Utilization of Plants as Traditional Medicine for Various Diseases: Ethnobotany Study in Sumenep, Indonesia
Elly Purwanti, Nurul Mahmudati, Sari Fuji Faradila, Ahmad Fauzi*
Department of Biology Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang
Abstract
The Madurese are also known as one of the ethnic groups in Indonesia which still maintain the practice of using plants as a traditional medicinal herb. The aimed of this ethnobotany research were to explore the kind of plants used as medicinal plants in Sumenep, along with ways to use and types of diseases that can be treated. The study was conducted in three villages, i.e. Bangselok, Paberasan, and Tanjung, involving village elders, traditional healer, and surrounding communities as research respondents. Observations, interviews, and documentation were used as research data collection techniques, and qualitative descriptive techniques were chosen as research data analysis. The results of the study informed that various plants had been used by the Sumenep community in treating various diseases. Some plants that are commonly used as traditional herb include chilli herbs (Piper retrofractum) and pinang (Areca catechu). These plants are used as herbal ingredients to maintain health and "sari rapet" for household harmony.
Keywords: ethnobotany, traditional medicines, medicinal plants
Topic: Botany