Ethnobotanical study of Zingiber album Nurainas, an endemic ginger from Sumatra

Abstract

Zingiber album Nurainas is an endemic ginger of Sumatra which was published as a new species in 2017 and have been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN assessment informs that there is habitat degradation due to the conversion of land functions accompanied by local community utilization in Simanau, Solok Regency, West Sumatra. This study aimed to explore local utilization patterns of Z. album through an ethnobotanical approach. The methods used include field observations through direct and indirect interviews with 18 respondents, also literature studies to see the performance of species among other species in Zingiberaceae in West Sumatra. Use Value (UV), Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI), and ethnoalluvial using EthnobotanyR package were used for analysis. The research results revealed that Z. album was traditionally utilized as a vegetable along with traditional treatment for swollen uterus after childbirth, abdominal pain, internal heat, and abdominal swollen known as “panyakik rajo” and “panah gadang” that has a low benefit value (UV; 0.28) and medium cultural importance (CFSI; 45.6) and classified as low utilization among other species. Ethnoalluvial plot shows that the potential use of Zingiber album amid other Zingiberaceae species in West Sumatra suggests that this plant possesses a little importance.