Review: Traditional knowledge of the Dayak Tribes (Borneo) in the use of medicinal plants

Abstract

Abstract. Az-Zahra FR, Sari NLW, Saputry R, Nugroho GD, Sunarto, Pribadi T, Setyawan AD. 2021. Review: Traditional knowledge of the Dayak Tribe (Borneo) in the use of medicinal plants. Biodiversitas 22: 4633-4647. Dayak is the name for the native inhabitants of the island of Borneo. The Dayak Tribe uses natural and forest products in plants as traditional medicine for health treatment. This study aims to obtain information about the utilization of medicinal plants in the Dayak Tribe. The knowledge about traditional medicine by utilizing medicinal plants has been obtained from their ancestors since ancient times and inherited from generation to generation. The use of various medicinal plants used by the Dayak Tribe has differences in terms of the part of the plant taken, how to process it, and how to use it. This is because each Dayak Sub-tribe has its role model for using these medicinal plants. For example, the leaves are used in one area, and it could be that the plant roots are used in other areas. This paper reviews the use of medicinal plants to treat various diseases by 6 Dayak sub-tribes, namely: Desa Dayak Sub-tribe (member of Iban Dayak), Jangkang Dayak Sub-tribe (member of Klemantan Dayak), Bakumpai Dayak Sub-tribe (member of OtDanum-Ngaju Dayak), Kenyah Dayak Sub-tribe (member of Apokayan Dayak), Tagol Dayak Sub-tribe (member of Murut Dayak), and Siang Dayak Sub-tribe (member of Punan Dayak). The results from 6 Dayak Sub-tribes revealed 63 families of plants from which 133 species. The family most widely used for medicinal plants, namely Euphorbiaceae, consists of 9 species, and the leaf is the most commonly used part of the plants (47%). The traditional knowledge of the Dayak Tribe in utilizing plant resources will significantly help preserve biodiversity and domestication of medicinal plants. Suppose medicinal plants are exploited more than they should. In that case, it will undoubtedly have a significant impact on their availability in the forest area, and if it continues, it will cause the extinction of certain species. This implies the importance of preserving local wisdom in the Dayak Tribe so that the use of nature is done wisely and so that it remains sustainable. By knowing the benefits of medicinal plants, Dayak Tribe will want to conserve these medicinal plants to be used in the future.

The application of medicinal plants in the local community of Gantara Forest, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

“…The leaf is part of a plant that is often reported as a medicinal ingredient throughout the world, including Pakistan (Umair et al 2017), Italy (Leto et al 2013), Indonesia (Ramadhani et al 2021;Az-Zahrah et al 2021), and Malaysia (Ramli et al 2021). Uganda (Gumisiriza et al 2019), Turky (Karakose 2022), Ethiopia (Getachew et al 2022), and China (Xiong 2020).…”

Surgical amputation of a limb 31,000 years ago in Borneo

“…Intensive post-operative nursing and care would have been vital, such as temperature regulation, regular feeding, bathing, and movement to prevent bed sores while the individual was immobile 29 . The wound would have been regularly cleaned, dressed, and disinfected, perhaps using locally available botanical resources with medicinal properties to prevent infection and provide anaesthetics for pain relief 30,31 . Although it is not possible to determine whether infection occurred after the surgery, this individual evidently did not suffer from an infection severe enough to leave permanent skeletal markers and/or cause death.…”

“…On the other hand, we cannot exclude the possibility that human colonization of the ancient rainforests of Borneo both prompted and facilitated early advances in medical technology that were unique to this region. For example, rapid rates of wound infection in the tropics may have stimulated the development of new pharmaceuticals (for instance, antiseptics) that harnessed the medicinal properties of Borneo's rich plant biodiversity and endemic flora 30,31 .…”

Vegetation diversity of Hemaq Beniung Customary Forest, West Kutai, East Kalimantan

“…Suku Dayak umumnya tinggal di daerah pedalaman di sekitar hutan hujan tropis dengan keanekaragaman hayati tinggi. Etnis Dayak Benuaq adalah kelompok etnis terbesar di Kutai Barat, diikuti oleh Dayak Tunjung dan Bentian (Az-zahra et al, 2020). Kutai Barat adalah sebuah kabupaten terletak di hulu sungai Mahakam, yakni sungai terbesar di Kalimantan Timur.…”