Maribel B. Cruz
Kim Jazmin Buenafe
Kristine Stephanie De Ocampo
New Era University
How to Cite:
Cruz, M. B., Buenafe, K. J., & De Ocampo, K. S. (2024). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur, Philippines. NEU Knowledge Journal: A Compilation of Researches of New Era University Faculty, Staff, Students, and Administrators, 1(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.64303/neu-urc-kj2024-001EsMpumT
ABSTRACT
This descriptive research documented the species of medicinal plants used by Manobo Tribe in Surigao del Sur. The plant parts used for medicinal purposes, methods of preparations and mode of administration were determined. Survey questionnaires were given to four informants mostly datus and herbalists. They were interviewed regarding the plants they utilized for medicinal purposes. Plants collected were identified at Provincial Environment Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Local Government Unit of the Province of Surigao del Sur. There were 19 plants collected from the Manobo Tribe at Bitaugan, Surigao del Sur. Two plants were identified from
Poaceae family namely, Miligoy and Tubo. Two also were from the family Myrtaceae specifically, Tambis and Bayabas. The other plants were from families Fabaceae, Menispermaceae, Mimosoideae/ Mimosaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Costaceae, Malvaceae, Lauraceae and Basellaceae. Most plants were used to treat hyperacidity. Leaves were the most used plant part. Decoction was the most widely used medicinal preparation and majority was taken orally. There were no known side effects recorded from all medicinal plants collected. The time of effect for most of the medicinal plants collected was undetermined. Most of the medicinal plants were native, only some were recorded to be endemic and utilized as food by the locals.
Keywords: Ethnobotany; Medicinal plants; Manobo, Philippines
INTRODUCTION
Ethnobotany, a branch of biology, refers to the study of relationship between plants and human beings in a specific region that includes their practical uses through the traditional knowledge of local culture and people (USDA, 2017). It is a branch of science that aims to document the multiple uses of plants for shelter, medicine, food, clothing and other things that humans need in order to live. Ethnobotany also aims to document the relation of these plants to the rituals and religious ceremonies of a specific region as parts of their social life (Shodhganga, 2017).
As stated by World Health Organization (WHO, 2004), no less than 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicinal products and supplements for primary healthcare and that the use of phytonutrients or nutraceuticals continues to expand rapidly. Other estimates are estimated it at 70–80% of the population (Pei, 2001), up to four billion people in the developing world (Ekor, 2013) and growing (Srivastava, 2000).
Plants have contributed hugely to Western medicine, through providing ingredients for drugs or having played central roles in drug discovery. Some drugs are still extracted directly from plants, others are made through transformation of chemicals found within them, while yet others are today synthesized from inorganic materials, but have their historical origins in research into the active compounds found in plants. There are undoubtedly many more secrets still hidden in the world of plants (Odugbemi, 2008).
Since time immemorial, plants have been used worldwide by different cultures and people for public health. The extensive and widespread use of herbal remedies from traditionally used plants had caught the attention of many researchers.
Manobo, a name may come from Mansuba (man) and suba (river), meaning river people. They occupy Barangay Bitaugan, Surigao del Sur in southern Philippines. They have a unique cultural identity which is firmly rooted in the land and its nature. They have faith in a lot of deities and believe in ancestral spirits and unseen beings inhabiting the animate and inanimate objects found throughout their environment. In civic matters, they have appointed a Datu which protects the tribe and makes laws. A Datu is also knowledgeable in rituals and every aspect of the tribe which includes the traditional healing. Manobos are concentrated in Agusan, Bukidnon, Cotabato, Davao, Misamis Oriental, and Surigao Del Sur.
Different ethnobotanical studies on traditional knowledge of indigenous people have been reported in several parts of the Philippines. This study was conducted to determine the medicinal plants and their utilization in the area of Manobo tribe.
METHODOLOGY
Study Area
The province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines has different municipalities (Figure 1). Cagwait (Figure 2) is a 4th class municipality in the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 20,384 people (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2015). It is subdivided into barangays. Bitaugan is one of the barangays where approximately 300 families of Manobo tribe live.
Research Instrument
Ethnobotanical data were collected using questionnaires in the middle of 2017 on selected knowledgeable elders, herbalists and residents. Data collected through semi-structured interviews as described by Cotton (1996) included: the local name, scientific name, family of the plant, therapeutic indication, condition of the plant, ingredients added, mode of preparation and administration, parts used, and occurrence were. In the development of questionnaires, the researchers adapted questions from Uddin et al. (2014). Survey questions were translated and written in Bisaya for better understanding. To enhance validity, the Vice President for Research of the New Era University, Quezon City and a Professor at University of the Philippines, Diliman checked the questionnaires.
Participants
Survey questionnaires were distributed to the four informants from Manobo tribe, mostly datus and herbalists. They were interviewed since they are the most knowledgeable in terms of abilities of the medicinal plants that can be found in their tribe.
Collection of Medicinal Plants
Plants that were mentioned by the informants to have medicinal value were collected. These were submitted to the Provincial Environment Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Local Government Unit of the Province of Surigao del Sur, for identification purposes. Some plants such as coconut, mango, avocado, sambong, alugabati, bayabas, gumamela, makahiya and tubo are very common that there is no need for such identification. Photographs of every specimen were taken. Some plants were identified through the website http://www.philippineplants.org/. which was recommended by Ms. Pola Geneva Bomanglag from the Biodiversity Management Bureau – Wildlife Resources Division.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Manobo Tribe Demographic Profile
There were four respondents who participated in the survey. Jerry Cuyno, 43-year-old and a well-known healer of the tribe, is recognized to be familiar with the different healing capacities of the plants. Also, he is accustomed to the layout of the mountain in their place where he gets the medicinal plants he needs.
Two locals were also interviewed. One is Maria Theresa Gunas, a 36-year-old married woman and a housewife, Orlando Osiman, a 34-year-old married man and a farmer, and the other is anonymous for his privacy.
Cuyno’s lineage has the expertise and knowledge in medicinal plants. The deceased father passed the information and skills to him to be a specialist in plants for treating diseases. They believed that plants have enough healing capacities to cure infections and illnesses so pharmaceutical drugs were not needed. Cuyno’s family believed that plants do not have deadly after effects when used in treatments.
Knowledge and Beliefs on Medicinal Plants Used
Table 2 shows the knowledge and beliefs of the respondents on the medicinal plants they used. This section was composed of 5 questions. Majority of the interviewed respondents know the names of the different medicinal plants used in treating diseases.
Two (50%) of the respondents were aware of the abundance of the medicinal plants found in their place and the types of diseases these medicinal plants treat. Three (75%) from Manobo tribe answered that medicinal plants were very effective in treating different diseases and 1 (25%) answered some medicinal plants were effective. Two (50%) of the respondents believed that these medicinal plants were more practical and more convenient to use than pharmaceutical drugs while 2(50%) respondents answered only some.
Table 3 shows different medicinal plants collected from the tribe of Manobo. Plant parts used and mode of administration were based from the interview of the tribe’s healer or what they call, “Tambajon” or “Baylan”.
There were 19 plants collected from the Manobo Tribe at Bitaugan, Surigao del Sur. Two plants were identified from Poaceae family namely, Miligoy and Tubo. Two also were from the family Myrtaceae specifically, Tambis and Bayabas. The other plants were from families Fabaceae, Menispermaceae), Mimosoideae/Mimosaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Costaceae, Malvaceae, Lauraceae and Basellaceae.
There are no known side effects for the plants collected. The locals were not able to observe any bad after effects when using the plants. Most of the plants take effect for a day or two and some undetermined. Almost all of the plants also can be collected from the backyards or gardens of the locals and a few from the mountains.
Plants can be utilized to treat hyperacidity, fever and loose bowel movement. Other ailments treated are stomach ache, headache, low blood pressure, excessive bleeding, cough, goiter, toothache and hepatitis. Results show that leaves were mostly used to treat disease such as hyperacidity, fever, cough and others. Roots can also be utilized. Only 1 out of the 19 plants had the soft stem as the part for treatment.
Decoction was found to be the most widely used dosage preparation. It is aided by heating of the aqueous extracts or boiling of the roots. The infusions and decoctions which were used internally were administered mostly by drinking and either chewed, swallowed or mixed with food.
Six plants can be used for topical administration, followed by extraction and then overnight soaking of plant parts into water. Some plants are also prepared using two different techniques before administration like grilling the plant part then soaking it into water overnight.
Most of the medicinal plants collected from the Manobo tribe are native, only five are recorded to be endemic. Medicinal plants in Manobo tribe were also utilized as food by the local people dwelling in the said area (Table 4).
In summary, Manobo tribe used medicinal plants that are native and endemic in their area. Most medicinal plants in the area can be utilized to treat common diseases. Leaves are the most useful part of the medicinal plants. Decoction is one of the most preferred methods of preparation and mode of administration by herbalist. A total of 19 plants were identified and
found to be essential source of therapeutic medicine. This study shows that traditional medicine is still widely used by Manobo tribe in Surigao del Sur. Bitaugan, Surigao del Sur shows the ethnobotanical richness of the area in terms of medicinal plants.
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