European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

AN ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS WITH ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECTS IN THE MAJALAYA REGION, KARAWANG, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Neshya Dhiya Afifah, Abdillah, Aghnia Rizki Wahdah, Amanda Imaniar Khoirunnisa, Angelika Gabe Malau, Annisa Indah Rahmawati, Choerul Fazri Muhammad, Enjelina, Fanisa Utari, Laila Nurul Fadhilah, Malika Amalia Salsabila, Nabilah Putri Mulyana, Nida Kusumawati, Ridwan Hidayat, Sri Saofi Febri Tri Syifa, Maulana Yusuf Alkandahri*

ABSTRACT

Hypertension (HT) is a major risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease, which is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. This research aims to document and preserve the use of ethnomedicine to treat HT by people in the Majalaya Region, Karawang, West Java, Indonesia. Fieldwork was carried out from November to December 2025 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 Majalaya Region to treat HT. Among the various plant parts used, leaves (56.7%) are most often used in making medicine, followed by fruit (23.3%), rhizome (10.0%), stem, rind, and seeds (3.3% respectively). Meanwhile, the most frequently used preparation method was infusion (56.7%), followed by decoction (20.0%), juice (20.0%), and paste (3.3%). The research results confirm that the Sundanese people in the Majalaya Region still rely heavily on medicinal plants for the treatment of HT. 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 Majalaya Region, so that the availability of medicinal plants in the region is maintained.

Keywords: Traditional medicine, Ethnomedicinal plants, Majalaya Region, Antihypertensive.