European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY OF ANTI-OSTEOARTHRITIS IN THE RENGASDENGKLOK REGION, KARAWANG, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Dinar Ropiah, Dhena Wildatunisa, Fanny Khansa Gunawan, Husniah, Icha Hanita, Kania Indrawati, Amelia Lestari Putri, Aysha Rizki Ramadani, Dinar Anita Listiany, Namah, Risma Avrilliyani, Sopie Herlina, Sulis Salsa Pijriah, Syifa Maptuha, Tasya Agrestia, Zahwa Destriani, Maulana Yusuf Alkandahri*

ABSTRACT

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread chronic degenerative disease marked by the deterioration of articular cartilage, modifications in subchondral bone, and a spectrum of symptoms, including pain, stiffness, and disability. Ultimately, this condition impairs the patient’s quality of life. This research aims to document and preserve the use of ethnomedicine to treat OA by people in the Rengasdengklok, Karawang, West Java, Indonesia. Fieldwork was carried out from April to May 2026 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 Rengasdengklok Region to treat OA. Among the various plant parts used, leaves (56.7%) are most frequently used in making medicines, followed by rhizomes (16.7%), seed (10.0%), fruit (6.7%), stem, flower, and rind (respectively 3.3%). 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 Rengasdengklok Region still rely heavily on medicinal plants for their health care system, especially for the treatment of OA with the most frequently used parts of the leaves and their use in decoctions and infusions.

Keywords: Traditional medicine, Ethnomedicinal plants, Rengasdengklok, Osteoarthritis.