Ethnopharmacology and Antioxidant Activity Studies of Woody Liana Original Wallacea

Abstract

Lore Lindu National Park is a habitat located in the middle of the Wallacea Region, consisting of various types of medicinal plants, including lianas. This area is surrounded by the Kaili Tribe, which possesses adequate ethnopharmacology knowledge and local wisdom in managing living natural resources. Studies on the medicinal plant species of lianas original Wallacea have not been conducted. Therefore, this study aims to reveal Kaili’s ethnopharmacology of woody liana plants and identify the metabolic content and antioxidant activity. This study was carried out at the Lore Lindu National Park with the purposive and snowball sampling methods used to determine the respondents. Furthermore, the Harborne and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods were used to analyze the phytochemical content and antioxidant activities. The results showed that the Kaili people used the lianas Poikilospermum suaveolens (Blume) Merr, Arcangelisia Flava (L.) Merr, Fibrauea Tinctoria Lour, and Maclura cochinchinensis (Lour.) Corner are medicine for treating various types of chronic diseases. The plant's bark and wood are used as medicine by processing boiled/brewed hot water, or by pounded, and smeared over the wound. The phytochemical analysis results showed that alkaloids are contained in all types of lianas, while flavonoids and tannins are found only in 3 types. Meanwhile, the P. suaveolens contained saponin, A. flava bark extract has potential to be developed as an antioxidant.