Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers in Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur, Philippines

Philippine Journal of Science RESEARCH NOTE 149 (1): 83-89, March 2020 ISSN 0031 - 7683 Date Received: 01 Aug 2019

Medicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines

Julienne Stephanie Fabie-Agapin*

External Studies, Western Mindanao State University Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur 7016 Philippines

The documentation of plants used as medicine is an important baseline for possible extraction, isolation, characterization, and chemical modification of important chemical compounds. This study aims to determine the plants used as medicine by traditional healers in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines. A total of 80 plants were mentioned by 11 traditional healers, who willingly shared their knowledge on medicinal plants. These plants were all recorded but only 71 plants belonging to 40 families were collected and identified. The remaining nine were only mentioned but no actual photos were taken and collected because these plants were inaccessible during the collection period and/or may have withered already. The botanical families with the highest number of species were represented by the families Lamiaceae and Moraceae (6), followed by Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae (5). The most commonly used plant parts for herbal medicines are the leaves, and the most employed method of preparation is decoction. Among the illnesses mentioned for herbal medication were cancer (as the most cited), followed by kidney problems. This study also documented plants that are prepared in mixtures to treat illnesses like severe cough, severe diarrhea, and varicose veins. The information recorded and presented in this study may be useful for future phytochemical and pharmacological studies.

Keywords: decoction, herbs, medicinal plants, traditional healers, traditional medicine

The formulation of plant-based medicinal drugs is This study focuses on documenting medicinal plants of based on the knowledge of plants used conventionally Pagadianons, who are classified into three main groups as medicines. In this study, a survey of medicinal plants that are based primarily on faith and heritage: Subanens, was conducted to 11 traditional healers in Pagadian City, Muslims, and Christians. the capital city of Zamboanga del Sur Province in the Philippines. To the best of the researcher's knowledge, no Pagadian City is composed of 54 barangays and, of this study on medicinal plants in the city has been conducted number, only 14 are part of the mainstream population. yet. Pagadian City was selected based on the following The snowball sampling technique was used to identify criteria: 1) no similar studies conducted at the study site, traditional healers, who served as key informants of 2) the presence of a diverse group of traditional healers, the study. Courtesy calls were conducted prior to data and 3) convenience and safety of the researcher. Most collection, which was carried out from December 2018 studies in the Philippines relating to the use of plants to February 2019. The participants were asked to sign a for traditional healing are concentrated on the Subanens. consent form before the interview. A guided questionnaire was utilized to list the plants that the participants use for *Corresponding Author: [email protected] healing – including the specific plant parts, methods of preparation, and the types of illnesses treated. Interviews

83 Philippine Journal of Science Fabie-Agapin: Plants Used as Medicines in Pagadian City Vol. 149 No. 1, March 2020 were conducted in the Bisaya language and were done widely studied plants, both belonging to Lamiaceae in conjunction with field visits to take samples and family. Phytochemical studies of Vitex negundo L. photographs of the medicinal plants. The data were showed the presence of flavanoids, essential oils, and tabulated indicating the scientific name of plant species, terpenes, among others. It also possesses pharmacological botanical family, local name, plant parts used, claimed activities like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antipyretic, disease/ailments treated, as well as the method of and antibacterial, among others (Suganthi and Dubey preparation for medication. The plants were identified, 2016). authenticated, and certified by Professor Michael Leaves are found to be the most commonly used part of Muhmin Manting, MSc. of the Department of Biological the plant for herbal medication. One reason for this is Sciences, Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of that leaves are the easiest to take and they preserve the Technology (MSU-IIT). For a uniform description of the wholeness of the plants as they are easily regenerated, methods of preparation, the following terms were used: unlike stems and roots. Moreover, important chemical I) chewing-crushing and grounding plants by teeth. compounds such as tannins, essentials oils, and flavonoids are stored in the leaves at high concentrations (Morilla II) decoction-boiling of plant samples to extract et al. 2014). active ingredients. III) poultice-applying plants directly to the affected The most employed method of preparing the plants for area medicinal applications is decoction. It is done by boiling the materials in sufficient amount of water to extract IV) concoction-mixing plants water-soluble compounds in plants that have medicinal V) infusion-soaking of plants in a liquid to extract values. Examples of which are tannins, which are known active ingredients to have antimicrobial properties (Siqueira et al. 2011). VI) pounding/crushing/pulverizing plants to extract Next to decoction, poultice is also a preferred method active components in preparing medicinal plants. Infusion, squeezing, and steaming were rarely cited. VII) steaming to vaporize volatile components ✔ VIII) squeezing for extraction of active compounds In Table 2, the check ( ) mark indicates that the botanical family was also recorded in the studies of Pizon This study records 80 plants but, of this number, only 71 et al. (2016) and Morilla et al. (2014). This may indicate plant species belonging to 40 families were identified and that plants belonging to these families may have certain authenticated (Table 1A). The remaining nine were still medicinal values and are still widely cultivated in the documented and reported for future reference (Table 1B). province of Zamboanga del Sur. The data showed that, despite the urbanization of Pagadian The same table highlights those botanical families City, conventional healing is still practiced. Although recorded from this study that were neither mentioned some of the plants mentioned are already diminishing, in the study of Pizon et al. (2016) nor in the study of which suggests for preservation and further cultivation of Morilla et al. (2014). This could mean two things: 1) the available plant species with medicinal values. these plant species are not cultivated in the areas where It can be seen from Table 1A that the botanical families the participants from the studies of Pizon et al. (2016) and with the highest number of species were represented Morilla et al. (2014) are located, and 2) participants from from the families Lamiaceae and Moraceae with six both studies do not consider these plants to have medicinal species; followed by Euphorbiaceae and Fabaceae values. However, it is important to note the diversity of with five species; Poaceae and Rutaceae with three the key informants of this study in terms of ethnicity, species; Amaryllidaceae, Anacardiaceae, Asparagaceae, unlike in the studies of Pizon et al. (2016) and Morilla et Asteraceae, Compositae, Cucurbitaceae, Myrthaceae, al. (2014) where the key informants were all Subanens. and Zingeberaceae with two species; and the rest of the This variation in the ethnicity of the participants may be families, which were represented by only one species. accounted for the difference in the utilization of plant These results are in agreement with the study of Fiscal species for conventional healing, although further data (2017) on medicinal plants in Laguna, which also showed must be gathered to confirm and support this statement. Lamiaceae as the botanical family with the highest Some plants were administered as mixtures with other number of plant species, followed by Euphorbiaceae. plants. Accordingly, plants may be mixed to enhance Several studies were conducted employing plants from the effectiveness of herbal medication (Table 3). For these families and had proven these plants to contain instance, kalamansi (Citrus microcarpa) and kalabo important chemical compounds. Such in the case of (Origanum vulgare L.) are mixed for severe coughing Origanum vulgare L. and Vitex negundo L., two of the remedy. The antibacterial properties of both species,

84 Philippine Journal of Science Fabie-Agapin: Plants Used as Medicines in Pagadian City Vol. 149 No. 1, March 2020

Table 1A. Plants used as medicine in Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. Scientific name Family Local Plant part Claimed disease/ailment Method of name used treated preparation 1 Allium sativum L. Amaryllidaceae ahos cloves toothache VI 2 Allium cepa L. Amaryllidaceae bombay bulb cough II 3 Justicia gendarussa Burn.f. Acanthaceae mandalusan leaves diarrhea II 4 Mangifera indica L. Anacardiaceae mangga leaves swelling II 5 Spondias purpurea L. Anacardiaceae seregwelas leaves cough, fever II 6 Annona muricata L. Annonaceae sabana leaves fever II 7 Daucus carota L. Apiaceae carrot leaves tumor II 8 Catharantus roseus (L.) G. Don Apocynaceae kumintang leaves diabetes II 9 Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott Araceae badyang leaves bronchitis II 10 Corypha utan Lam. Arecaceae buli roots relapse II 11 Cordyline fruticosa (L.) A. Chev. Asparagaceae makilala leaves menstrual cramps, II dysmenorrhea 12 Sansevieria trifasciata Prain Asparagaceae tigre-tigre leaves fever V (in efficascent oil) 13 Artemisia sp. Asteraceae barog-barog leaves stomachache II 14 Asteraceae gapas-gapas leaves diabetes II 15 Basella alba L. Basellaceae alugbati leaves hypertension II 16 Heliotropium indicum L. Boraginaceae elepante leaves relapse II 17 Carica papaya L. Caricaceae kapayas na flowers dysmenorrhea, dengue II laki 18 Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M King & Compositae hagonoy leaves cough, cold II H.Rob 19 Pseudelephantopus spicatus (B. Juss. ex Compositae dila-dila sa leaves relapse II Aubl.) Rohr. ex C/F. Baker iro 20 Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. Convulvulaceae kamote leaves diabetes, anemia II 21 Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) Oken Crassulaceae kataka-taka leaves relapse II 22 Sechium edule (Jacq.)Sw. Cucurbitaceae sayote leaves hypertension II 23 Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl. Cucurbitaceae miracle plant leaves, cancer II fruits 24 Melanolepis multiglandulos Euphorbiaceae alom leaves parasitic worms, flatulence II, III 25 Codiaeum variegatum (L.) Rumph.ex. A. Euphorbiaceae san francisco leaves swelling III Juss 26 Euphorbia hirta L. Euphorbiaceae tawa-tawa leaves toothache II 27 Jatropha curcas L. Euphorbiaceae tuba-tuba leaves flatulence III 28 Euphorbiaceae salingkapaw leaves hepatitis A II 29 Senna alata (L.) Roxb. Fabaceae asunting leaves tinea versicolor, kidney VI, II problems 30 Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. Fabaceae ipil-ipil leaves parasitic worms I 30 Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit. Fabaceae ipil-ipil leaves parasitic worms I 31 Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.)Walp. Fabaceae madre de leaves swelling II cacao 32 Mimosa pudica L. Fabaceae makahiya leaves relapse, pasma II 33 Caesalpinia sappan L. Fabaceae sibukaw roots fever, anemia, relapse II 34 Lamiaceae alingatong roots cancer II

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35 Premna odorata Blanco Lamiaceae alagaw roots myoma, tumor II 36 Gmelina arborea Roxb. Lamiaceae gemelina leaves flatulence III 37 Origanum vulgare L. Lamiaceae kalabo leaves cough VII 38 Vitex negundo L. Lamiaceae lagundi leaves cough, fever II 39 Plectranthus scutellarioides (L.) R.Br. Lamiaceae mayana leaves open wounds III 40 Persea americana Mill. Lauraceae avocado leaves stomachache II 41 Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. Lythraceae banaba leaves kidney infection, diabetes II 42 Theobroma cacao L. Malvaceae cacao leaves boils III 43 Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr. Meliaceae santol leaves inflammation/ III swelling 44 Ficus sp. Moraceae apatot leaves mild fractures, flatulence III 45 Ficus elastica Roxb. ex Hornem. Moraceae balite na leaves, roots cough, rashes, cancer II, III dako 46 Ficus benjamina L. Moraceae balite na roots broken bones III, VI gamay 47 Ficus pumila L. Moraceae balite na roots impotence, menstrual II sanga disorders 48 Ficus septica Burm.f. Moraceae lagnob leaves relapse, stroke II 49 Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. Moraceae nangka leaves asthma II 50 Moringa oleifera Lam. Moringaceae kamunggay leaves lumps, bruises, contusion VI 51 Muntingia calabura L. Muntingiaceae mansanitas leaves kidney infection, ulcer, II myoma 52 Musa spp. Musaceae saging leaves open wounds I, III 53 Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels Myrtaceae lomboy seeds gastroenteritis II 54 Psidium guajava L. Myrtaceae bayabas leaves rashes, fever I 55 Pandanus spp. Pandanaceae romlon leaves fever II 56 Phyllanthus niruri L. Phyllanthaceae sambag- leaves, swelling/inflammation, II sambag seeds kidney stones 57 Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth Piperaceae sinaw-sinaw leaves kidney problems, diabetes II 58 Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn Poaceae bila-bila leaves myoma, cysts, cancer II 59 Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch. Poaceae kugon roots nose bleed II 60 Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf Poaceae tanglad leaves amoebiasis II 61 Poaceae kawayan leaves cancer II 62 Coffea arabicaL. Rubiaceae kape seeds lung cancer II, VI 63 Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. Rutaceae boongon leaves cancer II 64 Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck Rutaceae lemon fruits cancer, bacterial infections V 65 Citrus × microcarpa Bunge Rutaceae kalamansi fruits tetanus VIII 66 Chrysophyllum cainito L. Sapotaceae caimito leaves diabetes, excessive bleeding II 67 Capsicum annuum L. Solanaceae sili seed toothache III 68 Lantana camara L. Verbenaceae warak leaves cancer, boils II 69 Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f Xanthorrhoeaceae aloe vera leaves cancer, parasitic worms II 70 Zingiber officinale Roscoe Zingiberaceae luy-a rhizome nausea, vomiting VI 71 Curcuma longa L. Zingiberaceae dulaw rhizome cancer II, VI

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Table 1B. Plants mentioned but no samples collected. Preparation and mode Local name Plant part used Medicinal use of application 1 ampalaya na diyutay fruits decoction anemia 2 matan-ag leaves decoction excessive bleeding 3 kumingag na kahoy leaves poultice rashes, relapse 4 busikad leaves decoction diarrhea 5 dalupang leaves decoction diarrhea 6 alambihid leaves decoction measles, relapse 7 handalamay leaves poultice cold sores 8 manan-aw leaves decoction excessive bleeding 9 tangan-tangan leaves decoction anemia

Table 2. Botanical families mentioned in this study and two more similar studies conducted in Zamboanga del Sur. No. Botanical families recorded from this Study Morilla et al. (2014) Pizon et al. (2016) 1 Amaryllidaceae ✔ 2 Acanthaceae 3 Anacardiaceae ✔ 4 Annonaceae ✔ 5 Apiaceae ✔ ✔ 6 Apocynaceae ✔ 7 Araceae ✔ ✔ 8 Arecaceae ✔ 9 Asparagaceae ✔ ✔ 10 Asteraceae ✔ 11 Basellaceae 12 Boraginaceae 13 Caricaceae ✔ 14 Compositae 15 Convulvulaceae 16 Crassulaceae 17 Cucurbitaceae ✔ 18 Euphorbiaceae ✔ ✔ 19 Fabaceae ✔ ✔ 20 Lamiaceae ✔ ✔ 21 Lauraceae 22 Lythraceae 23 Malvaceae ✔ ✔ 24 Meliaceae ✔ ✔ 25 Moraceae ✔ ✔ 26 Moringaceae ✔ 27 Muntingiaceae 28 Musaceae ✔ ✔ 29 Myrtaceae ✔ ✔

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30 Pandanaceae 31 Phyllanthaceae 32 Piperaceae ✔ ✔ 33 Poaceae ✔ 34 Rubiaceae ✔ 35 Rutaceae 36 Sapotaceae 37 Solanaceae ✔ 38 Verbenaceae ✔ 39 Xanthorrhoeaceae 40 Zingiberaceae ✔ ✔

Table 3. Mixed plants for herbal medication. No Plants Plant part used Preparation Medicinal use 1 kalamansi, kalabo fruit, leaves steam kalamansi and kalabo; squeeze severe coughing to extract juices; add a little honey to the mixture 2 luy-a, bayabas rhizome, leaves steam rhizome and leaves of bayabas varicose veins 3 bila-bila, tawa-tawa leaves decoction cough, kidney problems mix in equal number of leaves and boil in sufficient amount of water 4 bila-bila, salingkapaw, busikad, leaves boil in sufficient amount of water 7 severe diarrhea mandalusan, bayabas, dalupang, leaves of each of the mentioned plants lagnob 5 onion, honey bulb add minced onions to a jar filled with severe cough honey along with its individual active components, may act Journal of Multidisciplinary Research 5(4): 132–137. synergistically and treat coughing more effectively, Retrieved from http://www.apjmr.com/wp-content/ although studies on mixing different plants may need to uploads/2017/12/APJMR-2017.5.4.16.pdf be further established before claiming its effectiveness. GOOGLE EARTH PRO. 2019. Map of Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur. 7˚50'22.93''N 123˚26'03.64˚E el- evation of 483 ft eye alt 18.36mi. Viewed 05 Oct 2019. ACKNOWLEDGMENT MORILLA LJ, SUMAYA NH, RIVERO H, MADAMBA RS. 2014. Medicinal Plants of the Subanen in Dum- The author would like to thank Western Mindanao State ingag Zamboanga del Sur Philippines. Proceedings of University – Research, Extension Services and External the International Conference on Food, Biological and Linkages for the technical and financial assistance Medical Sciences; 28–29 Jan 2014; Bangkok, Thailand. throughout the duration of the study. Also, to the barangay Retrieved from http://iicbe.org/upload/4970C0114577. officials and key informants who consented the conduct pdf of the study. The same gratitude is given to Prof. Muhmin Manting of MSU-IIT for assistance in the identification PIZON JR, NUNEZA O, UY M, SENARATH W. and authentication of the plant species. 2016. Ethnobotany of Medicinal Plants Used by the Subanen Tribe of Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur. Bulletin of Environment, Pharmacology and Life Sci- ences 5(5): 53–67. Retrieved from http://bepls.com/ REFERENCES beplsapril2016/9a.pdf FISCAL R. 2017. Ethnomedicinal Plants used by Tra- SIQUEIRA CF, CABRAL DL, SOBRINHO J, AMORIM ditional Healers in Laguna, Philippines. Asia Pacific EL, MELO J, ARAUJO TA, ALBUQUERQUE

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UP. 2011. Levels of Tannins and Flavonoids in Me- dicinal Plants: Evaluating Bioprospecting Strategies. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. doi.10.1155/2012434782. SUGANTHI N, DUBEY S. 2016. Phytochemical Con- stituents and Pharmacological Activities of Vitex negundo Linn. Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research 8(2): 800–807.