Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants of Banjar and Java Tribes in Pandansari Village, South Kalimantan

In Pandansari village, South Kalimantan, Indonesia, residents from Banjar and Javanese communities traditionally utilize medicinal plants as alternatives to conventional medicine. This study aimed to explore the demographics, plant use practices, and preliminary phytochemical analysis of these plants. Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were conducted with four purposively selected informants. The findings revealed 52 medicinal plant species. Leaves were the most commonly used plant part (40%), followed by boiling as the preferred processing method (54%) and drinking as the primary route of administration (58%). Two unidentified plants, asam sembelekan and daun malaysia , were frequently mentioned. Phytochemical screening detected flavonoids, saponins, phenols, and terpenoids in asam sembelekan , while daun malaysia contained alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and terpenoids. These findings provide a foundation for further research on the efficacy and safety of these traditional medicinal plants in this community.


INTRODUCTION
Indonesia, a megadiverse country, boasts a vast array of plant life 1 .This rich tapestry of plant species serves humanity in numerous ways, including as ingredients in traditional medicine-practices often passed down through generations 2 .Ethnobotanical studies delve specifically into this wealth of knowledge, exploring the potential medicinal properties of plants used by communities for extended periods 3 .South Kalimantan, a province in southeastern Borneo, encompasses both lowlands and highlands, including the Maratus Mountains.The Banjar tribe is the largest ethnic group in South Kalimantan, but others like the Javanese, Bugis, Batak, and Madurese also call this region home 4 .Both the Banjar and Javanese tribes have a rich heritage of using plants for medicinal purposes 5 .The Javanese tradition, known as golek tombo or suwuk, incorporates prayer and medicinal plants for healing 6 .
The Banjar tribe practices betetamba, which translates to treatment or shaman.The Banjar tribe beliefs associate betetamba rituals with the influence of nature and the surrounding environment 7, 8 .Pandansari Village, located in Kintap District, covers an area of 50.00 km² and lies 9.31 km from the sub-district center.The village is home to a diverse population, including Banjar, Javanese, and other ethnicities.The majority of the community works in farming and gardening.Pandansari Village, Kintap District, boasts well-preserved natural resources.Despite the lack of prior research exploring its natural potential, this village presents a compelling opportunity for investigation.This ethnobotanical study aims to document the medicinal plants used in Pandansari Village.We collect comprehensive data on utilized plant parts, preparation methods, processing techniques, and application methods.Additionally, phytochemical screening was conducted on these plants.This study has the potential to provide valuable data and documentation of the plant species traditionally used by the community for medicinal purposes.Furthermore, it can pave the way for the development of these plants as future therapeutic agents.

Materials
Medicinal plants were collected from Pandansari Village, South Kalimantan, Indonesia.Analytical grade chemicals and reagents were used throughout the study, including 70% ethanol, distilled water, FeCl3, concentrated HCl, CHCl3, NaOH, magnesium powder, gelatin, Dragendorff's reagent, and Lieberman-Burchard reagent.The following equipment was used for sample collection, preparation, and analysis: cutting tools, measuring tapes, test tubes, macerators, grinders, analytical balances, ovens, and water baths.Documentation of plant materials was facilitated by a digital camera.

Research design
This study employed a qualitative research approach with a phenomenological perspective 9 .In this case, phenomenology allowed us to delve into the experiences and meanings associated with the use of medicinal plants.Data collection involved semi-structured interviews and questionnaires administered to consenting participants from the village (informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to their involvement in the study).The research was conducted from December 2022 to February 2023 in Pandansari Village, Kintap District, Tanah Laut Regency, South Kalimantan, Indonesia.Additionally, laboratory analyses were performed at the Pharmacognosy-Phytochemistry Laboratory of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Universitas Lambung Mangkurat.

Respondents
Purposive sampling was employed to recruit participants for this study.We specifically targeted traditional healers from the Banjar and Javanese ethnicities residing in Pandansari Village.Inclusion criteria for participation were: (1) experience as a traditional healer, (2) willingness to participate in the study, and (3) knowledge and use of medicinal plants for treatment purposes.

Retrieval procedure of research data
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with consenting participants from the Pandansari Village community.Interviews were conducted in Indonesian or the participant's preferred regional language (e.g., Banjarese, Javanese) to ensure clear communication and minimize misunderstandings.The interview guide explored topics related to the traditional use of medicinal plants, including plant names and perceived benefits, utilized plant parts, processing and administration methods, and duration of use.Additionally, a questionnaire was administered to gather information on ownership of medicinal plants, purposes of traditional plant-based treatments, age demographics of plant users, source of knowledge regarding traditional medicine, and length of experience using medicinal plants for treatment.

Phytochemical screening
Phytochemical screening was performed on plant samples identified as potentially novel based on a lack of prior documentation in the scientific literature.These samples were subjected to a battery of tests using the tube method to detect the presence of various secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, quinones, phenols, terpenoids, steroids, and tannins.Detailed descriptions of the specific methods employed for each phytochemical test can be found in Table I.

Data analysis
Data obtained from interviews and questionnaires were analyzed to identify plant names, reported benefits, and utilized plant parts.Additionally, documented plants were examined for morphological characteristics to aid in classification.The results were presented in two main formats: qualitative and quantitative.Qualitative data, including narratives and tables, were detailed the traditional knowledge regarding medicinal plants.Quantitative data was presented in the form of a percentage diagram illustrating the prevalence of specific plant parts used, processing methods employed, and applications of medicinal plants within the Pandansari Village community.The formula used to calculate these percentages was provided in Equation 1 13 .

% 𝑃𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 =
Parts of the plant used All parts of the plant used x100% [1]

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Informants for this study were recommended by the Pandansari Village administration, specifically traditional healers or penenamba known for treating patients within the community.Semi-structured interviews were employed to gather data from participants.This interview method allows for flexibility and exploration of new information that may arise during the conversation.Details regarding the research informants are presented in Table II.Interviews with Pandansari Village residents revealed 52 plant species traditionally used for medicinal purposes.Following identification efforts that included consulting both application practices and relevant literature, 50 plant species were successfully identified.However, two plant species remained unidentified.Collaborations with the Banua Botanical Garden, Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, and the Indonesian Biology Generation Foundation, Gresik, East Java, are currently underway to identify these unknown species (details on these ongoing efforts can be provided upon request).Data on the identified medicinal plants used in Pandansari Village are presented in Table III.Analysis of data revealed nine distinct plant parts utilized for traditional medicine in Pandansari Village by the local healers or penenamba.These parts included root, leaf, stem, rhizome, sap, fruit, flower, tuber, and whole plant parts.Leaves emerged as the most frequently used plant part, as illustrated in the percentage diagram presented in Figure 1.Phytochemical screening was performed on two unidentified medicinal plants, asam sembelekan and daun malaysia (Figure 2), as reported by the Pandansari Village community.The results revealed notable differences in their secondary metabolite profiles, with the presence of saponins and terpenoids being the only shared constituents (Table IV).Notably, asam sembelekan exhibited the presence of phenolic compounds, which possess known antitussive (cough-relieving) properties 14 .This finding aligns somewhat with the reported use of this plant for ailments like coughs within the community 15 .Conversely, daun malaysia was found to contain alkaloids and flavonoids, secondary metabolites with established cholesterol-lowering activity 16, 17 ..Saponins and alkaloids followed in abundance, identified in 32 and 30 plants, respectively.Conversely, quinones were the least common, only reported in three plants.This scarcity is likely due to their derivation from the oxidation of hydroquinones, which may not be present in significant quantities within many medicinal plants 19 .

Table II .
Informant data.

Table III .
Medicinal plants in Pandansari Village.Parts of plants that have medicinal properties used in Pandansari Village.

Table IV .
Phytochemical screening of asam sembelekan and daun malaysia.literaturereviewidentified previously reported secondary metabolite profiles for the 50 documented medicinal plants (TableV).Of the eight secondary metabolite classes tested on the two previously investigated plants, I. cylindrica, M. peltata, D. zibethinus, J. gendarussa, Z. officinale, C. aurantifolia, H. rosa-sinensis, and C. xanthorrhiza exhibited the greatest diversity, each containing six identified metabolite types.Conversely, S. zalacca lacked reports of any of the tested metabolites.Among the identified metabolites, flavonoids were the most prevalent, detected in 40 plants.This finding aligns with the established knowledge of flavonoids being one of the most widespread classes of secondary metabolites in various plant species A

Table V .
Secondary metabolite from medicinal plants in Pandansari Village.