Ethnomedical Practices and Medicinal Plant Use in Tanjung and Seponjen Villages, Jambi, Indonesia

This research was conducted in Tanjung Village and Seponjen Village, Kumpeh District, surrounding OKH Forest park and located on the border of Muaro Jambi Regency and East Tanjung Jabung, Jambi Province. These two villages were chosen because they are two of the seven buffer villages with easy accessibility to Tahura OKH.

The two research villages are low-lying and form a region with depressions that are consistently flooded each year. This area comprises peatland with a shallow water table ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 meters. The soil in these villages has an average pH of 6, while the pH of the water fluctuates between 5 and 6, indicating high acidity. Furthermore, the area receives monthly rainfall of 50 mm, maintains a humidity level of 40%, and has an average daily temperature of 26℃.

Tanjung and Seponjen villages showcase biodiversity through timber, medicinal plants, plantations, shrubs, bushes, and both protected and unprotected animals. The community typically cultivates a variety of medicinal plants that are effective in treating diseases such as fever, gout, allergies, and several other minor ailments. Plantation crops in these villages include oil palm, rubber, candlenut, areca nut, mango, rambutan, cocoa, durian, and lancome, all of which are highly productive. The animals found in the two villages and the bordering area adjacent to the OKH Forest Park include bears, macaques, root tigers, crocodiles, jungle cats, deer, and various species of birds.

2.1 Procedure

The research was conducted in two stages. The first stage, a pre-survey completed in September 2021, included a literature review to gather basic information on village conditions, local tribes and ethnicities, and forest areas. The second stage, conducted from October to November 2021, involved data collection through exploratory survey methods, interviews, and field surveys aimed at identifying medicinal plant species and their uses by the local community [14, 17].

This exploratory study sought to determine the level of community knowledge about various types of medicinal plants and their benefits, including those already known and those that are recognized but whose functions remain unclear. The study involved 30 respondents per village, totaling 60 participants. The minimum sample size of 30 individuals per site was selected to ensure statistical validity. Respondents were chosen from Tanjung and Seponjen villages and included individuals who utilize plants from their yards and those from within and around OKH Forest Park. In these two villages, some residents do not use plants for medicinal purposes, stating that purchasing medicine from stalls is easier and more affordable.

2.2 Data analysis

2.2.1 Use value of plant species (UVs)

Species utility values (UVs) are used to calculate the utility value of a plant used as medicine by the community around OKH Forest Park [15]. Here is the formula:

$U V s=\frac{\sum U V i s}{n i}$

where,

UVs: The utility value of plant types.

∑UVis: The number of uses mentioned for this one species.

ni: Total number of sources interviewed.

2.2.2 Plant part value

The calculation of the percentage of parts used (stems, leaves, roots, fruit, bark, wood, flowers) is conducted on plants utilized for medicinal purposes [15].

$P P V(\%)=\frac{\sum R U(\text { plantpart })}{\sum R U}$

where,

PPV: The value of using plant organs.

∑RU: The amount of use is quoted for each part of the plant.

4.1 Diversity of medicinal plants

The diversity of medicinal plants utilized by the community in Tanjung Village and Seponjen Village, Kumpeh District, Muaro Jambi Regency, is very high, with 66 types of plants from 42 families recorded. This indicates that traditional plant-based medicine remains a vital aspect of the lives of the surrounding community. This situation is similar to that observed in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nigeria [4-6].

Some of the dominant plant families in Tanjung and Seponjen include Zingiberaceae and Fabaceae. The Zingiberaceae family, which includes turmeric (C. longa), ginger (Zingiber officinale), temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza), and galangal (Alpinia galanga), are frequently used for their anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and pain-relieving properties. Meanwhile, Fabaceae plants like ketepeng (S. alata), saga (Adenanthera pavonina), and putri malu (Mimosa pudica) serve various purposes, ranging from treating skin diseases to managing diabetes.

These medicinal plants are sourced from various habitats, including yards, fields, and forests. Some examples of plants frequently cultivated in yards are shallots (Allium ascalonicum), lemongrass (C. citratus), and lime (C. aurantifolia). Plants like soursop (A. muricata), heart-leaved moonseed (T. cordifolia), and pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia) are commonly found in fields or forests, highlighting the community's reliance on natural ecosystems. Additionally, wild plants such as pegagan (Centella asiatica) and meniran (Phyllanthus urinaria) are often utilized for basic treatments due to their natural growth around settlements.

The community utilizes these medicinal plants for various purposes, addressing both general and specific diseases. For instance, turmeric, temulawak, and ginger are employed to boost immunity and combat inflammation, while ketepeng is frequently utilized to treat skin conditions. The knowledge regarding the processing of these plants is transmitted from generation to generation, highlighting tradition's significant role in maintaining local communities' health. Caballero-Serrano et al. [21] stated that the generational knowledge in the use of medicinal plants in Ecuador will ensure the preservation of existing medicinal wisdom

This aligns with research [22], various tribes in Indonesia utilize herbal medicine as part of their healing tradition, addressing both internal and external treatments, as is also the case in Bhutan [4] and Ecuador [21]. The herbal plants employed typically use various parts of the plants, including fruit, flowers, stems, and sap. The benefits of this herbal medicine include its abundant availability, relatively affordable costs compared to synthetic drugs, and minimal side effects. It not only reflects rich local wisdom but also highlights the important role of plants as environmentally friendly and economical health solutions in many countries, including Indonesia [23].

The OKH Forest Park ecosystem is crucial as a provider of natural resources, including medicinal plants. The variety of plant types demonstrates the richness of biodiversity that supports the needs of the local community. However, the utilization of wild plants, such as the Tropical pitcher plant (Nepenthes dubia), highlights the significance of conservation efforts to maintain the sustainability of this ecosystem. Therefore, protecting the OKH Forest Park ecosystem and empowering the community in the use of medicinal plants is essential. Conserving biodiversity is vital to support the sustainability of life on Earth [24, 25].

4.2 Use value of plant species (UVs)

The results of the analysis of the use value of plant species (UVs) in Tanjung Village indicate that turmeric (C. longa) stands out with the highest UVs value of 0.37, followed by green betel leaves (P. betle) with a value of 0.26. This reflects the high level of utilization of turmeric as both a traditional medicine and a primary spice. Soursop leaves (A. muricata), ketepeng leaves (S. alata), and bay leaves (S. polyanthum) also play significant roles, with UVs values of 0.17 and 0.14, respectively. These plants are frequently used in herbal medicine and various household needs.

Meanwhile, in Seponjen Village, turmeric (C. longa) again emerges as the species with the highest UVs value of 0.27, followed by ginger (Z. officinale), which holds a value of 0.23. These two species highlight the importance of spices in daily life, serving as both cooking ingredients and medicinal resources. Soursop leaves (A. muricata) have a UVs value of 0.20, while kencur (K. galanga) and lemongrass (C. citratus) each have values of 0.17, showcasing the diversification of plant use in this village.

Turmeric (Figure 7) is the most commonly utilized plant for traditional medicine in both villages. Residents of Tanjung Village and Seponjen Village use turmeric to address a variety of ailments. Furthermore, turmeric is easy to cultivate, requiring neither extensive land nor complicated maintenance, making it readily available to the local community. The UVs of A. muricata ranks third in both Tanjung and Seponjen, reflecting its popularity among the community due to its accessibility and suitability for medicinal use. In Ecuador, A. muricata is also widely employed for medicinal purposes by numerous ethnic groups [21].

7.png

Figure 7. The highest value of plant species (UVs) is turmeric (Curcuma longa)

The use of medicinal plants to support women's reproductive health holds significant value in many traditional communities, including groups like the Orang Rimba. Piper spp. is a widely used medicinal plant for this purpose in Indonesia, Ecuador, Thailand, and Ukraine. A previous study noted that this community utilizes certain plant species to aid various aspects of women's reproduction, such as accelerating the labor process, alleviating postpartum pain, and preventing postpartum nausea [26]. Luvunga sarmentosa is prepared by boiling the leaves for mothers who are about to give birth. Other species, such as Xanthophyllum vitellinum, serve similar purposes. This tradition exemplifies the strong connection between plant usage and local cultural practices, such as celebrating the birth of a child with the sentubung tree.

The Tamambaloh Dayak tribe utilizes all parts of the plant- from roots and stems to leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds- to meet their traditional health needs [27]. Similar research in Yunnan, China, also reported the use of various parts of the plant, including roots, rhizomes, stems, bark, leaves, flowers, and fruits in traditional medicine practices [28]. In Malaysia, people not only use leaves, flowers, roots, bark, fruits, and seeds as traditional medicine but also as cosmetic ingredients [29]. Meanwhile, residents of Ban Hua Kua Village in Kae Dam District, Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand, utilize roots, leaves, fruits, bark, young stems, flowers, and rhizomes for traditional medicine purposes [30]. This reflects the similarity in the patterns of plant use among various communities for health, demonstrating local wisdom and the importance of biodiversity in the Asian region.

4.3 Plant part value (PPV)

Analyzing other plant parts, such as bark, fruit skin, roots, and others, reveals a smaller percentage of use. The data indicates that leaves are the most widely utilized part of the plant at 43%, followed by rhizomes at 15%, and fruits at only 8%. The various uses of this plant reflect the local knowledge of communities in many countries, including India [31] and Iran [32]. It has also been found around OKH Forest Park, particularly regarding the use of natural resources for traditional medicine purposes. This information can be valuable for preserving traditional knowledge and furthering research on the potential of medicinal plants area.

Leaves are the part of the plant most often used as medicine because they serve as a site for collecting organic and therapeutic compounds produced through photosynthesis. In many countries worldwide, flowers and leaves are commonly utilized as medicine. Leaves contain a variety of substances, including essential oils, phenols, potassium compounds, and chlorophyll. Medically, chlorophyll is known to be effective in treating anemia. Additionally, leaves are also rich in flavonoids, which assist in the absorption of vitamin C, help prevent and treat allergies and viral infections, and aid in repairing cells damaged by free radicals [33].

The rhizome of the plant possesses various herbal qualities, such as anti-inflammatory, expectorant, carminative, laxative, blood purifying, and antidysenteric properties [34, 35]. For instance, lime exhibits antibacterial, antiviral, astringent, hemostatic, restorative, and tonic characteristics. The hemostatic properties of lime help halt bleeding, while its tonic properties serve to strengthen and enhance the body's resistance [10, 34]. In Ukraine, certain plants are valued in trade for their aromatic qualities [6].

Despite the rapid development of the pharmaceutical industry and easier access to pharmacies, the use of natural medicine and traditional knowledge persists in the community [13]. Traditional medicine is part of a rich culture, producing local knowledge and wisdom and maintaining cultural wealth and deep life values [36, 37].

Public acceptance of medicinal plants is quite strong, especially in countries with a cultural heritage of herbal medicine, such as Indonesia [38]. Despite the growing trend of using modern medicine, many individuals continue to prefer medicinal plants for economic reasons, local availability, and their belief in the natural benefits, which are considered to have fewer side effects [39]. Awareness of healthy lifestyles and a tendency to return to nature increasingly encourage younger generations to accept and even promote The Jamu as a health option. This belief continues to grow alongside improvements in the quality and standardization of herbal medicines and the publication of scientific research demonstrating their effectiveness, ensuring that the acceptance of herbal medicine in society reaches a balance between local wisdom and scientific validation [40, 41].

The popularity of medicinal plants is not confined to rural communities; it is increasingly widespread in urban areas, where lifestyle changes and health awareness are driving a growing interest in herbal medicine [35, 42]. In large cities, Jamu has modernized with more practical presentations and packaging, appealing to younger generations and busy professionals. However, in rural areas, Jamu remains closely tied to tradition and is still often made directly from fresh ingredients [41-44]. This positive trend shows that herbal medicine is effectively bridging the gap between tradition and modernity, ensuring its significance in a diverse society [38]. The online availability and promotion through social media further enhance the reach of jamu, reinforcing its status as a vibrant and adaptable cultural heritage capable of thriving in the era of globalization [45].

4.4 Herbal medicine policy in Indonesia

Several policies have been implemented to support the existence of traditional medicine in Indonesia. This is highlighted by the issuance of various regulations, including the herbal medical service standards outlined in the Decree of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No. 121 / Menkes / SK / II / 2008, followed by the Decree of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No. 261/Menkes/SK/IV/2009 regarding the Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia, first edition

According to Nugroho [32], in Indonesia there is not only a policy to use traditional medicine in financing the National Health Insurance. This is stated in the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No. 6 of 2022 concerning the Use of Services and Support for Health Service Operational Costs in the Utilization of Capitation Funds for National Health Insurance. Other policies also support the use of herbal medicine, namely at First Level Health Facilities Owned by Local Governments (Permenkes RI No. 6 of 2022) and Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No. 82 of 2015 concerning Technical Guidelines for the Use of Special Allocation Funds for the Health Sector, as well as Facilities and Infrastructure Supporting the Health Infrastructure Subfield for the 2016 Budget Year. This policy allows the use of other medicines, including traditional medicines, standardized herbal medicines, and phytopreparations according to medical indications [42].