1442 Advances in Environmental Biology, 6(4): 1442-1449, 2012 ISSN 1995-0756

This is a refereed journal and all articles are professionally screened and reviewed ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Medicinal Plants Used by the Higaonon Tribe of Rogongon, Iligan City, ,

Lilybeth F. Olowa, Mark Anthony J. Torres, Eduardo C. Aranico and Cesar G. Demayo

Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City

Lilybeth F. Olowa, Mark Anthony J. Torres, Eduardo C. Aranico and Cesar G. Demayo: Medicinal Plants Used by the Higaonon Tribe of Rogongon, Iligan City, Mindanao, Philippines

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the ethnobotanical study conducted in Rogongon in Iligan City, Philippines on the indigenous medicinal plant utilization and healthcare practices among the Higaonon tribe. Informal interviews, using a semi-structured questionnaire, involving 65 informants (ages 30-78 years old) provided information on 62 plant species of medicinal value belonging to 34 families and 56 genera. Leaves were the most widely used plant parts which were commonly prepared by boiling in water (decoction) and administered orally. Stomach ailments, respiratory diseases, wounds or cuts, and muscle pains or over fatigue in women were the most common health problems treated by the identified medicinal plants. Some of the medicinal plants enumerated in the study were also utilized by other indigenous groups in the Philippines. Such widespread use of these plants by different groups could to a certain extent be attributed to their efficacy.

Key words: ethnobotany, Higaonon, medicinal plants, indigenous groups

Introduction [9,5,16,11,1]. The Higaonon tribe is one of the 18 (a group of Non-Moro Indigenous Since the beginning of human civilization people Communities in Mindanao) ethno-linguistic groups have used plants as medicine. The earliest uses are in the Philippines. comprise 12 to 13 found in Babylonia circa 1770 BC in the code of million or 18% of the Philippine population and are Hammurabi and in ancient Egypt circa 1550 BC [15]. divided into 110 ethno-linguistic groups living in The relationship between man and plants is hinterlands, forests, lowlands, and coastal areas. The extremely important because plants affect every Higaonon tribe is located on the provinces of aspect of man’s existence by providing a continuous Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Misamis Oriental, and and infinite source of varying materials such as food, Rogongon (in Iligan City). Most Higaonons still have timber, fibers, dyes, tools, and many others [2]. a rather traditional way of living where farming is the Popular knowledge of plants used by humans is most important economic activity [14]. The term based on thousands of years experience. By “trial and Higaonon is a combination of the root words: error,” people learned how to recognize and use ‘HIGA’ which means ‘to live’ or ‘to lay in bed,’ plants, including those with a magic-religious ‘GAON’ which means ‘mountain,’ and ‘ONON’ function. Until the middle of the 19th century, plants which means ‘people’. Thus people who live in the were the main therapeutic agents used by humans mountains─ our Higaonon spiritual leaders and and even today their role in medicine is still relevant scholars─ defined as “People in the Living [3]. Many of today’s drugs have been derived from Mountains” (UNAHI Mindanao Inc.). The plant resources. Higaonons have lived and continue to live in their In recent years, work on ethnobotanical ancestral forest homes, undisturbed, managing the knowledge worldwide has increased especially in forest in a natural way, and protecting it against some parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. Despite destruction by loggers who started cutting their way many ethnobotanical studies were performed all over into the forested homeland more than sixty years the world, in the Philippines, ethnobotanical ago[13]. This present paper was conducted to documents are relatively few, with some focusing on document the indigenous knowledge of medicinal well known indigenous groups like the Pinatubo plant utilization and healthcare practices among the Negritoes, the Tasadays in Mindanao, the Itawes of Higaonon tribe of Rogongon, Iligan City. Nowadays, , and the Ibaloi of Benguet province indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants is fast Corresponding Authors Lilybeth F. Olowa, Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] 1443 Adv. Environ. Biol., 6(4): 1442-1449, 2012 diminishing because as more plants are lost, so is the and other local people as owning huge knowledge on knowledge of their value to humanity. Thus, the medicinal plants. The data acquired for each plant findings of this research would be of great help to comprises the common local name (Higaonon name), ethnobotanists and ecologists in the future studies the part of the plant used, its preparation and mode of and provide insights on the management and administration, and its uses or effects. Some of the conservation of medicinal plants in the area. plants were observed in situ during short field walks with the local people and samples were collected for Materials And Methods scientific identification. Photos were taken especially the uncommon species of plants. Collected plants Rogongon is one of the 44 Barangays in Iligan were pressed, dried, identified, and deposited in the City, Philippines. It is situated in the northeastern herbarium. Plants were identified with the help of the part of Iligan City, 34 kilometers away from the city literature [6,7,4,8]. proper, 1010 meters above sea level (masl), and having a land area of 38,000 hectares. It consists Results And Discussion mainly of patches of residual forest and dipterocarp forest. This Barangay has 23 sitios or puroks Knowledge on the use of plants for traditional inhabited by the Higaonons, Maranaos, a mixture of medicine is maintained and developed in all Higaonon-Maranao, and some Christians. There are indigenous societies in the world. In the Philippines, access roads in the Barangay but can only be possible this knowledge is inherited from their great ancestors by riding a motorcycle or “habal-habal,” about 1-2 through verbal communication. In this study, a total hours ride from the city proper which costs 200-300 of 62 (two are fern allies) plant species distributed to pesos for a one way ride. 56 genera and 34 families were documented as A prior informed consent was done through their medicinal plants utilized by the Higaonons to treat Barangay chairman and some local administrators. different kinds of diseases and ailments (refer to Six (6) residential settlements were selectively Table 1). Family Asteraceae/Compositae was chosen as sampling sites, namely: Poblacion, represented by the highest number of species (8 Scaling, Bayanihan, Kasayanan, Malandog, and species) followed by Moraceae (5 species), Tawagon because these areas are occupied mostly by Graminae/Poaceae (4 species), and Solanaceae and the pure Higaonons. Information on demographic Zingiberaceae (3 species). Families Annonaceae, (age, gender, source of livelihood, etc.) and Apocynaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae or ethnobotanical knowledge (medicinal plants and its Leguminoseae, Labiatae/Lamiaceae, Musaceae, uses) were gathered from a series of interviews Myrtaceae, Palmae/Arecaceae, Verbenaceae, and between January to March 2012 using a semi- Sellaginellaceae were represented by two (2) species structured questionnaire. The interviews were each, while the rest of the families were all developed as informal conversations in order to let represented by one (1) species. It indicated that the them speak spontaneously and not feel pressured. A area consists of considerable diversity of plant total of 65 individuals (30-78 years old) were species of medicinal value. Moreover, because the interviewed mostly elderly, “datus” (recognized area is far from the city and their access to modern community leader of the tribe), and some babaylans healthcare is limited, thus, most of the Higaonons (local healers), who were identified by the “datus” still resort to traditional healthcare practices.

Table 1: Medicinal plants used by the Higaonon of Barangay Rogongon, Iligan City, Mindanao, Philippines. FAMILY/ ENGLISH/ LOCAL/ PLANT PREPARATION AND MODE MEDICINAL USES SCIENTIFIC COMMO HIGAONON PART OF APPLICATION NAME N NAME NAME USED Alliaceae Allium sativum L. Garlic Ahos stem chew and eaten raw lowers hypertension and as (bulbs) an antioxidant Anacardiaceae Mangifera indica Mango Mangga leaves boil with water, drink thrice a treats diarrhea L. day Annonaceae Annona muricata Soursop Abana/labana leaves boil with water, drink thrice a treats diarrhea L. day Annona Sugar Atis leaves boil with water, drink thrice a diarrhea; diabetes; and squamosa L. apple day rheumatism Apocynaceae Plumeria obtuse White Kalatsutsi leaves roast partly, put in chest and relief of muscle pains or L. calachuche back with a piece of cloth or over fatigue or “bughat” in “hampol” women boil with water, drink thrice a diarrhea day Voacanga ─ Nilo bark boil with water, drink thrice a relief of irregular or heavy mindanaensis Merr. day menstruation (bleeding) in

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& Quis. women Asteraceae/Compositae Acmella oleracea Spilanthes Beto-on flower chew, put in decaying teeth produces numbing effect to or tongue and gums for the Toothache relief of toothache plant Artemisia Mugwort Hilbas leaves roast partly, squeeze, drink the relief of stomachache vulgaris L. sap Bidens pilosa L. Beggar Tuway-tuway roots boil with water, drink thrice a diarrhea and stomachache ticks or Kadagom day Blumea Camphor Gabon/Pahid leaves boil with water, drink thrice a Cough; colds; and fever balsamifera plant day

roast partly, squeeze, rub or lowers hypertension; mild massage the leaves into the body stroke; gas pains; edema Hagonoy Hagonoy leaves pound, apply directly abate bleeding on cuts or Chromolaena odorat wounds a Emilia Lilac tassel Pisaw-pisaw leaves roast partly and squeeze, drink common colds sonchifolia (L.) DC. flower the sap or juice ex Wight Lindheimera Lindheime Tae sa leaves pound, put in forehead with a relief headache and fever; texana Gray & r daisy talapan piece of cloth or “hampol” and cure wounds Engelm. Tobacco Dila-sa-iro leaves boil with water, drink thrice a cures cough; expel phlegm Pseudoelephantopus weed day spicatus (Juss.) Rohr. Bombacaceae Durio zibethinus Durian Durian bark boil with water, drink thrice a diarrhea with vomiting Murr. day Boraginaceae Cordia Soap berry Anonang leaves boil with water, drink thrice a treat tuberculosis dichotoma day Caricaceae Carica papaya L. Papaya Kapayas flower roast, apply on the neck relief of inflamed tonsils wrapped with a piece of cloth or “hampol” Crassulaceae Kalanchoe Life plant Kataka-taka/ leaves pound and apply directly heals wounds and boils pinnata (Lam.) Pers. Danggaw Elaeocarpaceae Muntingia Panama Mansanitas bark boil with water, drink thrice a treats diarrhea calabura L. cherry (use with day Makopa) Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia hirta Cat’s hair Tawa-tawa/ whole boil with water, drink thrice a lowers very high fever and L. Mangagaw plant day dengue fever Jatropha curcas Tuba-tuba Tuba-tuba stem roast partly, scrape, squeeze and mild stroke and relief of plant (with Gabon) rub or massage on the body flatulence or “panuhot” roast partly. scrape, apply relief of rheumatism and directly on joints with a cloth or arthritis “hampol” Fabaceae/Leguminoseae Caesalpinia Sappanwo Sedocaw stem boil with water, drink treat tuberculosis sappan od Pterocarpus Rosewood Narra/Tagok bark scrape and squeeze the sap, relief of swollen gums indicus Willd. apply directly on gums Graminae/ Poaceae Cymbopogon citratu Lemon Tanglad leaves boil with water, drink thrice a lowers hypertension grass day roots crush or boil with water, put on relief of toothache decaying tooth Eleusine indica Goosegras Bila- whole boil with water, use as first bath prevent diseases in (L.) Gaertn s bila/Bangat plant for baby and mother newborn and muscle pains with roots of or over fatigue or “bughat” Sida of mother rhombifolia Imperata Grass Kogon roots boil with water, drink thrice a treats kidney infections; cylindrica day induces urination Zea mays L. Corn Mais young boil with water, drink thrice a stimulate urination in hairs day person with kidney infections

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Labiatae/ Lamiaceae Coleus Oregano Kalabo/kanab leaves roast partly and squeeze, drink cures cough amboinicus o (used with the sap or juice thrice a day pisaw-pisaw) Coleus blumei Painted Mayana leaves pound until become soft and heals wounds and bruises nettle/ juicy, apply directly or topically Mayana roast partly and apply/put over relief of sinusitis the forehead while still hot Lauraceae Persea Alligator Abukado leaves boil with water, drink thrice a treats diarrhea americana Gaertn. pear day bark boil with water, drink thrice a relief of stomach pains and day vertigo Malvaceae Hibiscus rosa- Hibiscus Antuwanga flower pound until become soft and heals swellings, bruises; sinensis L. buds juicy, apply directly or topically and as anti-inflammatory agent Meliaceae Swietenia Mahogany Mahogany seeds chew and swallow the juice or relief of stomachache mahogani Jacq. sap Menispermaceae Tinospora Heavenly Panyawan/ stem boil with water, drink once a day stomachache; induces reticulata Elixir Kamangyawa abortion n latex or sap, squeeze over tooth relief of toothache Mimosaceae Leucaena Lead tree Ipil-ipil seeds chew and eaten directly expel intestinal parasites or leucocephala Lam. worms Moraceae Artocarpus Jack fruit Nangka leaves boil with water, drink thrice a treats diarrhea heterophyllus Lam. (often used day with Bayabas and Kaimito) Ficus benjamina Banyan Salin-ubod or roots boil with water, drink thrice a relief of muscle pains or tree Matamsi day over fatigue or “bughat” in (used with women; appetite stimulant Banag & Lanagon) Ficus gul Laut. & ─ Kayakaya bark boil with water, drink thrice a enhance milk production in K Schum. day women after giving birth

Ficus minahassae Hagimit Logemit roots boil with water, drink thrice a enhance milk production in Tesym. & De Vr. day lactating mothers; relief of muscle pains or over fatigue or “bughat” in women leaves roast, pound, mix with oil, apply heals boils and bruises directly Poikilospermum ─ Hanopol stem cut a portion of the stem to relief or heals sore eyes suaveolens (Blume) extract latex or sap then apply or Merr. drop on the eyes Moringaceae Moringa oleifera Horse Kamunggay leaves pound until soft and juicy, apply antibiotic for wounds, cuts L. radish tree directly or topically and sores young boil with water, drink thrice a enhance the flow of milk in leaves day lactating mothers; induces normal urination Musaceae Musa paradisiaca Banana Saging young pound until soft and juicy, abate bleeding wounds leaves squeeze the juice over the (shoots) wound and apply bandage (piece of cloth) Musa textilis Abaca Abaka young roast partly and squeeze, drink treats diarrhea Née shoot the sap or juice thrice a day Myrtaceae Psidium guajava Guava Bayabas leaves boil with water, use as an Wounds and scabies; and antiseptic wash post-partum care in women bark boil with water, drink thrice a diarrhea, vertigo day Syzygium Malay *Makopa/Tub bark boil with water, drink thrice a diarrhea; relief gas pains or malaccense (Linn.) apple al (often used day stomach pains Merr. and Perry with Bayabas and

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Avocado) Palmae/ Arecaceae Caryota Fishtail Pugahan roots boil with water, drink thrice a prevent muscle pains or rumphiana Mart. palm day over fatigue or “bughat” in women who gave birth Cocos nucifera L. Coconut Lubi husk scrape, apply topically on navel heal wounds on navel(newborn)

Piperaceae Piper ─ Bagalbal stem cut into small pieces, chew and relief of toothache porphyroneuria used as lozenges cut into small pieces, chew and eliminate poison, sting, or drink the sap or apply directly venom due to insect or (for snake bites) snake bites Rutaceae Citrus Chinese Limon leaves boil with water, drink thrice a lowers hypertension microcarpa Bunge orange day fruits roast partly and squeeze, drink cures cough and colds the juice Sabiaceae Meliosma sp. ─ Kadabudabo stem remove the bark, scrape the stem antibiotic and abate until soft and juicy, apply bleeding in wounds or cuts directly on affected area Salicaceae/Flacourtiaceae Flacourtia rukam Governor’s Lanagon roots boil with water, drink thrice a relief of muscle pains over Zoll. & Mor. plum/Ruka (often used day fatigue or “bughat” in m with Banag) women; stomach ulcer; lung infection; enhance menstruation in women after birth; and for anemia Sapotaceae Chrysophyllum Star apple Kaimito bark boil with water, drink thrice a treats diarrhea cainito L. day Smilacaceae Smilax bracteata Sarsaparill Banag roots, bark boil with water, drink thrice a relief of muscle pains or Presl. a vine day over fatigue or “bughat” in women Solanaceae Capsicum Red pepper Sili/Katumbal leaves pound and rub on chest cold comfort for asthmatic frutescens L. attack Nicotiana Tobacco Tabako leaves chew, allow to stay in mouth for relief of toothache tabacum several hours stem roast, mix with apog with aceite fast healing on the wound manzanilla, rub or apply directly of the navel of newborns on the navel

Solanum ─ Tabako-sa- roots boil with water, drink thrice a to stop excessive bleeding verbascifolium L. lako day after a miscarriage Verbenaceae Stachytarpheta Bastard Kanding- leaves pound until soft and juicy, apply abate bleeding in fresh jamaicensis L. vervain kanding/ directly on affected areas wounds or cuts; cures Kabirobiro ulcers and sores Vitex negundo L. Five- Lagundi leaves boil with water, drink thrice a cures cough and relief leaved day muscle pains or over chaste tree fatigue or “bughat” in women Zingiberaceae Zingiber Ginger Luy-a stem pound and squeeze, drink the cures cough officinale Roscoe (rhizome) sap cut into small pieces and use as relief of sore throat lozenges (candy), allow to stay in mouth for several hours Costus igneus ─ Mantawasi bark scrape the stem, squeeze the sap relief of sore eyes or juice in the eyes Curcuma longa L. Turmeric Dulaw/Kalaw Stem boil with water, drink thrice a treats diarrhea, abdominal ag (rhizome) day pain, flatulence, arthritis; lowers hypertension

(Fern allies) Sellaginellaceae Sellaginella Spikemoss Duknay roots pound and squeeze the sap to abate bleeding in oregano and directly on fresh wounds or cuts wounds and cuts Sellaginella

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moellendorffii

Based on the responses, the common health acmella causes numbing effect on the gums and problems in most Higaonons were stomach ailments relieves toothache; and a person with urinary tract (due to diarrhea), respiratory diseases (such as (kidney) infection would drink the boiled roots and common colds and cough), wounds or cuts, and young hairs of Imperata cylindrica and Zea mays, muscle pains or over fatigue in women or “bughat.” respectively, because these grasses stimulate normal The preparation and administration (application) of urination [1]. Moreover, the of Mindanao, the medicinal plants vary based on the type of Itawes of Cagayan, Ibalois of Tabaan Norte, and disease treated. The usual method of preparation was Kalanguyas of Ifugao also use Psidium guajava as an boiling the plant part (usually leaves) with water and antiseptic wash for wounds and other skin diseases. by oral (drink the juice) administration. For Relative to other tribes in the country, plant mixtures immediate treatment of cuts or wounds, either the were also noted to be more effective in treating a leaves (crushed) or stems (scraped and juice is particular ailment, like the mixture of boiled leaves extracted) were used and administered topically of Persea Americana, Artocarpus heterophyllus, (externally). The leaves of some plants such as Psidium guajava, Syzygium malaccense, and Plumeria obtuse, can be roasted (heated) partly and Chrysophyllum cainito is more effective to treat applied directly (or “hampol”) on the chest and back diarrhea. Other medicinal plants were utilized to treat for the relief of muscle pains or over fatigue or two or more diseases like Annona squamosa which “bughat” in women, especially those who gave birth. are used to treat diarrhea, diabetes, and rheumatism Conversely, leaves of Artemisia vulgaris can be and Lindheimera texana relieves headache, fever, roasted (heated) partly and the juice or sap is and cure wounds. In contrast, several species of extracted (squeezed) and taken internally for the plants were used to treat the same ailment or disease, treatment of stomachache; leaves of Emilia such as Plumeria obtuse, Eleusine indica, Ficus sonchifolia and Coleus amboinicus for curing benjamina, Ficus minahassae, Flacourtia rukam, common colds and cough; and young shoots of Musa Smilax bracteata, and Vitex negundo which were textilis to treat diarrhea. Few were prepared from used to relieve muscle pains or over fatigue or underground (modified) plant parts such as the bulbs “bughat” in women. of Allium sativum and the rhizomes of Zingiber Generally, different indigenous groups in the officinale and Curcuma longa. country exhibited similar utilization patterns of their The most commonly used plant part for herbal plants with medicinal value probably because their preparations was the leaves. It indicated that the knowledge on traditional medicine is intrinsic among survival and continuity of useful medicinal plants in them and inherited from their great ancestors. Most Rogongon is greatly maintained and protected by the of these tribal communities have strong beliefs on Higaonons in their use mostly (only) of the leaves, spirits which are thought to be protectors of the thus, it ensures sustainability in the utilization of bountiful resources of nature, such as plants. Further, their medicinal plants. Stems, roots, bark, fruit or they believe that certain diseases are caused by seeds and others were often used in their supernatural beings. In Ibaloi and Kalanguya preparations. The use of either bark or roots in some societies, the main cause of illness is claimed to be of their preparations was observed to be related to caused by dissatisfied spirits or a dead relative [2]. reproductive healthcare in women. The bark of Thus, rituals and certain ceremonies were performed Voacanga mindanaensis can relieve irregular or relative to their utilization of medicinal plants which heavy menstruation while the roots of Solanum were believed to enhance the efficacy of these plants. verbascifolium abates excessive bleeding after a In Rogongon, Higaonons usually perform rituals and miscarriage; the roots or bark of Smilax bracteata offerings or “himata” before they can reveal or share and Caryota rumphiana relieve and prevent muscle their indigenous knowledge on medicinal plants pains or over fatigue or “bughat” in women because they believe that these plants are protected especially after giving birth; and Ficus gul (bark) and by spirits as well as to maintain its effectiveness. Ficus minahassae (roots) enhance milk flow in Ethnobotany is perhaps the most important lactating mothers. method to study the natural resources and their Other indigenous groups in the Philippines management by indigenous people [10]. exhibit similar utilization pattern of medicinal plant Unfortunately there is no provision or law for the use with the Higaonons of Rogongon to treat certain protection of the indigenous knowledge or diseases. For example, the findings on the medicinal intellectual property rights of the native people. plant utilization of the Kalanguya tribe in Tinoc, Today, herbal medicine plays an important role in Ifugao showed that the Kalanguyas used boiled rural areas and some locally produce drugs are still leaves of Blumea balsamifera and Vitex negundo, used as household remedies for various diseases. and rhizomes of Zingiber officinale to cure cough; This is because modern medicine and healthcare observed that Citrus microcarpa can lower services are very expensive. The use of traditional hypertension; Acmella oleracea or Spillanthes medicine (indigenous knowledge) is now globally

1448 Adv. Environ. Biol., 6(4): 1442-1449, 2012 recognized and accepted. In fact, some of these established protection of our biodiversity, as a whole, herbal drugs are marketed worldwide. and ensures the transmission of this indigenous In this study most of the medicinal plants were knowledge to the succeeding generations. This study gathered from the wild while some were found in the records the ingenuity of the Higaonons on their use deeper parts of the forests. Some species were of various medicinal plants as well as their traditional cultivated by few Higaonons as ornamental plants healthcare practices. and crops such as Plumeria obtuse, Blumea balsamifera, Kalanchoe pinnata, Coleus blumei, Acknowledgements Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Zingiber officinale, Nicotiana tabacum, Musa textilis, and Zea mays. Although the The authors wish to thank all the informants who Higaonons practice sustainability in their use of the contributed to the accomplishment of this study; the medicinal plants, still many of these important Higaonons particularly the datus and the folk healers medicinal species are facing the danger of extinction. for sharing their valuable knowledge on the There are various factors considered as main threats medicinal plants in Rogongon; and to the local to these medicinal plants that were recorded by officials especially to Barangay Captain interviewing the participants, like deforestation, land Dimapinggun Comunug for allowing us to conduct conversion or agricultural expansion, and natural this study. calamities or disasters (drought). For example, some areas in Rogongon were affected by the tropical References typhoon “Sendong,” experienced landslides which destroyed their homes including their cultivated 1. Balangcod, T.D., 2001. The useful flora of medicinal plants. Moreover, the Higaonons Tabaan Norte, Tuba, Benguet Province, In: indigenous knowledge on medicinal plant use was towards understanding peoples of the Cordillera: observed more on their older community members A review of research on history, governance, like the datus and their folk healers. Younger resources, institutions and living traditions. members of their community are less knowledgeable Cordillera Studies Center, UP Baguio., 3: 82-83. because they are taught by their elders only once they 2. Balangcod, T.D. and A.K.D. Balangcod, 2011. reach a certain age or rank in their society (such as a Ethnomedical knowledge of plants and Datu or Chieftain). If this knowledge is not healthcare practices among the Kalanguya tribe documented, the plants, especially those with high in Tinoc, Ifugao, , Philippines. Indian medicinal value, would eventually become extinct. Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 10(2): 221- 238. Conclusion: 3. Camejo-Rodrigues, J., L. Ascensao, M.A. Bonet and J. Valles, 2003. An ethnobotanical study of The Higaonons have managed to maintain the medicinal and aromatic pants in the Natural Park skills and knowledge that will protect its forested of “Serra de Sao Mamede” (Portugal). Journal of mountains. This was clearly exhibited in their own Ethnopharmacology, 89: 199-209. indigenous knowledge in traditional medicine using 4. Fernando, E.S., B.Y. Sun, M. H. Suh, H.Y. medicinal plants. Their belief that these plants are Kong and K.S. Koh, 2004. Flowering plants and protected by supernatural beings ensures sustainable ferns of Mt. Makiling. Korea: ASEAN-Korea pattern of their medicinal plant use. A close Environmental Cooperation Unit (AKECU). similarities in the traditional use of plants as 5. Fox, R.B., 1952. The Pinatubo Negritoes: their medicine was observed among the Higaonons with useful plants and material culture. Philippine other tribal groups in the country. Probably because Journal of Science, 81(3-4): 173-391. the indigenous knowledge is inherent to them and 6. Madulid, D.A., 1995. A pictorial cyclopedia of they share the same cultural traditions and also Philippine ornamental plants. Metro Manila, because this traditional medicine has been practiced Philippines: Bookmark, Inc. by our indigenous communities for several decades. 7. Madulid, D.A., 2001. Dictionary of plant names: However, there is still a need to test the active Vol I. Local name-scientific name. Makati City, component of these medicinal plants in terms of its Philippines. The bookmark Inc. pharmacologic effects especially the species 8. Merrill, E.D., 1903. A dictionary of the plant collected in the wild and rarely used. In the other names of the Philippine islands. Manila: Bureau hand, there is also a need to conserve the medicinal of Public Printing. plants in the area and in any other areas in the 9. Quisumbing, E., 1978. Medicinal plants of the country as many important medicinal species of Philippines. Katha Publishing Co, Inc. plants are facing danger of extinction due to the 10. Qureshi, R.A., M.A. Ghufran, S.A. Gilani, K. continued deforestation and land conversion in Sultana and M. Ashraf, 2007. Ethnobotanical different areas in the Philippines. There is a need of studies of selected medicinal plants of Sudhan coordination and cooperation among various Gali and Ganga Chotti Hills, District Bagh, agencies in the country for the achievement of well

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Azad Kashmir. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 13. www.aliawanenterprises.com. The last Tribes 39(7): 2275-2283. from Mindanao, the Higaonon, People of the 11. Rocero, M. Sr. Ethnobotany of the Itawes of Living Mountains. Cagayan Province Philippines. National 14. www.en.wikipilipinas.org. Lumad Peoples. Museum, Manila, Philippines. 15. www.wwfpak.org. What is Ethnobotany? 12. UNAHI Mindanao Incorporated. History of the 16. Yen, D.H. and H.G. Guttierrez, 1974. The Higaonon Tribe. ethnobotany of the Tasaday: the useful plants. Philippine Journal of Science, 103(2): 97-140.