Medicinal Plants Used by the Manobo Tribe of Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur, Philippines-An Ethnobotanical Survey
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Research Article Medicinal Plants used by the Manobo Tribe of Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur, Philippines-an Ethnobotanical Survey Lyn Dela Rosa Paraguison1,2,*, Danilo Niem Tandang3, Grecebio Jonathan Duran Alejandro1,4 1The Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas, España Boulevard, Manila, PHILIPPINES. 2College of Science, Biology Department, Adamson University, Ermita, Manila, PHILIPPINES. 3National Museum of the Philippines, Ermita, Manila, PHILIPPINES. 4College of Science and Research Center for the Natural and Applied Sciences, University of Santo Tomas, España Boulevard, Manila, PHILIPPINES. Submission Date: 13-09-2020; Revision Date: 22-11-2020; Accepted Date: 01-12-2020 Correspondence: ABSTRACT Ms. Lyn D Paraguison, 1The Graduate School, Objectives: The Philippine Manobo tribe is historically rich in ethnomedicinal practices and known University of Santo to use local names as “Lunas” (meaning cure) of most medicinal plants. The purpose of this Tomas, España study is to record the traditional practices, use of medicinal plants and information of the Agusan Boulevard, 1015 Manila, Manobo tribe in order to establish the relative significance, consensus and scope of all medicinal PHILIPPINES. 2College of Science, plants used. Methods: Ethnomedicinal survey of medicinal plants was carried out in three selected Biology Department, barangays of Prosperidad City, Agusan del Sur. Ethnomedicinal data were collected through a Adamson University, semi-structured interview, group discussions and guided field walks from 144 primary informants. 900 Ermita, Manila, Plant importance was calculated using indices such as Family importance value (FIV) and relative PHILIPPINES. Phone no: +63-8- 524- frequency of citation (RFC). Results: A total of 40 species belonging to 34 genera and 23 families 2011 LOCAL 210 have been identified as having ethnomedicinal significance. The highest FIV (97.27) in the treatment of body pain, hypertension and infection was reported for Asteraceae. The most Email id: delarosapar- commonly cited species of medicinal plants were Anodendron borneense King and Gamble and aguison1993@gmail. Thottea sp.(RFC = 0.50) which is primarily usedfor treating gastrointestinal infection. Conclusion: com The findings of this study show the rich ethnomedicinal tradition and knowledge of the cultural community of Agusan Manobo in Prosperidad City. Thus, for the potential management and conservation strategies of such plant genetic resources, recording these traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and practices is highly important. This indigenous legacy of awareness regarding medicinal plants will open pathways for future drug discovery to enhance global healthcare. Key words: Agusan Manobo, Ethnobotany, Medicinal plants, Prosperidad, Survey. INTRODUCTION and plants.[1] Ethnobotanical studies can have a critical role in highlighting important plant species in a particu- In the last century, ethnobotany has developed into lar region.[2] Philippine ethnobotanical studies prevail a scientific discipline that uses not only botany and among diverse cultural communities and enhance anthropology but also ecology, economics, public policy, the complex existence of traditional knowledge. This pharmacology, public health and other disciplines as knowledge stems from the numerous studies conducted necessary to investigate the relationship between people in different regions which cover the areas of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The World Health Organization SCAN QR CODE TO VIEW ONLINE (WHO) accounted for approximately 60% of the world’s www.ajbls.com population depending on conventional medicine and 80% of the population in developing countries depend almost entirely on traditional medical practices, espe- DOI: 10.5530/ajbls.2020.9.49 cially herbal treatment. The use of herbal treatment and phytonutrients or nutraceuticals continues to 326 Asian Journal of Biological and Life Sciences, Vol 9, Issue 3, Sep-Dec, 2020 Paraguison, et al.: Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants used by Agusan Manobo Tribe grow rapidly throughout the world with many people knowledge in this area to complement the earlier studies. now resorting to such products in different national This cultural knowledge possessed by indigenous people healthcare settings for the treatment of various health is an essential resource to be preserved. Therefore, an problems.[3] Due to the growing demand for drug ethnobotanical study of the medicinal plants used by discovery and medicinal plant production, the application the Manobo tribe of Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur, is of ethno-pharmacology has been increasingly rising in needed. Because knowledge of traditional medicinal recent decades including multivariate analysis.[4] plant application is useful for community health care Literature suggests that the Philippines is abundant activities,[11] recording plants used by the traditional with the numerous medicinal plants used by the Filipinos. healers is of prime importance to local and tribal people Nevertheless, few comprehensive ethnobotanical research to treat ailments. studies have been carried out to record the availability and the use of the Philippines' rich plant biodiversity MATERIALS AND METHODS [5] and cultural diversity. The Ayta community in Study area Dinalupihan, Bataan of Luzon.[6] and the Ati community in Iloilo of Visayas[7] were recorded in particular while Fieldwork was carried out in the province of Agusan Mindanao remained less studied. Mindanao is mainly del Sur, Philippines (8° 30´ N 125° 50´ E), bordered by populated with 61% of the Philippine’s total indigenous Agusan del Norte to the north, Davao del Norte to the population (IPs). One of the largest IP communities in south and Misamis Oriental and Bukidnon to the west, Surigao del Sur to the east. Agusan del Sur is bounded Mindanao is the Manobo Tribe, which primarily resides by mountain ranges from the eastern and western sides in the Agusan del Sur province known as the Agusan which form an elongated basin or valley in the longi- Manobo. They are regarded as the largest ethnic group tudinal center section of the land. The province is in the Philippines occupying a larger distribution area divided into 13 municipalities ranging from the largest than other indigenous groups such as the Bagobo, to the smallest area of land: La Paz, Esperanza, Loreto, Higaonon and Atta.[4] Ethnologically, the word Manobo San Luis, Talacogon, Sibagat, Prosperidad, Bunawan, has been named after “Mansuba” which means river Trento, Veruela, Rosario, San Francisco and Sta. Josefa. people. They live along the provincial valley of the This study purposely covered three selected barangays Agusan River and Agusan marshland territories.[8] Due of Prosperidad (Figure 1) with the certification of to geographical division, indigenous Manobo groups ancestral domain title (CADT), as endorsed by the are clustered accordingly, sharing areas with different National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)- dialects and certain aspects of culture. Their historic CARAGA Administrative Area, for reasons of acces- lifestyle and daily livelihood are rural agriculture and sibility, availability and protection. Such sites are part depends primarily on their rice harvest, root crops and of the province’s protected areas that constitute nearly consumable vegetables.[4] Over the years, their tribe has two-thirds (74%) while alienable and disposable areas passed many hurdles, but has managed to uphold and are around one third (26%).[12] defend their ancestral territory to retain their cultural traditions, rituals and values to this present generation Field Survey continuously. This culture suggests that the traditional Fieldwork for the entire month of November 2019 was practices of Agusan Manobo include a rich knowledge carried out. Before the actual interview, field survey of medicinal plants, but their indigenous knowledge has and selection in selected barangays of Prosperidad, not been recorded systematically.[4] Five studies have Agusan del Sur, namely Magsaysay, Mabuhay and already been carried out covering certain areas of Agusan Poblacion, prior acquisition of the requisite approval del Sur[4,5] particularly in Bayugan, Esperanza and was secured such as informed consent, certification Sibagat[9] which reveal the medicinal plants used by and permit (GP No. R13-2019-62 of October 2, 2019). people of Manobo to assess and study the medicinal Meetings and consultation were held together with value of their plants that will help people living in 1 tribal leader and tribal healer. remote rural areas and far from modern healthcare.[10] A total of 144 indigenous respondents were chosen by On the contrary, there is still an incomplete detail of purposive and snowball sampling, which is more than ethnobotanical studies of medicinal plants used by the 10% of the total population of chosen barangays, con- Manobo tribe in the Philippines. Three unexplored sisting of tribal council and members. A total of 59 barangays in Prosperidad, the capital city of Agusan females and 85 males were collected with an age range del Sur, is here conducted to extend the ethnobotanical between 18-80 years old and the median age being 46 Asian Journal of Biological and Life Sciences, Vol 9, Issue 3, Sep-Dec, 2020 327 Paraguison, et al.: Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants used by Agusan Manobo Tribe and N is the total number of informants. The FIV also helps to characterize families according to the number of plants used as medicinal products in a specific