Ethnobotany study of medicinal plants in Bengkulu as a medium of student learning: The Euphorbiaceae family

Abstract

Ethnobotany study is a way to uncover the diversity of plants that are used in an ethnic or region. Although ethnobotany research has been done in Bengkulu, there are still a lot of data that has not been revealed and the results are still not well documented. From the results of the exploration of medicinal plants that have been done by Euphorbiaceae is one of the largest families reported utilization, and the types used are different between regions, so the utilization information has not been recorded as a whole. On the other hand, this family is one of the selected families to be studied by students. This study aims to inventory the medicinal plants of the Euphorbiaceae family that are utilized by Bengkulu society which can be used as media for student learning. Research methodology by conducting field surveys (by means of exploration, observation, interviews with informants chosen by purposive sampling) and literature studies. Data analysis was carried out descriptively. From the results of research on the family Euphorbiaceae found 18 types of medicinal plants including: candlenut (Aleurites moluccina), earrings (Acalypha australis) bone wood (Euphorbia tirucalli), Jatropha curcas and others. The use of these plants for the treatment of tonsils, headaches, wound medicine, malaria, jaundice, magh, itching, colds, warts, heart disease and so forth. Jatropha curcas is a commonly used plant and the benefits are varied. The data of 18 types of plants are then documented in a Bengkulu medicinal plant dictionary along with other plant species, so that they can be used as student learning media.