Ensuring Sustainability of Kacip Fatimah (Labisia Pumila) Through Ex-Situ Conservation

Abstract

Labisia pumila or locally known as Kacip Fatimah of the family Myrsinaceae is one of the popular herbal species in Malaysia. The leaves or the whole plant are being traditionally used to treat women internal problem and health. Other medicinal uses of the plant are as a treatment for dysentery, flatulence, dysmenorrhoea and gonorrhoea. The increasing demand of the plants for those usages has lead to the over-exploitation in the wild and might endanger the species if no conservation activities are being carried out. Beside the danger of extinction, the species also experience severe genetic loss and shortage of raw materials. Realizing to this, Plant Improvement Programme of Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has taken an initiative to ex-situ conserve the species through the establishment of germplasm and development of breeding strategy. The purpose is to avoid extinction of the species and to produce high quality planting materials for commercial production. This paper discusses the collection, selection, propagation and establishment of clonal bank/germplasm of the species. It is anticipated that with the initiative, the sustainability of the species can be ensured to support the industries demand in the future.