European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ETHNOBOTANICAL SURVEY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS USED TO TREAT DIABETES MELLITUS IN THE BLANAKAN REGION, SUBANG, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Shania Nurshazidah, Gina Desfina Wijaya, Fajar Adi Prasetya, Ali Alfarizzy, Yasinta Vivia, Syerli Putri Afriliany, Novi Lavly Fairish, Ayu Wahyuni, Khesya Shafira Maurizka, Hanifah Ismayfatin, Aliffia Dwi Rahma, Aisyah Salsabila Ramadhina, Azzahra Amelia, Dinda Revalina, Yulianti Khasanah, Widya Fatmala, and Maulana Yusuf Alkandahri*

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus (DM), characterized by hyperglycemia, is a genetically and clinically heterogeneous group of disorders with the common feature of glucose intolerance. Currently, researchers are starting to look for new antidiabetic compound candidates derived from natural ingredients that have been empirically proven to have antidiabetic effects. This research aims to document and preserve the use of ethnomedicine to treat diabetes mellitus by people in the Blanakan Region, Subang, West Java, Indonesia. Fieldwork was carried out from October to December 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 Blanakan Region to treat DM. Among the various plant parts used, leaves (63.3%) are most often used in making medicine, followed by rhizome (13.3%), fruit (6.7%), flower (6.7%), stem, rind, and seeds (3.3% respectively). Meanwhile, the most frequently used preparation methods were decoction (76.7%) and infusion (23.3%). The results of this research confirm that people in the Blanakan Region still rely heavily on medicinal plants for their health care system, especially for the treatment of DM with the most frequently used parts of the leaves and their use in decoctions and infusions.

Keywords: Traditional medicine, Ethnomedicinal plants, Blanakan Region, Diabetes Mellitus.