Ethnobotanical and phytochemical study of the medicinal plants used by Kanawan Aytas in Morong, Bataan, Philippines

Abstract

This study systematically evaluated the medicinal plants used by the Magbukún Ayta Negrito indigenous group in Sitio Kanawan, Morong, Bataan, Philippines through ethnobotanical methods, i.e. Use Value (UV), Fidelity Level (FL), and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF). Semi-structured interviews were used to gather data from 35 informants. All the plants mentioned were collected and identified. The World Health Organization (WHO) use category and the number of use report for each botanical specimen were taken into account as well. The therapeutic uses of 61 plant taxa were documented against 12 categories of ailments. Psidium guajava and Category II (Neoplasms) had the highest UV and ICF values respectively. Five plants with notable ethnobotanical index values were subjected to phytochemical screening for bioactive compounds; all tested positive for sterols, flavonoids, glycosides, and tannins, while Alstonia scholaris (Linn.) R. Br. and Gonocaryum calleryanum (Baill.) Becc. showed abundant amounts of alkaloids. This study highlights the rich culture and traditions of the Ayta Negrito indigenous group although results also indicate that ethnomedicinal knowledge is fading away. Nevertheless, this study opens up various avenues in pharmacological research and pharmacognosy.