European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED TO TREAT HYPERTENSION IN THE PLERED REGION, PURWAKARTA, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Aditiya Rizky Putra Abimanyu, Aisyah Salsabila Ramadhina, Aliffia Dwi Rahma, Ayu Wahyuni, Farres Ilhamza Arrizqi, Hanifah Ismayfatin, Khesya Shafira Maurizkya, Nisa Dwi Yuliani, Novi Lavly Fairish, Ramdani Nur Ilham, Sulastri Amallia, Syerli Putri Afriliany, Yasinta Vivia Muthaqimah, Yulianti Khasanah, Gina Salsabila, Zhahira Hikmatuz Zahra and Maulana Yusuf Alkandahri*

ABSTRACT

The use of traditional medicinal plants has significant advantages for cultural development, acceptability and economic affordability. In addition, medicinal plants are claimed to be able to cure several types of diseases compared to modern medicines. This research aims to document and preserve the use of ethnomedicine to treat hypertension by people in the Plered Region, Purwakarta, West Java, Indonesia. Fieldwork was carried out from March to April 2024 using direct interviews, questionnaires and discussions. Plant species are identified based on standard taxonomic methods, flower morphological characteristics, and where possible, using samples for comparison, as well as consultation with experts and the literature. The plant types obtained were grouped into families according to the Cronquist classification system. Plant names were checked against the Plant List (www.plantlist.org) and the International Plant Name Index (www.ipni.org). This study reports that 30 plant species are commonly used by people in the Plered Region for the treatment of hypertension. Among the various parts of plants used, leaves (60%) are most often used in making medicine, followed by rhizomes (16.7%), fruit (10%), rhizome (6.7%), stem, and bark (3.3% respectively). Meanwhile, the most frequently used preparation method was decoction (63.3%), followed by infusion (23.3%), and juice (13.3%). The research results confirm that people in the Plered Region still rely heavily on medicinal plants for the treatment of hypertension. However, efforts to preserve medicinal plants and the local wisdom of the people in this area have not been significant. Therefore, it is recommended that local indigenous communities and the government carry out in situ and ex situ conservation strategies for medicinal plants in the Plered Region, so that the availability of medicinal plants in the Region is maintained.

Keywords: Traditional medicine, Ethnomedicinal plants, Plered Region, Hypertension.