Abstract. Cordero CS, Alejandro GJD. 2021. Medicinal plants used by the indigenous Ati tribe in Tobias Fornier, Antique, Philippines. Biodiversitas 22: 521-538. This study documented the medicinal plants used by the indigenous Ati tribe in Sitio Pantad, Brgy. Igcalawagan, Tobias Fornier, Antique. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the tribal chieftain, council of elders, herb doctors, and other members of the tribe who have indigenous knowledge of using medicinal plants in traditional medicine. The Use Value, Informant Consensus Factor, and Fidelity Level were used to determine the plants’ importance. A total of 108 plant species distributed in 97 genera and 44 families were used by the Ati to treat 67 diseases in 12 categories. The family Fabaceae was best represented with 15 species, followed by Lamiaceae with 12 species, and Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Poaceae with 5 species each. The most frequently used part was the leaf and the most common method of preparation and administration was decoction that was taken orally. One of the most culturally important medicinal plants was Euphorbia hirta L. with the highest use value (0.59) for treating visual problems, dengue, typhoid fever, and headache. The result of this study serves as an ethnobotanical base for drug research and formulation, as well as creating the needed awareness for preserving ethnomedicine as a safe and effective alternative means in the health care delivery system.

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The Panay Bukidnon is a group of indigenous peoples living in the interior highlands of Panay Island in Western Visayas, Philippines. Little is known about their ethnobotanical knowledge due to limited written records, and no recent research has been conducted on the medicinal plants they used in ethnomedicine. This study aims to document the medicinal plants used by the indigenous Panay Bukidnon in Lambunao, Iloilo, Panay Island. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 75 key informants from June 2020 to September 2021 to determine the therapeutic use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine. A total of 131 medicinal plant species distributed in 121 genera and 57 families were used to address 91 diseases in 16 different uses or disease categories. The family Fabaceae was best represented with 13 species, followed by Lamiaceae with nine species and Poaceae with eight species. The leaf was the most frequently used plant part and decoction was the most preferred form of preparation. To evaluate the plant importance, use value (UV), relative frequency citation (RFC), relative important index (RI), informant consensus factor (ICF), and fidelity level (FL) were used. Curcuma longa L. had the highest UV (0.79), Artemisia vulgaris L. had the highest RFC value (0.57), and Annona muricata L. had the highest RI value (0.88). Diseases and symptoms or signs involving the respiratory system and injury, poisoning, and certain other consequences of external causes recorded the highest ICF value (0.80). Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. and Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob were the most relevant and agreed species for the former and latter disease categories, respectively. C. odorata had the highest FL value (100%) and was the most preferred medicinal plant used for cuts and wounds. The results of this study serve as a medium for preserving cultural heritage, ethnopharmacological bases for further drug research and discovery, and preserving biological diversity.

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