in history, culture, and tradition. However, they need more records of their traditional healthcare knowledge and practices. Therefore, this study documented Butuanon’s traditional knowledge and practices for managing illnesses and diseases using medicinal plants. Thirteen key informants were identified and interviewed through the snowball technique after obtaining their consent. The informants used a total of 132 plant species, which correspond to 116 genera and 57 families. The highest-represented family was Fabaceae, followed by Lamiaceae, with 11 and nine species, respectively. Many of the documented plants were herbaceous (37%), followed by trees (29%), shrubs (23%), and vines (11%). The informants commonly used leaves (43%), followed by roots (15%), bark (12%), fruit (7%), and flowers (5%). These plant species treated 93 different illnesses and diseases, of which fever had the highest number of plants used (18%), followed by diabetes (17%), urinary tract infection (16%), cough (15%), hypertension (14%), diarrhoea (11%), cuts and wounds (11%), relapse (8%), kidney dysfunction and disease (6%), and arthritis (6%). In conclusion, this study sheds light on the Butuanon community’s ongoing utilization of medicinal plants for their healthcare needs. This underscores the need to preserve their traditional alternative medicine and conserve Philippine medicinal plants.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Petrovska BB. Historical review of medicinal plants’ usage. Pharcogn Rev. 2012;6(11):1-5. https://doi.org/10.4103/09737847.95849

Reyes CM, Mina CD, Asis RD. Inequality of opportunities among ethnic groups in the Philippines. Philippine Institute for Development Studies. 2017;Discussion Paper Series No. 2017-42. https://doi.org/10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2017/380-6

Sanchez AB. 1521 (Li)Masawa? Unpublished: Butuan City Library. 1977.

Hontiveros G. Butuan of a thousand years. Manila: Ateneo de Manila University Press. 2008.

The Plant List. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/search?q=

Co’s Digital Flora of the Philippines. https:// www.philippineplants.org

The Medicinal Plant Names Services. https:// mpns.science.kew.org/mpns-portal/

Tantengco OAG, Condes MLC, Estadilla HHT, Ragragio EM. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by Ayta Communities in Dinalupihan, Bataan, Philippines. Pharmacogn J. 2018;10 (5):859-70. https://doi.org/10.5530/pj.2018.5.145

Ragragio EM, Zayas CN, Obico JA. Useful plants of selected Ayta communities from Porac, Pampanga, Twenty years after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Philipp J Sci. 2013;142(3):169-82.

Kumar GP, Chaturvedi A. Ethnobotanical observations of Euphorbiaceae species from Vidarbha region, Maharashtra, India. International Journal of Phytopharmacology. 2011;2(2): 37-42.

Christenhauz MJM, Byng JW. The number of known plant species and its annual increase. Phytotaxa. 2016;261(3):201-17. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.261.3.1

Salehi B, Mishra AP, Shukla I, Sharifi-Rad M, Contreras MDM, Segura- Carretero A, Sharifi-Rad J. Thymol, thyme and other plant sources: Health and potential uses. Phytother Res. 2018;32:1688-706. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.6109

Cordero CS, Meve U, Alejandro JD. Ethnobotanical documentation of medicinal plants used by the indigenous Panay Bukidnon in Lambunao, Iloilo, Philippines. Front Pharmacol. 2022;12:790567. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.790567

Rubio MM, Naïve MA. Ethnomedicinal plants used by traditional healers in North Cotabato. J Biodiv Environ Sci. 2018;13(6):7482.

Tindowen DJ, Bangi JC, Mendezabal MJN. Ethnopharmacology of medicinal plants in a rural community in Northern Philippines. J Biodiv Environ Sci. 2017;11(1):296-303.

Ducusin M. Ethnomedicinal knowledge of plants among the indigenous peoples of Santol, La Union, Philippines. Elect J Biol. 2017;13(4):360-82.

Kala CP. Current status of medicinal plants used by traditional Vaidyas in Uttaranchal State of India. Ethno Res App. 2005;3:267-78. https://doi.org/10.17348/era.3.0.267-278

Foch A, Nkeng EAP, Fonge BA, Fongod AN, Muh CN, Ndam TW, Afegenui A. Diversity of plants used to treat respiratory diseases in Tubah, northwest region, Cameroon. Afr J Phar Pharma. 2011;11:573-80.

Harborne JB. General procedures and measurement of total phenolics. In Methods in Plant Biochemistry. Academic Press Limited: Cambridge, MA, USA. 1989;1:1-28. https:// doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-461011-8.50007-X

Robbins RJ. Phenolic acids in foods: An overview of analytical methodology. J Agric Food Chem. 2003;51:2866-87. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf026182t

Tuominen A, Toivonen E, Mutikainen P, Salminen JP. Defensive strategies in Geranium sylvaticum. Part 1: Organ-specific distribution of water-soluble tannins, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Phytochemistry. 2013;95:394-407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phytochem.2013.05.013

Chiocchio I, Mandrone M, Tomasi P, Marincich L, Poli F. Plant secondary metabolites: An opportunity for circular economy. Mol. 2021;26(495):1-31. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26020495

Okwu DE, Ezenagu V. Evaluation of the phytochemical composition of mango (Mangifera indica Linn.) stem, bark and leaves. Int J Chem Sci. 2008;6(2):705-16.

Moghadamtousi SZ, Fadaeinasab M, Nikzad S, Mohan G, Mohd Ali H, Abdul Kadir H. Annona muricata (Annonaceae): Review of its traditional uses, isolated acetogenins and biological activities. Int J Mol Sci. 2015;16:15625-658. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms160715625

Arias-Rico J, Macías-León FJ, Alanís-García E, Nelly del Socorro Cruz-Cansino N, Jaramillo-Morales OA, Barrera-Gálvez R, Ramírez-Moreno E. Study of edible plants: Effects of boiling on nutritional, antioxidants and physicochemical properties. Food. 2020;9(5):599. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9050599

Cunha BA. Implication of fever. Postgraduate Medicine. 1989;85 (5):203-04. https://doi.org/10.1080/00325481.1989.11700666

Coria-Téllez AV, Montalvo-Gónzalez E, Yahia EM, ObledoVázquezd EN. Annona muricata: A comprehensive review on its traditional medicinal uses, phytochemicals, pharmacological activities, mechanisms of action and toxicity. Arab J Chem. 2018;11(5):662-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2016.01.004

Arsenio J, Medecilo M, Mercado E, Salibay Jr E, Valera FE. Community-based assessment on the plant resource utilization of Mt. Maculot, Cuenca, Batangas, Philippines International Conference on Environment and Industrial Innovation. Singapore: IACSIT Press; 2011;IPCBEE vol.12. https://doi.org/10.7763/IJESD.2011.V2.137

Dapar MLG, Demayo CG. Folk medical uses of lunas Lunasia amara Blanco by the Manobo people, traditional healers and residents of Agusan del Sur, Philippines. Sci Int. (Lahore). 2017;29(4):823-26.

Putri RF, Istyadji M, Hayati F. The use of bangkal trees (Nauclea sp.) in the perspective of wetland ethnics. 1st International Conference on Mathematics, Science and Computer Education. Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Banjarmasin, Indonesia. 2019;7-8.

Farooque AMD, Mazumder A, Shambhawee S, Noida MR. Review on Plumeria acuminata. Inter J Res Phar Chem. 2012;2(2).

Aronoff DM, Neilson EG. Antipyretics: mechanisms of action and clinical use in fever suppression. Am J Med. 2001;111(4):304-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9343(01)00834-8

Zhang X, Tan B. Antihyperglycaemic and antioxidant properties of Andrographis paniculata in normal and diabetic rats. Clin Exp Pharma Phy. 2000;27(5-6):358-63. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1681.2000.03253.x

Benoy G, Animesh D, Aninda M, Priyanka D, Sandip H. Overview on Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Nees. Inter J Res Ayur Phar. 2012;3(6). https://doi.org/10.7897/2277-4343.03610

Tajidin NI, Shaari K, Maulidiani M, Shalleh N, Bunga R, Mohamads M. Metabolite profiling of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Nees. young and mature leaves at different harvest ages using 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach. Sci Rep. 2019;9(16766). https://doi.org/10/1038/s41598-019-52905-z

Caesar L, Cech N. A review of the medicinal uses and pharmacology of Ashitaba. Biol Med Planta Med. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0042-110496

Kil YS, Pham ST, Seo EK, Jafari M. Angelica keiskei, an emerging medicinal herb with various bioactive constituents and biological activities. Arch Pharm Res. 2017;40(6):655-75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-017-0892-3

Singh A, Duggal S, Kaur N, Singh J. Berberin: Alkaloid with wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. J Nat Prod. 2010;3:6475.

Saghir SAM, Sadikun A, Khaw KY, Murugaiyah V. Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola L.): From traditional uses to pharmacological activities. Bol Latino Cari Plantas Med Arom. 2013;12(3):20919.

Rodrigues AB, de Almeida-Apolonio AA, Alfredo TM, da Silva Dantas FG, Campos JF, Cardoso CAL, de Picoli Souza K, de Oliveira KMP: Chemical composition, antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activity of Ocotea minarum (Nees & Mart) Mez. Oxid Med Cell Long. 2019;5736919. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5736919

Chan EWC, Tan LN, Wong SK. Phytochemistry and pharmacology of Lagerstroemia speciosa: A natural remedy for diabetes. Int J Herbal Med. 2014;2:100-05.

Singh A, Navneet. Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. A traditional medicine: Its antimicrobial potential and pharmacological update for commercial exploitation in herbal drugs – A review. Inter J Chem Tech Res. 2017;10(5):642-51.

Lirio SB, Macabeo APG, Paragas E, Knorn, M, Kohls P, Franzblau SG, Wang Y, Aguinaldo MAM. Antitubercular constituents from Premna odorata Blanco. J Ethnopharmacol. 2014;154(2):471-74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2014.04.015

Prasad S, Aggarwal BB. Turmeric, the golden spice: From traditional medicine to modern medicine. In: Benzie IFF, WachtelGalor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor and Francis. 2011; Chapter 13.PMID:22593922. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92752/

Carag HM, Buot IE. A checklist of the orders and families of medicinal plants in the Philippines. The Tech J Philip Eco Nat Resour. 2018;27(1 & 2):49-79.

Ekor M. The growing use of herbal medicines: issues relating to adverse reactions and challenges in monitoring safety. Front Pharmacol. 2014;4:177. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2013.00177

Doctor TR, Manuel JF. Phytochemical screening of selected indigenous medicinal plants of Tublay, Benguet Province, Cordillera Administrative Region, Philippines. Inter J Sci Res Pub. 2014; 4(4):1-12.

Islam Md S, Ahammed Md S, Sukorno FI, Koly SF, Biswas Md M, Hossain S. A review on phytochemical and pharmacological potentials of Antidesma bunius. J Analy Pharma Res. 2018;7 (5):602-604. https://doi.org/10.15406/japlr.2018.07.00289

The Naturopathic Herbalist: Capsicum frutescens. https://thenaturopathicherbalist.com/herbs/c-2/capsicum-frutescenscayenne/Accessed 7 December 2020.

Dey P, Khaled L. An extensive review on Allium ampeloprasum: A magical herb. Inter J Sci Res. 2015;4(7):471-77.

Islam MdS, Rahman MdF, Raju MdAH, Parvez M, Rabik HHR, Shome B. A review on traditional ayurvedic medicinal plants used in the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh. Inter J Res Pharma Pharma. 2015;4(1):37-44.

Otshudi AL, Vercruysse A, Foriers A. Contribution to the ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological studies of traditionally used medicinal plants in the treatment of dysentery and diarrhoea in Lomela Area, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). J Ethnopharmacol. 2000;3:411-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-8741(00)00167-7

Palombo E. Phytochemicals from traditional medicinal plants used in the treatment of diarrhoea: Modes of action and effects on intestinal function. Phyto Res. 2006;20(9):717-24. https://doi.org/10.1002/ptr.1907

Zahara M. Description of Chromolaena odorata L. RM King and H Robinson as medicinal plant: A review. 1st South Aceh International Conference on Engineering and Conf. Series: Materials Science and Engineering 506. IOP Publishing. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/506/1/012022

Goswami DV, Nirmal SA, Patil MJ, Dighe NS, Laware RB, Pattan SR. An overview of Tectona grandis: Chemistry and pharmacological profile. Phcog Rev. 2009;3(5):181-85.

Izzuddin A, Nurkesuma A. The potential of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) pods extract in periodontal dressing to rabbit gingival wound healing. Sci Coop Med Work. 2015;1-16.

Prasad N, Yang B, Kong KW, Khoo HE, Sun J, Azlan A, Ismail A, Romli ZB. Phytochemicals and antioxidant capacity from Nypa fruticans Wurmb. Fruit. Evid-Based Complem Alter Med. 2013;9:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/154606

Jambora AA. Kidney disease is one on the rise – but there’s a new standard in dialysis treatment. Philippine Daily Inquirer. 2019; May 28.

Kim JH. Pharmacological and medical applications of Panax ginseng and ginsenosides: a review for use in cardiovascular diseases. J Ginseng Res. 2018;42(3):264-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2017.10.004