Medicinal plants used by the indigenous Ati tribe in Tobias Fornier, Antique, Philippines

Abstract

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.

Ethnobotanical Documentation of Medicinal Plants Used by the Indigenous Panay Bukidnon in Lambunao, Iloilo, Philippines

“…The use of leaves as the most preferred medicinal plant part to address medical conditions is comparable to other ethnobotanical surveys conducted throughout the archipelago (Balangcod and Balangcod, 2011;Olowa et al, 2012;Abe and Ohtani, 2013;Gruyal et al, 2014;Ong and Kim, 2014;Raterta et al, 2014;Balangcod and Balangcod, 2015;Pizon et al, 2016;Odchimar et al, 2017;Baddu and Ouano, 2018;Tantengco et al, 2018;Agapin, 2019;Pablo, 2019;Cordero et al, 2020;Dapar et al, 2020;Belgica et al, 2021;Cordero and Alejandro, 2021;Madjos and Ramos, 2021;Montero and Geducos, 2021;Nuñeza et al, 2021). As a tropical country, leaves are always available for most plant species at all seasons and are readily accessible in case of emergencies.…”

“…The families of Fabaceae, Lamiaceae, and Poaceae were represented with a high number of medicinal plant species. Fabaceae as the most preferred medicinal plant family used by the Panay Bukidnon is parallel to the other folkloric studies conducted in Western Visayas ( Madulid et al, 1989 ; Tantiado 2012 ; Ong and Kim, 2014 ; Cordero and Alejandro, 2021 ) and other indigenous communities in the country ( Ragragio et al, 2013 ; Obico and Ragrario, 2014 ; Tangtengco et al, 2018 ; Pablo, 2019 ). Fabaceae is highly used by the Panay Bukidnon to treat infectious and parasitic diseases and diseases and symptoms or signs involving the digestive system or abdomen.…”

“…Decoction is the most common form of preparation and preferably to be taken orally and occasionally used for body steaming, bathing, and washing. It is also an evident form of preparation in other indigenous communities in the country ( Balangcod and Balangcod, 2015 ; Pizon et al, 2016 ; Odchimar et al, 2017 ; Baddu and Ouano, 2018 ; Tantengco et al, 2018 ; Cordero et al, 2020 ; Cordero and Alejandro, 2021 ; Madjos and Ramos, 2021 ; Nuñeza et al, 2021 ). Decoction is done with the use of one medicinal plant species or in a combination of two or more.…”

“…It thus does not surprise that it is commonly used for cough, fever, headache, body pains, chest pain, fracture, and hearing problems. Other ethnobotanical surveys mentioned its efficacy against cough and scabies by the Kalanguya tribe in Ifugao ( Balangcod and Balangcod, 2011 ); stomachache ( Olowa et al, 2012 ); sore eyes, ear infection, and cough by the Ayta tribes in Pampanga ( Ragragio et al, 2013 ); cough with phlegm, fever, abdominal pain, body pains, and headache ( Ong and Kim, 2014 ); colds by the Talaandig tribe in Bukidnon ( Odchimar et al, 2017 ); dysmenorrhea by the Y’Apayaos in Cagayan arthritis ( Baddu and Ouano, 2018 ); fever, sore throat, colds, cough, and phlegm Ayta in Bataan ( Tantengco et al, 2018 ); fever, headache, dizziness, stomachache, bloated stomach, and cough ( Cordero et al, 2020 ); 11 different folkloric uses ( Madjos and Ramos, 2021 ); cough and gas pain ( Cordero and Alejandro, 2021 ); fever, cough, and cough with phlegm ( Nuñeza et al, 2021 ). In medieval times, it was known as the “mother of herbs” due to its beneficial effects.…”

“…Several ethnobotanical surveys in Panay Island have been conducted on the Ati (Negritoes) indigenous groups (Madulid et al, 1989;Ong and Kim, 2015;Cordero et al, 2020;Cordero and Alejandro, 2021), but there is no study focused exhaustively on the medicinal plants used by the Panay Bukidnon in ethnomedicine. Nevertheless, several plants were listed with medicinal purposes in the anthropological case studies documented in the interior barangays of Tapaz, Capiz in Central Panay in [1945][1946][1947][1948][1949][1950][1951][1952][1953][1954][1955][1956][1957][1958][1959] (Jocano, 1968).…”