Analysis of Traditional Knowledge of Medicinal Plants from Residents Near Kalikasan Park, Albay, Philippines

Abstract

The study was conducted to document the traditional knowledge and utilization of medicinal plants from the locals residing near Kalikasan Park, Albay, Philippines. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and informal interviews. The survey was participated by 24 informants, 50% of which had secondary education and 42% are aged 50 years old and above. The ethnobotanical importance of the surveyed plants was quantitatively analyzed in terms of 3 parameters: frequency (F), specificity (S), and reliability (R) in the citation of plant species used for specific ailments. A total of 21 plants from 17 families were surveyed to treat the 16 ailments having a cold and cough as the most cited. The leaves were the commonly used part of the plant, the decoction was the usual mode of preparation, and treatment was usually administered by drinking the herbal infusion (as tea). Of all the cited medicinal plants, 3 species consistently obtained 100% values in F, S and R namely: Lagerstroemia speciosa Linn. (banaba), Piper betle Linn. (buyo), and Citrus maxima (Burm.) Merr. (lukban) as a treatment for Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), muscle pain and insomnia, respectively. A 100% specificity was recorded in 9 species namely, Persea americana Mill. (abukado) for diabetes; L. speciosa against UTI; P. betle for muscle pain; Kaempferia galangal Linn. (dosol) for inflammation; Psidium guajava Linn. (bayawas) for wound; Clerodendrum intermedium Cham. (matang-kuwaw) for cold; C. maxima for insomnia; Gendarussa vulgaris Nees (puli) for inflammation; and Cymbopogon citratus (DC. ex Nees) Stapf. (tanglad) against diabetes. There is a wealth of information on medicinal plant and their applications available from Kalikasan Park communities. The study’s results may provide useful information for pharmacological studies and sustainable conservation of Kalikasan Park’s natural plant ecosystem.