European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF DIARRHEA IN SALAWU REGION, TASIKMALAYA, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Muhammad Azriel Aulia, Andini, Delia Azma Febiyanti, Nadia Siti Syaarifah, Alya Dila Afifa, Mahatma Adha Sugwidiya, Risda Aulia Khairani, Rima Anggera Puspita, Siti Nur Syifa, Siti Nurhamidah Hardiana, Navelga Maghfira Idzani, Nabila Tsalist Hanifah, Husniah, Rizky Fauziyah Manshur, Alya Ratna Irfadillah, Satria Emmir Rafshanzani and Maulana Yusuf Alkandahri*

ABSTRACT

The use of traditional medicinal plants in the management of diarrhea has long been practiced in Indonesia. Currently, researchers are starting to look for new antidiarrheal compound candidates derived from natural ingredients that have been empirically proven to have antidiarrheal effects. This research aims to document and preserve the use of ethnomedicinal to treat diarrhea by people in the Salawu Region, Tasikmalaya, 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 research reports that 30 plant species are commonly used by people in the Salawu Region to treat diarrhea. Among the various plant parts used, leaves (53.3%) are most frequently used in making medicine, followed by rhizome (16.7%), seed (10%), root (6.7%), fruit (6.7%), stem and rind (3.3% respectively). Meanwhile, the most frequently used preparation methods were decoction (83.3%) and infusion (16.7%). The results of this research confirm that people in the Salawu Region still rely heavily on medicinal plants for their health care system, especially for the treatment of diarrhea with the most frequently used parts of the leaves and their use in decoctions and infusions.

Keywords: Traditional medicine, Ethnomedicinal plants, Salawu Region, Diarrhea.