Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
Cultura Documentos
13(4): 360-382
Research Article
The information and folk knowledge regarding properties during the historic events regarding wars
the medicinal and therapeutic uses of these and calamities. Such was true during the Spanish
indigenous plant materials have been handed regime and Japanese occupation. Evidence of this is
down from generation to generation through verbal that Barrio Mangan was set aside as the place of the
communication [8,9]. Studies in the ethnobotany military emergency hospital. It was also here where
of cultural groups that rely on the oral tradition to the center of distribution of food supplies for army
pass on traditional medicinal plant knowledge from personnel was located while Barrio Banbanaba was
generation to generation indicates that in addition to site of message center directly in touch with all the
the great wealth of knowledge of economically useful barrios of Balaoan, Santol, San Gabriel and Sudipen.
plants, these cultural groups also have an extensive
knowledge of economically useful plants and the Most of the residents are farmers who live near/on
traditional techniques used to manage, harvest and mountains, plains and farmlands. Based on the 2010
conserve these species [10,11]. Census of Population and Housing, out of the 12,
007 residents, 5016 are considered to be indigenous
There is no specific history record as to how Santol peoples of Kankaney and Bago origin. The indigenous
got its name but tradition speaks of two accounts peoples in Santol exhibit a remarkably high degree of
which are tied up to a tree called Santol. The first cultural and environmental interdependence.
version states that this place was once a favourite
hunting ground of people of the Ilocandia, notably the The use of plants by indigenous peoples all over the
people from San Vicente, Ilocos Sur who were very world has been underreported and this prevents the
much interested in sculpture especially in the making scientific community from benefiting from traditional
of images. They came to see a big tree which is now knowledge which has taken centuries to develop in
called as Santol tree and from then on made it their the form we know them today. Nowadays, indigenous
main material in making images. During those days knowledge on medicinal plants is fast diminishing
then, idols/images locally termed as “Santo” were because as more plants are lost, so is the knowledge
made out mostly of said tree. In the same manner of their value to humanity. In the study, the relationship
that the tree got its name ‘Santol’, because of its between the Kankanaey and Bago and plants will be
common use as material for making “Santo”, the demonstrated. This study aimed to document the
municipality also got its name from that historic tree, indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants among
hence, Santol. the indigenous peoples of Santol in terms of the (a)
plants they used to combat disease, (b) parts of the
According to the second version, the more popular plant used, (c) modes of preparation, (c) how such
one, it was during the Spanish-American war that knowledge is obtained and transmitted, and (d)
Santol got its name. It is said that when the Spanish frequency of use. It also defined the previous and
soldiers pass by the place, they met women carrying current status and cultivation practices pertinent to
baskets full of ripe santol fruits. The soldiers asked the plant utilized for medicinal purpose and provided
the name of the place, but, the women did not insights on some possible threats to their traditional
understand Spanish and just though that the soldiers knowledge. The conservation of ethnobotanical
were asking the name of the fruit they are carrying. knowledge is becoming increasingly important; thus
They answered, “Santol, Apo.” The soldiers did not this research aimed to document the use of medicinal
understand the local dialect and all they remembered plants and healing practices in Santol, La Union,
was the word Santol, hence the name of the place. identify the most important species, determine the
relative value of species and calculate the informant
During the early settlement of the Spaniards, the consensus factors. Finding of this research will
ancient inhabitants were Igorots and new Christians. provide a data base for future research and potential
The Igorots lived in the formerly virgin forests along source for the development of new drugs.
the deep streams when a group of new Christians
came. Slowly, they pushed the Igorots to the remote 2. Methodology
mountain sides. Intermarriages between Ilocanos
and Igorots soon followed. From this, more and more 2.1 Study area
people adopted Ilocano as their dialect. As of 1995
census, 70% of the population speak llocano. Other Santol, the site of the study, is a fourth class
dialects spoken are kan-kanaey by 31.20%, Bontoc municipality in the province of La Union. It is located
by 0.15% and Tagalog by 0.33%. 16°46′N 120°27′E with a total land area of 93.70 km2.
It is situated in the eastern mountainous area of La
Santol considered being formerly a part of the Union at the boundary of Ilocos Sur (Figure 1). It is
municipality of Balaoan becomes a township in bounded on the north by the Municipality of Sudipen,
1908 under the sub-province Amburayan, Mountain on the northeast by the upland Municipality of
Province. In 1922, Mountain Province relinquished Sugpon in Ilocos Sur, on the south by the Municipality
Santol to become a part of the municipal district of of San Gabriel, and on the west by the Municipality
La Union. of Balaoan. Santol is politically subdivided into 11
barangays. Santol comprises mostly of hilly and
The town of Santol is considered a safe harbor for mountainous areas and a small portion of alluvial
there had been no distinct destruction of lives or plains.
Use value cited for any given species. High FL values (near
100%) are obtained for plants for which almost all
The use values for plants (Philips et al. [16]) was use-reports refer to the same method of use (that
calculated to provide a quantitative measure for is, the plants were considered the most preferred
the relative importance of species known locally: species for a particular ailment category), whereas
UV=(∑Ui)/n, where Ui is the number of use-reports low FLs are obtained for plants that are used for
cited by each informant for a given species and n many different purposes.
refers the total number of informants. Use values
are high when there are many use-reports for a 2.4 Statistical analysis
plant, implying that the plant is important, and
low (approach to 0) when there are few reports Descriptive statistical method was employed to
related to its use. The use value however, does analyse and summarize the ethnomedicinal data
not distinguish whether a plant is used for single or on the reported medicinal plants and associated
multiple purposes. knowledge (Tables 1 and 2).
Allergy,
burns, cuts
Injury and and wounds, Pantalyon/su ob-
poisons of dislocation XIX 117 13.54 29 13.36 0.76 kabayo (Hyptis 26
external causes / fracture, suaveolens Poir.)
sprain, insect
bites, poison
Sambong
Diseases of the Urinary,
(Blumea
genitourinary chronic XIV 143 16.55 22 10.14 0.85 11
balsamifera (L.)
system cystitis, kidney
DC.)
Abdominal
pain,
Turmeric;
headache,
Undefined pains Luyang dilaw
body pain, XVIII 83 9.61 28 12.9 0.67 6.02
or illness (Curcuma longa
cough, fever,
L.)
backache,
stunned
Abortive,
Diseases during Herbaka
menstruati
the postpartum XV 40 4.63 10 4.61 0.77 (Artemisia 13
on, newly
period vulgaris L.)
delivered
Ascariasis,
chicken
Infectious Bayabas 45.4
pox, head
and parasitic I 33 3.82 9 4.15 0.75 (Psidium
lice, herpes, 5
diseases guajava L.)
ringworm,
scabies
Diseases of Hibiscus;
the skin and Boils, skin Gumamela 17.4
XII 86 9.95 24 11.06 0.73
subcutaneous eruptions, (Hibiscus rosa- 4
tissue sinensis L.)
Constipati
on, diarrhea,
inflammati Bayabas
Diseases of the on of XI 134 15.51 38 17.51 0.72 (Psidium 15
digestive system
rectum, ulcer, guajava L.)
toothache,
mouth sore
Endocrine, Horseradish
Diabetes,
nutritional tree; Malunggay
nutrients, IV 21 2.43 5 2.3 0.8 24
and metabolic (Moringa oleifera
tonic
diseases Lam.)
Arthritis, Turmeric;
Diseases of the rheumatis Luyang dilaw
musculoskele XIII 23 2.66 9 4.15 0.64 22
m, swollen (Curcuma longa
tal system and muscles L.)
connective tissue
3. Results and Discussion reporting this varied by age, which implies that
knowledge of the use of medicinal plants may be
In the Philippines, ethnomedicinal knowledge is threatened gradually.
intrinsic among ethnic groups and is inherited from
their great ancestors by oral communication. In 3.2 Frequency of use of medicinal plants
the study, the relationship between the indigenous
peoples of Santol and plants are demonstrated. Most people in the upland barangays used medicinal
plants. They are isolated from the town proper by
A total of 109 medicinal species distributed to 20
towering mountains. Further, public utility vehicles are
genera and 15 families were cited to treat different
only available during Mondays and will cost them one
kinds of ailments. Based on responses and personal
hundred forty pesos (Php 140.00). With that, people
observations, the common health problems are
in the upland barangays namely Sapdaan, Sasaba,
respiratory diseases and stomach ailments. Mangaan, Tubaday, Puguil and Ramot do not have
3.1 Knowledge of medicinal plants opportunity to buy over-the-counter medicines and
geographically prevented from having access to
Differences in occupation or educational background professional healthcare compared with residents of
did not influence the reported knowledge of medicinal the lowland barangays.
plants. Additionally, those aged over 60 were more
3.3 Characteristics of medicinal plants
well-informed than the younger generation and the
use of medicinal plants decreased with decreasing The data obtained from field surveys are summarized
age. Although almost all informants reported that in Table 2. Both the scientific and vernacular names for
knowledge of medicinal plants was inherited form the medicinal plants are given by taxonomic category
their ancestors through oral tradition, the number and family. In this survey, 109 plant species were
Table 2: Medicinal plants used by indigenous peoples of Santol, La Union and Use Value (UV).
No. of Use
Pla English/Co Preparation
Use- Value Diseases or Parts
nt mmon Name/ Family Local Name and Adminis-
Repo s (UV) Ailments Usedb
No. Scientific Name trationc
rts a
Gouania
1 Rhamna ceae Rungo-rungo 5 0.13 Mouth Sore Sp E Apply
javanica Mia.
I Roast partly
and squeeze;
Lf
14 drink the sap
or juice thrice
Oregano
Labiatae/Lamiaceae a day
(Plectranthus
2 Oregano 0.43 Cough Sprain E Fastened
amboinicus
pounded and
Lour.)
heated leaves
Lf
with coconut oil
3
I Drink
1 St
Inflammation decoction
of Lower Limbs
Menstruation I Drink
1 Lf
Abdominal decoction
pain I/E Drink
Graminae/Poaceae
decoction of
1 Lf stems Apply
Lemon grass;
Difficulty of pounded leaves
tanglad
urination on abdomen
(Cymbopog on
Profused
3 citratus DC. Baraniw 0.25 Whole I Drink
sweating UTI;
Stapf) Syn: Parts decoction
5 difficulty of
Andropogo n
urination I Drink
citratus DC.
Br decoction
1
Lf I Drink
decoction thrice
1 a day
E/I Apply
Hibiscus; pounded leaves
Gumamela Kayanga; or flowers on
4 Malvaceae 15 0.38 Boils Lf, Fw
(Hibiscus rosa- Gumamela affected area.
sinensis L.) Drink decoction
of flowers
I Drink
Mahogany decoction of
5 (Swietenia Meliaceae Mahogany 3 0.08 Diarrhea Sd seeds or chew
mahogani Jacq) and swallow the
juice or sap
I Drink
1 Rt
Menstruation decoction
Grass; Kogon Difficulty of I Drink
8 Rt
6 (Imperata Graminae/ Poaceae Pan-aw/Kogon 0.25 urination decoction
Cylindrical L.) Productive I Drink
cough Lf
decoction
1
E Pound until
soft and juicy,
3 Lf
apply
directly or
topically
I Eat cooked
leaves as
15 Skin eruption, Lf, Sd vegetables
cuts and
wounds I Eat fresh or
cooked leaves
Horseradis h
Nutrients or seeds as
tree; Malunggay Marungga y/ 5 Lf, Sd
7 Moringaceae 0.8 vegetable.
(Moringa malungg ay
oleifera Lam.)
Anemia,
high blood E Apply fresh,
Lf
1 pressure heated leaves
Insect bite on bitten area
Induce
5 Lf I Eat cooked
leaves as
vegetable
lactation E Fastened
pounded and
Swollen heated stem
1 muscles St
or leaves with
banana leaves
and coconut oil
Toothache
2 Lf
E Apply
crushed leaves
on affected
tooth
Alstonia 12 Diarrhea
Dalipaoen/ I Drink
9 scholaris (L.) Apocynaceae 0.4 Malaria Bk
Dalipaon 2 decoction
Poir Abortifacient
2
I/E Drink
decoction thrice
Swollen
a day. Apply
3 muscles;
Soursop; on swollen
rheumatism
Guyabano muscles with
10 Annonaceae Guyabano 0.1 Lf few drops of oil
(Annona
muricata L.) E Smell
crushed leaves
Stunned
1
E Apply
1 pounded
rhizomes
E Fastened
11 Ginger; Laya 0.33 Skin pounded and
Zingiberaceae 2
Luya eruptions heated
(Zingiber Arthritis; rhizomes or
officinale body pains leaves with
(Willd. ) coconut oil
Rz
Roscoe ) Cough I Pound and
5 squeeze, drink
Sore throat the sap or chew
fresh rhizome
I cut into
5
small pieces
and use as
lozenges
(candy), allow
to stay in
mouth for
several hours
Lf, Sp E Apply sap
directly.
20
Wash with
decoction of
leaves.
12 Guava; Bayabas 1 Cuts, wounds
Myrtaceae
Bayabas 20 and sores;
(Psidium post-partum
I/E Drink
guajava L.) care in
decoction of
women
Leaves.
Diarrhea Lf, Fr
Chewed young
Lf
leaves or young
15 fruits and
Scabies, skin swallowed
eruptions Apply leaves
Vaginal on navel with oil
Infections E Wash with
decoction of
5 Lf leaves.
E Use
decoction
(lukewarm) as
an
antiseptic wash
I Drink
Queen's Crape- 12 Lf, Fr
decoction
myrtle; Banaba
Difficulty of E Chopped and
13 (Lagerstroe mia Lythraceae Banaba 0.35
urination Flu boiled leaves
speciosa (L.) 2 Lf, Br
for cold or hot
Pers.)
bath sponges
Bougainvill ea
I Drink
11 (Bougainvill ea Nyctaginaceae Bougainvillea 1 0.03 Diarrhea Lf
decoction
spectabilis)
E Chopped and
boiled leaves
5
for cold or hot
Fever; bath sponges
Sambong
headache; Lf
(Blumea I Drink
12 Asteraceae Subusob 0.88 flu Difficulty
balsamifera (L.) decoction
15 of urination
DC.)
Cough
I Drink
decoction
15
E Chopped
and boiled
leaves for
15 Lf
cold or hot
13 Five leaved Dangla 1 Fever; bath sponges
Verbenaceae
chaste headache; flu
tree; Cough; I Drink
lagundi asthma crushed leaves
15 Lf
(Vitex diluted by
negundo) Difficulty of water
4 urination Lf I Drink
Profused decoction
sweating
9 Lf E Chopped
and boiled
leaves for
cold or hot
bath sponges
3 I Drink
14 Taheebo Tahibo 0.23 Abdominal Br
Bignoniaceae 1 decoction
(Handroant pain
hus High blood
2
impetiginos pressure
us) 3 Detoxification
Cough
Cat’s whisker; Gout and
Balbas- pusa 10 renal
I Drink
15 (Orthosipho Lamiaceae Balbas- pusa 0.38 disorders Lf
decoction
n aristatus Difficulty in
(Blume) Miq.) 5 urination
I Drink
Alligator pear; 10 decoction thrice
Diarrhea
Avocado Lf, Bk a day
16 Lauraceae Abukado 0.33 Difficulty of
(Persea Lf, Bk I Drink
urination
americana Mill.) 3 decoction thrice
a day
E Apply
4 crushed or
17 Ampalaya Paria (wild 0.3 Tinea flava pounded leaves
(Momordica type) Anemia; Lf I Eat fresh
charantia Ampalaya 4 diabetes leaves. Drink
L.) (domestic decoction
ated) Cough
3
I Drink leaf
juice/extract
E Apply
pounded and
extracted
juice from
13
fresh leaves.
Fastened
heated leaves
Chinese chives; Swelling;
with coconut oil.
18 kuchai (Allium Liliaceae Kutsai 0.7 Wounds; Lf
E Rubbed
odorum Linn.) Sprain Cough
fresh or heated
leaves with
coconut oil then
15 heat for 3–5
s before apply
chest and back
I Eat 2 raw or
6
half cooked
bulbs 2–3
High blood times a day.
19 Garlic; Alliaceae Bawang 0.35 pressure
5
Bawang Drink decoction
(Allium Toothache Rz with calamansi
sativum L.) Dog bite;
E Apply
cuts and
2 crushed
wounds
rhizome in the
affected area.
Fever
E Apply crushed
1 rhizomes on a
forehead
Fr E Rub on
6
crushed fruits
Cuts and
Red pepper; E Rub with
wounds
20 sili (Capsicum Solanaceae Sili 2 0.3 Fr coconut oil as
Arthritis Mouth
frutescens L.) an irritant
sore
E Apply extract/
4 Lf
juice
Arthritis; I Eat fresh
2
rheumatism leaves as salad.
I/E Drink
Pepper- elder;
decoction.
Pansit- pansitan Abdominal
1 Apply pounded
(Peperomia Pain Lf
21 Piperaceae Pansit- pansitan 0.13 leaves on
pellucida (L)
abdomen
Kunth.)
High Uric
I Drink
acid; kidney
decoction
2 stones
Star apple; Fr I Eat fresh fruits
Caimito I Drink
22 Sapotaceae Kaimito 3 0.08 Diarrhea
(Chrysophy llum Lf decoction thrice
cainito L.) a day
E Apply
1 pounded and
Sweet basil;
decocted the
albanaka
Toothache leaves as
23 (Ocimum Lamiaceae Biday 0.05 Lf
Skin eruptions mouth wash
americanum
1 (gargle).
Jacq.)
Pounded leaves
as tooth drops
Panax ginseng
(Panax ginseng
Detoxification
C.A. Meyer I Drink
25 Euphorbiaceae Ginseng 1 0.03 ; High uric Rt
or Panax decoction
acid
quinquefoli us
L.)
Cucumber;
Pipino High
26 Cucurbitaceae Pipino 3 0.08 Fr I Eat fruits
(Cucumis cholesterol
sativus L.)
Banana bush;
windmill bush;
kampupot E Fastened
27 (Tabernae Apocynaceae Kuribetbet 3 0.08 Wounds Lf heated leaves
montana with coconut oil.
pandacaqui
Poir.)
E Fastened
pounded
and heated
3 Arthritis
Turmeric; rhizomes or
Luyang dilaw leaves with
(Curcuma longa coconut oil
29 Zingeberaceae Luyang dilaw 0.2
L.) Syn. Rz I Boil with water
Cucurma for 15 mins.
domestica Drink thrice a
Valet. High blood day
5
pressure
E Apply
Wild spikenard; crushed leaves
suob- kabayo Cuts and directly to
30 (Hyptis Rubiaceae Pantalyon/ litalit 30 0.75 wounds; Lf wounds to stop
suaveolens bleeding bleeding. Rub
Poir.) on crushed
leaves
String bean;
sitaw (Vigna
Difficulty of I Eat tops as
31 unguiculata (L.) Leguminosae Utong (shoots) 5 0.13 Lf
urination vegetables
Walp. subsp.
Sesquipeda lis)
I Drink
10 Lf; Rt
Prayer beads; Cough; decoction
32 Saga (Abrus Fabaceae Bugaiong 0.3 Asthma E Rub on
precatorius L.) 2 Bleeding Lf crushed leaves
to stop bleeding
E Apply
fresh, heated,
steamed leaves
1 Insect bite on prick of
poison fish, sea
33 Kullo- kullot 0.05 Lf
urchin, or insect
bites
I Drink
Difficulty of decoction
1
urination
I Drink
Difficulty of decoction of
11
urination young hairs
thrice a day
Corn; Mais (Zea
34 Graminae/ Poaceae Mais 0.3 Sk I Drink
mays L.)
decoction of
High blood young hairs
1
pressure thrice a day
E Fastened
Jatropha Dislocation/fr heated stens
35 Euphorbiaceae Tagumba w 10 0.25 St
gossypifolia L. acture with coconut oil
for 3–5 s
E Use fresh
leaves, 2 to 3
Bleeding, blades, remove
10 ulceration of petiole, pound
wound and extract
juice, decoct in
water.
Wild castor;
E Bark, slightly
Kirisol (Ricinus
36 Fabaceae Tagumbau 0.38 Lf Bk pounded,
americanus
placed in the
Miller)
mouth as cure
Snake bite
for snake bites;
also applied to
5
bites of various
animals.
I Drink
Whole
3 decoction thrice
plant Lf
aday
Anemia E Apply
Cuts and crushed leaves
1 Lf
wounds High on affected
fever and area
dengue fever I Drink
3 Abdominal Sp decoction thrice
Pains a day
Snake weed;
Skin E Apply sap on
asthma weed; Lf
Tawa- tawa/Gata eruptions; abdominal area
37 tawa-tawa Euphorbiaceae 0.43
s- gatas/Bot onis scabies; local E Apply
(Euphorbia hirta
1 bleeding crushed leaves
L.) Rt
Snake bite on affected
area
1
Lf
E Apply extract
1 from crushed
roots on
3 affected area
Sp
I Drink
Kidney stone decoction
Sore eyes
E Apply sap
3
with regulation.
Stop use
when irritation
persists.
Noni; Apatot
I Drink
38 (Morinda Rubiaceae Apatot 2 0.05 Diarrhea Lf
decoction
citrifolia L.)
Petroleum nut
(Pittosporu m I Eat fresh
39 Pittosporaceae Dael 2 0.05 Diarrhea Sd
resiniferum seeds
Hemsl.)
Malabar hoary;
Palis (Callicarpa 3 Cough I Drink
40 candicans Verbenaceae Anobrang 0.15 Dysmenorrhe Lf decoction.
(Burm.) F. a
Hochr.) 3
Kamatis
(Lycopersicon
esculentum E Apply
41 Solanaceae Kamatis 1 0.025 Burns Lf
Mill.) pounded leaves
Syn. Physalis
peruviana L.
E Mix leaf juice/
Lima bean;
extract with
patani
42 Leguminosae Patani 1 0.03 Scabies Lf oil and apply
(Phaseolus
liberally on the
lunatus L.)
affected part
I Eat a lot of
2 Fr
ripe fruits
E Rub
Melon tree; Constipation
crushed unripe
43 Papaya (Carica Caricaceae Papaya 2 0.15 Dog bite Fr
fruits on the bite
papaya L.) Appendicitis
area
I Drink
2 Fw
decoction
Sweet tamarind; E Apply
Kamatsile 1 Cuts and pounded bark
Damortis/
44 (Pithecellob ium Leguminosae 0.08 wounds Bk directly
kamatsile
dulce (Rorb.) Indigestion I Drink
2
Benth) decoction
E Rub crushed
Lf
Common 1 or pounded
resurrectio Dog bite; leaves
45 n lily;Dusol Zingiberaceae Dusol 0.05 Snake bite E Apply crushed
(Kaempferi a Wound rhizome mixed
galangal 1 Rz with oil
L.)
Lead tree; Ipil-
ipil(Leucae na Intestinal I Chew and eat
46 Mimosaceae Ipil-ipil 1 0.03 Sd
leucocephal a worms raw seeds
Lam.)
E Pound
0.2 enough fresh
leaves; express
Candle bush;
(squeeze
Senna;
Ringworm, out) the juice
Akapulko
scabies, and apply on
(Cassia alata
eczema, tinea the affected
47 Linn.) Syn. Fabaceae Andadasi 0.5 Lf
infections, skin morning
Cassia sophera
itches, insect and evening.
Linn; Senna 0.2
bites Improvement
alata
should be
L. Roxb.
noticed after
2 -3 weeks of
treatment.
I Eat cooked
Pigeon 2 seeds as
pea; Kadios Cough Ulcers vegetable
48 Fabaceae Kardis 0.08 Sd
(Cajanus cajan of the Mouth E Apply juice/
(L.) Huth) 1 extract from
pounded seeds
Ashitaba I Eat fresh
1 Diabetes
(Angelica leaves.
49 Apiaceae Asitaba 0.05 High blood Lf
keiskei (Miq.) I Eat fresh
1 pressure
Koidz.) leaves
Flamingo lily;
Anthurium
(Anthurium Kidney I Drink
50 Aracaceae Anthorium 1 0.03 Lf
andraeanum disease decoction
Linden ex
Andre)
Benghal day
flower; bias-bias
E Apply
51 (Commelina Commelinaceae Kulkul-lasi 1 0.03 Boil Lf
pounded leaves
benghalensis
Linn.)
Difficulty of
urination
Tooth
bleeding Cuts
and wounds Rt I Drink
15
Abdominal decoction
pain
Makahiya Dysentery
(Mimosa pudica Dysmenorrhe
L.) Syn. a
Mimosainvisa Swollen E Apply juice/
5 Rt
Mart. Bain- bain/maka muscles extract
52 Fabaceae 1 E Apply juice/
hiya 2 Rt
extract
I Drink
2 Rt
decoction
I Drink
1 Rt
decoction
I Drink
1 Rt
decoction
E Apply
crushed leaves
1 Lf
on affected
area
E A handful of
leaves are
Elephant’s salted and
ear; oiled, then
53 Bagambang Sabauil 3 0.08 Bleeding St heated over
Euphorbiaceae
(Macaranga embers and
tanarius (L.) stroked over
Muell.Arg) the entire body,
from head to
foot
Long pepper;
Postpartum E Apply heated
Litlit (Piper
54 Piperaceae Liwliw/Am aras 3 0.08 fevers and Lf with oil or fresh
retrofractum
chills leaves
Vahl)
3 Diarrhea Lf
Fever Urinary
Curranttree; 1 Lf
Tract Infection
Bignay 4 Lf
Kidney
(Antidesma 1 Bk
disease
bunius Linn.
1 Cough Lf I Drink
55 Spreng) Syn. Euphorbiaceae Bugnay 0.28
High decoction
Antidesma
cholesterol
ciliatum Presl.
1 Lf
E Apply fresh
2 High fever leaves on a
Tiger grass; forehead
Indian
Lf I Drink
pennywort; Petngag/
Difficulty of decoction
56 Takip-kuhol Umbelliferae Malmalluk ong/ 1 0.18
urination; UTI
(Centella laplap ayag
E Apply juice/
asiatica (L.)
Urb.) Mumps; boils extract on
5 affected area
E Rice, boiled,
drained and
mashed, is
Rice; Palay made into
57 (Oryza sativa Graminiaceae/Poaceae Pagai 1 0.03 Boils; Mumps Grain a paste or
L.) moulded into
balls. Apply in
the affected
area
Tobacco;Tabaco
E Use as
58 (Nicotiana taba- Solanaceae Tabako 1 0.03 Constipation Lf
suppository
cum L.)
E Rubbed
fresh or heated
Betel leaf leaves with
59 pepper; Ikmo Piperaceae Gaued 10 0.25 Cough Lf coconut oil then
(Piper betle L.) heat for 3–5
s before apply
chest and back
Chinese
orange;
I Roast partly
Calamansi Dry cough
60 Rutaceae Kalamansi 15 0.38 Fr and squeeze.
(Citrus and colds
Drink the juice
microcarpa
Bunge)
I Drink buko
16
juice
I Eat the
3
Difficulty of coconut meat
urination E Apply coconut
Niyog (Cocos 1
69 Palmae/ Arecaceae Niyog 0.55 Intestinal oil directly
nucifera L.) Fr
Worm I Burn the
Scabies; skin coconut husk
1 eruptions to ashes; dilute
Diarrhea the ashes with
water and drink.
E Rub the
ashes on the
1 Fr
throat area.
Fastened.
Goiter
Black plum;
I Drink
Duhat 10 Sore throat;
decoction
70 (Syzygium Myrtaceae Lomboy/longboi 0.48 tonsillitis Bk
cumini L. Diarrhea I Drink
Skeels) 9
decoction
Heavenly elixir; I Drink
2 St
Makabuhay decoction
Diarrhea Skin
(Tinospora 1 Rt E Apply extract
eruptions
crispa (L.)
71 Menispermaceae Makabuhay 0.15 Cough I Drink
Hookf & 2 St
Intestinal decoction
Thorns)
worms I Drink
1 Rt decoction
I Drink juice/
5
extract
I Drink juice/
Maiden wort; 5 Menstruation
extract
damong- maria Cough
72 Asteraceae Erbaka 0.4 Lf E Apply juice/
(Artemisia Headache
5 extract on
vulgaris L.) Skin eruptions
forehead
E Apply juice/
1
extract
Deadly
nightshade;
E Burn the
Kamatis-
seeds and
73 kamatisan; Solanaceae Mala- kamatis 1 0.03 Toothache Sd
apply on
Lubi-lubi
affected throat.
(Solanum
nigrum L.)
White silk I Drink
cotton tree; 6 Diarrhea Lf, St, decoction.
74 Bombaceae Kapas sanglai 0.18
Balios (Ceiba Toothache Bk I Drink
pentandra L.) 1 decoction
I Drink
3
decoction
Sarcandra Detoxification I Drink
6
75 glabra (Thunb.) Chloranthaceae Gipas/Gap as 0.3 Diarrhea Cuts Lf decoction
Nakai and wounds E Apply
3 crushed leaves
on wounds
E Rubbed
fresh or heated
Lipstick plant; leaves with
76 Achoete (Bixa Bixaceae Atsuete 1 0.03 Cough Lf coconut oil then
orellana L.) heat for 3–5
s before apply
chest and back
Common I Drink
horsetail; 10 decoction thrice
buntot- a day
UTI; Kidney
buntotng
77 Equisetaceae Putputod 0.28 disease Lf; St Lf
kabayao
Cough I Drink
(Equisetum 1
ramossisimum decoction
(Roth.) Alston)
E Apply young
Fever; leaves on a
78 Saging (Musa Musacaeae Saba 1 0.03 Lf
headache forehead with
paradisiaca L.)
oil.
Chesa; Egg
fruit tree; Tiesa
(Pouteria I Drink
79 Sapotaceae Tiesa 1 0.03 Diarrhea Lf
campechiana decoction
(HBK)
Baehni)
White calachue;
Temple flower; E Apply sap
80 Kalachuchi Apocynaceae Kalanuche 7 0.18 Skin eruption Tk from trunks with
(Plumeria few drops of oil
acuminata L.)
Mango; Mangga I Drink
81 (Mangifera Anacardiaceae Mangga 1 0.03 Fever Lf decoction thrice
indica L.) a day.
Jackfruit;
Langka I Drink
83 (Artocarpus Moraceae Langka 1 0.03 Diarrhea Bk decoction thrice
heterophyllus a day
Lam.)
bladder
stones, throat
swelling I Decoction of
Aaron’s rod
and pain, leaves and/or
84 (Solidago Compositae Tantanduk 5 0.13 Fw; Lf
tonsillitis, flowers used as
virgaurea L.)
cough, cold, tea.
sprains,
bruised
Rosas de Diarrhea;
E Apply heated
Japon; bloated
4 leaves on a
Chrysanthe stomach/flatu
stomach
mum; lence
85 Asteraceae Mansanilla 0.15 Lf Lf
Mansanilla
(Chrysanth E Apply
1 Boils
emum indicum decoction
L.)
Gali nut;
Apunga;
Diarrhea;
Komintana I Drink
86 Combretaceae Bangles 1 0.03 abdominal Bk, Rt
(Myrobalanus decoction
pain
chebula
Gaertn.)
Chayote;
Vegetable I Eat cooked
87 pear; Sayote Cucurbitaceae Sayote 1 0.03 Hypertension Fr fruit as
(Sechium edule vegetable
(Jacq.) Sw.)
I Drink brewed
Arabian coffee; 1 Fever Sd
88 Kape 0.05 coffee
kape (Coffea Rubiaceae
(Arabica)
arabica L.) 1 Diarrhea (beans)
I Drink
89 Hyacinth Parda 0.13 Fever
Fabaceae decoction.
Bean; Cuts and
Sd E Apply
Bataw wounds
decoction
(Dolichos Abdominal
lablab L.) 1 pain
E Apply extract/
Abnormal St
juice
bleeding
during
menstruation
Inflamed ear
I Drink juice/
1 0.08 Detoxification Fr
extract
90 Pinya Pinya I Drink
Bromeliaceae 1 Fever Lf
(Ananas decoction
comosus I Eat fruits.
(L.) Merr.) 1 Constipation Drink decoction
Fr, Lf
of leaves
I Drink
Comfrey; 1
decoction
Komprey Diarrhea Cuts
91 Boraginaceae Camprey 0.08 Lf E Apply extract/
(Symphytum and wounds
2 juice on
officinale L.)
affected area
Dysmenor- E Apply
1 0.05 Lf
92 Atchibar rhea crushed leaves
E Apply
1 Lf
Boils extract/juice on
affected area
E Rubbed fresh
93
or heated
Penga- 1 0.03 Cough Rt leaves with
penga coconut oil
then heat for
3–5 s
before apply
chest and
back
E Apply
Sd pounded seeds
7 Fever on forehead
Cacahuati
94 (Theobrama Malvaceae Cacao/kak aw 0.25
cacao L.) E Apply
pounded seeds
3 Skin eruptions Sd
on affected
area
Wild teas;
Tsaang- gubat
Abdominal I Drink
95 (Ehretia Boraginaceae Itsa/Icha- ti-bakir 6 0.15 Lf
pain decoction
microphylla
Lam.)
Madre de
cacao (Gliricidia 8 Scabies
sepium (Jacq.) E Apply extract/
Madre de cacao/
96 Kunth) Senna Fabaceae 0.28 Lf Lf juice on
kak awate
spectabilis affected area
(DC.) Irwin and 3 Rheumatism
Barneby
Soap pad;
Acacia Acacia Bloody I Drink
97 Leguminosae Acacia 1 0.03 Bk
concinna diarrhea decoction
((Wllld)
Carrot (Daucus
Rt
carota L. ssp High blood I Eat as raw
98 Apiaceae Carrot 1 0.03 (special
sativus (Hoffm) pressure vegetable
ized)
Arcang.
E Apply sap
directly on the
5 Alopecia Sp scalp. Let it stay
for 5 mins and
Aloe vera (Aloe
rinse.
99 barbadensis Aloe vera/Sabil a 0.25
Mill.)
Skin E Apply
eruptions; Lf crushed leaves
5
cuts and
wounds
2 Fever Fr I Eat fresh fruits
Loly fruit; santol
I Drink
100 (Sandoricum Meliaceae Santol 3 0.38 Diarrhea Bk
decoction
koetjape Merr.)
E Bark placed
10 Embalming Bk
in the casket
E Rubbed fresh
or steamed
leaves with
Pamienta (Piper
101 Piperaceae Paminta 2 0.05 Cough Lf coconut oil then
nigrum L.)
heat for 3–5 s
before apply
chest and back
I Eat cooked
fruits as
Gumbo; lady’s
1 Hypertension vegetables.
fingers; okra
Drink juice/
(Abelmosch
102 Malvaceae Okra 0.05 Fr extract
us esculentus
I Eat raw fruits
(Linn.)
1 h before and
Moench.) Constipation
1 after meals.
Skin
eruptions; E Apply
2 scabies Lf decoction while
Sugar apple; still lukewarm
103 Atis (Annona Annonaceae Atis 0.08
squamosa L.) E Apply on
head as cold
1 Fever Lf
compress
Rose balsam;
kamantigi
104 Balsaminaceae Kamantigi 2 0.05 Athlete’s foot Fw E Rub extract
(Impatiens
balsamina L.)
Stink grass;
lantana;
E Apply
105 Kantutay Verbenaceae Bangbagsit 2 0.05 Mumps Lf
crushed leaves
(Lantana
camara L.)
Alugbate E Apply extract/
106 (Basella alba Basellaceae Alugbati 1 0.03 Boils Lf juice directly on
L.) affected area
Rt I Drink
1 Kidney stones
Jute; Saluyot decoction
107 (Corchorus Tiliaceae Saluyot 0.05 I Eat cooked
olitorius) 1 Constipation Lf leaves as
vegetables.
Sweet potato;
Kamote
I Eat tops as
108 (Ipomoea Convolulaceae Kamote 5 0.13 Anemia Lf
vegetable
batatas (L.)
Poir.var. edulis
(Thunb.)Ku ntze)
Panama
Cherry; I Drink
Mansanitas/
109 Mansanitas Elaeocarpaceae 8 0.2 Diarrhea Br decoction thrice
Aratiles
(Muntingia a day
calabura L.)
a UV is the sum of the number of use-reports cited by each informant for a given species divided by the total
number of informants.
b Bk, barks; Fr, fruits; Fw flowers; Lf, leaves; Rt, roots; Rz, rhizomes; Sd, seeds; Sk, silk; Sp, sap/juice; St,
stems; Tk, trunk
c I, internal; E, external.
recorded for their medicinal use, and these belonged or forests. Most plants could be easily found near
to 15 families and were used to cure ailments in 13 homes, reflecting that the current study area is rich
categories. For three (3) out of the 109 species, only the in natural resources allowing for the collection, rather
local name was documented. In terms of the number than cultivation, of medicinal plants. However, in
of species used, of the 109 plant species identified, the future, to stem the loss of knowledge regarding
Solanaceae with four species, followed by Poaceae medicinal plants and prevents the eradication of these
and Asteraceae with three species, respectively are resources, it is necessary to consider intentional
dominantly used. The Solanaceae family contain a large cultivation of these useful plants. One must consider
variety of phytotoxins, mainly alkaloids, diterpenesm that the medicinal properties of plants, as well as
esters, glycosides and ricin-type toxins [18]. the secondary metabolites produced under stress
and competition, are not always expressed in fast-
The Department of Health (DOH) has recommended growing monocultures. Rather, higher levels of active
Sampung Halamang Gamot in its traditional health compounds may be present in wild populations
maintenance program namely Blumea balsamifera, where plants grow more slowly [2,19]. Therefore,
Cassia alata, Psidium guajava, Allium sativum, it is necessary to conduct further investigation into
Momordica charantia, Vitex negundo, Mentha sp., the components of medicinal plants and to conduct
Peperomia pellucida, Quisqualis indica and Carmona chemical analyses.
retusa. The pharmacological effects of these plants
have been clinically proven to be significant. Of these 3.5 Plant part used
ten medicinal plants recommended by the DOH, the
first eight species mentioned were reported in this All parts of various plant species are used against
a variety of diseases. The most frequently used
survey. The utilization of these plants is higher than
part is the leaves (55%), followed by bark (15%),
for any of other plants.
stems (10%), fruits (5%) and sap or juice (5%).
3.4 Collection sites The utilization of the underground organs, both
roots and rhizomes (5%) were also observed. The
Medicinal plants are collected in the wild by fact that leaves are the most frequently used part
individuals or their family members. Five percent of corresponds to similar results reported in many other
medicinal plants used were cultivated for medicinal ethnomedicinal studies in Asia [2,20]. It was also
purposes, and 15% were cultivated as vegetables, observed that residents have been using leaves
with 80% found growing wild in fields, backyards, to identify medicinal plants. Additionally, leaves
are the main photosynthetic organs in plants, and endocrine, nutritional and metabolic problems. The
photosynthates are translocated to other parts, such low ICF for some plant species may be explained by
as the roots, bark, fruits and seeds. These can act as the availability of easily accessible pharmaceuticals
toxins for protection against predators and some are that provide alter- natives to traditional medicine.
of medicinal value to humans. These pharmaceuticals may reduce the use of some
traditional remedies.
3.6 Preparation and administration
The ailments with the highest ICF values were Urinary
The main method of preparation was use of the Tract Infection and kidney stones predominantly
intact plants (31%), followed by pounding or considered by difficulty of urination. The following
crushing (21%), decoction (20%), heating (15%), plants were utilized for the said ailments: Imperata
boiling (6%) and steaming (4%), while burning cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv, Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.)
and drying represented the least used preparation Pers., Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC.), Vitex negundo,
methods. In other words, 52% of the plants were Persea americana Mill., Zea mays L.) and Cocos
used fresh and 48% were heated somehow. Both nucifera L.). Leaves of such plants were commonly
internal and external methods of administration utilized, boiled in water for 30 minutes and decoctions
were used to cure ailments. External application is were taken internally for thrice a day.
safer because external application results in indirect
yet immediate local effects on the area and allows 3.9 Fidelity level
for easier regulation of dosages depending on the
concentrations of beneficial or toxic compounds. FLs for plant species for specific diseases varied
widely, ranging between 6.02% to 100%. Most of
Sap/juice from crushed leaves has been used the plants with high FL values have pharmacological
for cuts and wounds, and large, thick leaves have effects that have been proven scientifically. On the
been used for hot or cold compress to relieved pain, other hand, the lowest FL indicated less-preferred
headache, rheumatoid arthritis or fever. The leaves species for treating specific ailments. In contrast,
are sometimes pretreated by applying coconut oil these plants have been widely used for several
before application to the afflicted area to facilitate diseases. High ICFs and FLs for specific species
adhesion of the leaves to the affected area. suggest that the plants might contain valuable
phytochemical compounds. These traditional
3.7 Use value medicines, handed down despite their traditional
back- ground, have high ICFs and FLs because of
UVs, representing the relative importance of plants, their efficacy and safety.
were high for Vitex negundo (1.00), Mimosa pudica
L. (1.00), Psidium guajava L. (1.00), Moringa oleifera 4. Conclusion
Lam. (0.88), Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. (0.88),
and Hyptis suaveolens Poir. (0.75). These were This study confirms that plants are still a major
the most frequently used plant species for each source of medicine for the local people in Santol,
ailment category: Vitex negundo for diseases of the La Union. Modern healthcare systems in this area
respiratory system, Mimosa pudica L. and Blumea are not adequate, and some parts of the population
balsamifera (L.) DC. for diseases of the genitourinary have limited means to buy modern medicine. Thus,
system, Psidium guajava L. and Hyptis suaveolens traditional medicine remains the most popular solution
Poir for diseases of the digestive system and injury to health issues. Most of the recorded plants grew in
of external causes and Moringa oleifera Lam. for the wild. Notably, the uses of some plants have not
endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases. been reported in the literature. The results also reveal
the urgency of collecting ethnopharmacological data
3.8 Informant consensus factor because knowledge of medicinal plants is vanishing.
ICFs were calculated using the reports in each of Residents use several plants against conditions such
the 13 categories. The results ranged from 0.63 to as hypertension and urinary disorders. This study
1.00 (Table 1). The highest ICF value, 1.00, indicates suggests that detailed pharmacological evaluation of
that people use a particular plant consistently in that these plants is required because the pharmacological
category. However, the number of use-reports (Nur) basis for the activity of some plants has not been
in these high-ICF categories was extremely low. determined. Further research can encourage the
After excluding categories with a Nur of less than continued use of medicinal plants.
eight (0.5%), the highest remaining ICF category References
was for diseases of the genitourinary system (0.85),
diseases of the respiratory system (0.82) and [1] Govaerts R. (2001). How many species of seed plant
endocrine, nutritional and metabolic problems (0.80). are there? Taxon. 50: 1085-1090.
The most frequently used plant species in each [2] Abe R, Ohtani K. (2013). An ethnobotanical study of
category were those plants with high UV. Blumea medicinal plants and traditional therapies on Batan
balsamifera (L.) DC. for genitourinary system Island, the Philippines. J Ethnopharmacol. 145: 554-
diseases, Vitex negundo and Coleus amboinicus for 565.
respiratory illnesses and Moringa oleifera Lam. for [3] Schippmann U, Cunningham AB, Leaman DJ. (2002).