Medicinal Plants Knowledge and Traditional Healing Practices of Mentawai Indigenous People in Indonesia: An Ethnomedicine Approach

Abstract

Background: Medicinal plants have an important role in traditional medicine. Mentawai ethnic in Mentawai islands is one of the indigenous tribes in Indonesia that have strong traditional practices. However, little information is known about the medicinal plants that they use. This study aims to analyze medicinal ingredients used by Mentawai people seen from ethnomedicine and modern pharmacology perspectives. Methods: Data was collected through observations and interviews with key informants in Madobag village, Mentawai Regency, Indonesia. Results: Most of the medicinal plants according to the informant (Sikerei) were used for treating swelling, new wounds, and lymphatic diseases. Based on modern pharmacology literature, some of the plants used by the Mentawai people have the properties of antimicrobial, antiinflammation, and antioxidants. Conclusion: Traditional healer in Mentawai islands has knowledge of medicinal plants even though some of them do not correspond to the modern pharmaceutical science.

Review : Kajian Etnomedisin, Fitokimia, Dan Farmakologi Dari Tanaman Obat Untuk Wasir

“…Data etnomedisin tanaman obat untuk wasir dapat dilihat pada Tabel II. 0,025; 0,13; 0,20; 0,40; 0,55; 0,60 Daun (Astana and Nisa, 2018;Elfrida et al, 2021;Halhaji and Suryadarma, 2022;Hariyadi and Ticktin, 2012;Mahbub et al, 2019;Nahdi and Kurniawan, 2019;Rahmawati et al, 2020aRahmawati et al, , 2020bSuharmiati et al, 2021;Zubaidah et al, 2020) Plectranthus Graptophyllum pictum atau daun ungu dan umumnya dikenal sebagai Joseph's Coat, adalah semak cemara tropis yang memiliki daun oval hingga elips, panjang hingga 6 inci, daun berwarna hijau tua dengan berbagai bercak berwarna krem di sepanjang urat daun. Tanaman ini berasal dari New Guinea, dan tersebar luas di India, Meksiko, Amerika Serikat, Ghana, dan Bolivia (Singh et al, 2015).…”