Medicinal Plants used by various Ethnic Groups in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo
By: Fasihuddin B. Ahmad
Faculty of Resource Science and technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS)
ABSTRACTThis study was conducted to identify medicinal plants being used by various ethnic groups in Sabah. In this paper the uses of 60 species of plants are recorded. Members of the Acanthaceae, Annonaceae, Leguminosae, Menispermaceae and Simaroubaceae families are widely used by the various ethnic groups to treat a range of diseases. Some of the plants widely used include Andrographis panniculata (for hypertension, diabetes), Alstonia angustiloba (malaria), Blumea balsamifera (postparturition aids to mothers), Brucea javanica (dysentery, malaria) Cassia alata (skin diseases), Eurycoma longifolia (hypertension, diabetes, stomach ache), Phyllantus niruri (malaria) and Tinospora crispa (diabetes, hypertension and lumbago).
RESULTS
Species (Family) |
Vernacular name |
Medicinal uses |
Parts used and method of preparation |
Acorus calamus Linn. (ARACEAE) |
Kamburongih (Dusun/Kadazan) |
Tonic |
Roots boiled for drinking |
Alphitonia incana Roxb. (RHMNACEAE) |
Pakudita (Dusun) |
Pancreatitis |
Leaves boiled for drinking |
Alstonia scholaris R.Br. (APOCYNACEAE) |
Tambirog (Dusun/Kadazan) Tambalait (Murut) |
Ague |
Juice from plants as drinks. |
Amaranthus spinosus Linn. (AMARANTHACEAE) |
Samsan lodut (Dusun/Kadazan) |
Dysentery |
Whole plants or roots boiled for drinking. |
Andrographis panniculata (Burm.f)Nees (ACANTHACEAE) |
Mompoit (Dusun,Kadazan,Murut) |
Hypertension, diabetes |
Leaves steeped in hot water for drinking. |
Angiopteres evecta (Forst)Hoffm (MARATTIACEAE) |
Paku rundum (Dusun) |
Dysentery, diarrhoea, cough |
Inner part of the shoot mixed with water for drinking. |
Anthocephalus chinensis Hassk (RUBIACEAE) |
Bekol (Idahan) |
Fever, chills |
Young leaves pounded and applied as poultice to abdomen. |
Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk (MORACEAE) |
Nangko (Dusun,Kadazan,Murut,Idahan) |
Sore throat or hoarse voice |
Young leaves shredded and steeped in hot water for drinking. |
Averrhoe bilimbi L. (OXALIDACACEAE) |
Tulod-ulod (Murut) |
Tonic |
Roots boiled for drinking. |
Bambusa vulgaris (POACEAE) |
Tamalang (Dusun,Kadazan) |
Antidote |
Powder from the bamboo applied on the affected part. |
Barringtonia sp. (LECYTIDACEAE) |
Tampalang (Dusun) |
Antidote |
Inner bark boiled for drinking. |
Blechnum oriental L. (BLECHNACEAE) |
Tungau (Kadazan) |
Boils |
Pounded leaves or shoots applied as poultice. |
Blumea balsamifera (Linn.)DC (COMPOSITAE) |
Tawawoh (Dusun,Murut, Rungus) Embong (Idahan) |
Anthelmenthic Postparturition aids to mothers Fever |
Roots and leaves boiled for drinking. Leaves or roots boiled for drinking and bathing. Leaves boiled for drinking. |
Bridelia stipularis (L.)B1. (EUPHORBIACEAE) |
Kutang (Dusun) |
Swellings Dysentery |
Leaves pounded into paste and used as bandage. Roots decoction together with Nigella sativa and Allium cepa for drinks. |
Brucea javanica Merr. (SIMAROUBACEAE) |
Garagat/Gompoit (Dusun/Kadazan) Pazaskoloruk(Rungus) |
Dysentery Malaria |
Decoction of roots and fruits as drinks. Ripe fruits taken orally. |
Caesalpinia sappan Linn (LEGUMINOSAE) |
Sapang (Dusun, Murut, Bajau, Idahan, Sungei, Rungus) |
Tuberculosis, Lumbago |
Stem barks boiled for drinking. |
Cassia alata Linn (LEGUMINOSAE) |
Gombirang (Dusun) Hihingos (Kadazan) Kurubau(Rungus) Balilang(Murut) |
Skin infections and ring worm |
Young leaves pounded into paste and applied on affected area. |
Coix lachryma-jabi Linn (GRAMINAE) |
Dalai (Dusun) Tigiu (Kadazan) |
Influenza and cholera Anthelmenthic Cough |
Whole plants steeped in hot water for drinking and bathing. Roots boiled for drinking. Young stem steeped in hot water for drinking. |
Curculigo latifolia Dryand (HYPOXIDACEAE) |
Togomis (Rungus) |
Tonic |
Roots decoction for drinking. |
Dillenia indica Linn (DILLENIACEAE) |
Pampan (Rungus) |
Swelling Wound |
Young leaves pounded and applied as paste. Stem bark pounded and applied as paste. |
Dinochloa scabrida S. Dransfield (POACEAE) |
Baran (Murut) |
Asthma |
The water in the bamboo as drink. |
Desmos chinensis Lour. (ANNONACEAE) |
Giring-giring (Rungus) |
Cough, asthma |
Roots decoction for drink. |
Elephantopus scaber L. (COMPOSITAE) |
Saraman (Idahan) Lambunai (Murut) Sambung (Rungus) |
Wounds, cuts, stomach ache. |
Leaves as paste(for wounds and cuts)and as teas for stomach ache. |
Eleusine indica (Linn) Gaertn. (POACEAE) |
Solinatad (Rungus, Dusun, Kadazan) Pepalut (Murut) Dukut kambing (Idahan) |
Influenza Postparturation aids to mothers Asthma |
Stem pounded and boiled for drinking. Roots boiled for drinking and bathing. Decoction of roots for drinking. |
Eurycoma apiculata Benn. (SIMAROUBACEAE) |
Kuingin (Dusun/Kadazan) |
Hypertension, diabetes, malaria |
Roots boiled for drinking. |
Eurycoma longifolia Jack (SIMAROUBACEAE) |
Wonod mondou (Dusun/Kadazan) Umpudumaidu (Rungus) Kayu dali (Murut) |
Hypertension, diabetes, stomach ache, malaria |
Roots boiled for drinking. |
Fibraurea tinctoria Lour. (MENISPERMACEAE) |
Tokop(Dusun) |
Jaundice |
Stem decoction for drinks |
Ficus lepicarpa B1. (MORACEAE) |
Ombuwasak (Rungus) |
Tonic |
Roots decoction for drinks. |
Ficus deltoidea Jack (moraceae) |
Agolauran (Murut) Akar sempit (Dusun) |
Youthful appearance |
Leaves decoction as drinks. |
Flagellaria indica L. (FLAGELLARIACEAE) |
Sagoto tumolong (Rungus) |
Influenza, cough,vomiting |
Roots decoction for drinks. |
Garcinia dulcia Kurtz (GUTTIFERAE) |
Onsum alui-alui(Kadazan) |
Hypertension, diabetes |
Dried fruit skin steeped in hot water as tea. |
Gendarussa vulgaris Nees. (ACANTHACEAE) |
Tombiau(Dusun/Kadazan) |
Lumbago |
Decoction of leaves for drinking. |
Graptophyllum pictum (L.)Griffith(ASCLEPIADACEAE) |
Lalamih(Murut) |
Headache |
Leaves pounded with hot water and applied as paste on forehead. |
Hoya latifolia G.Don (ASCLEPIADACEAE) |
Weeda(Dusun) |
Scabies, skin disease |
Shoots pounded and applied as paste. |
Imperata cylindrica (Linn) Beauv (GRAMINAE) |
Pimpin(Idahan) Kutod(Rungus) Paka(Dusun) |
Fever Chicken-pox |
Roots decoction as tea. Roots decoction as drinks. |
Leucosyke capitellata (Poir)Wedd(URTICACEAE) |
Kuliat-mato(Murut) Mandahasi(Dusun) |
Diabetes, hypertension, gastric |
Leaves decoction as drinks. |
Lygodium scandens Sw. (SCHIZAECEAE) |
Lingkong(Rungus) |
Burns |
Leaves pounded and applied as paste. |
Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.)R.Br. (SCHIZAECEAE) |
Lingkong(Rungus) |
Tonics |
Roots boiled for drinking. |
Mollatus macrostachys(Mig.) Muell.Arg. (EUPHORBIACEAE) |
Dahu(Dusun /Kadazan |
Germicide |
Roots boiled for drinking. |
Melastoma malabathricum L. (MELASTOMACEAE) |
Gasing(Idahan) |
Cuts, wound |
Leaves pounded and applied as paste. |
Merremia gracilis (CONVOVULACEAE) |
Malagatas(Dusun/Kadazan) |
Asthma, diarrhoea |
Roots boiled for drinking |
Morinda citrifolia L. (RUBIACEAE) |
Bingkudu(Dusun) |
Gastritis, asthma Hypertension, diabetes |
Ripe fruits taken orally Roots boiled for drinking. |
Panicum palmifolium L. (POECEAE) |
Tandaki(Dusun) |
Malaria |
Young leaves eaten as vegetables. |
Passiflora foetida L. (PASSIFLORACEAE) |
Rambat-rambat(Rungus) |
Hypertension |
Whole plants boiled for drinking. |
Phyllanthus niruri L. (EUPHORBIACEAE) |
Nipon-nipon(Dusun, Murut, Idahan, Rungus) |
Malaria, jaundice |
Whole plants pounded into paste, squeezed and the juice taken orally. |
Piper betel L. (PIPERACEAE) |
Daing(Dusun, Kadazan) Buya(Murut) |
Cuts, boils, scabies |
Pounded leaves applied to the affected area. |
Polyalthia bullata King (ANNONACEAE) |
Serat(Murut) |
Rheumatism |
Leaves decoction as drinks. |
Polyalthia insignis Airy-Shaw (ANNONACEAE) |
Golim-panas(Murut) |
Fever |
Roots decoction as drinks. |
Rubus glomeratus B1. (ROSACEAE) |
Kalataguk(Rungus) |
Mouth ulcer |
Inner stem is pounded and the paste is rubbed to the affected area. |
Selaginella plana Hieron (SELAGINELLACEAE) |
Sondot-nulogi(Murut) |
High-fever |
Whole plants boiled for bathing |
Sida rhombifolia L. (MALVACEAE) |
Lingkabau(Dusun/Kadazan) |
Swelling, boils Diarrhoea |
Pounded leaves are applied as paste. Roots decoction for drinking. |
Solanum torvum Swartz (SOLANACEAE) |
Kulutok-kuku(Murut) |
Fever
Tooth ache |
Whole plants are boiled and the solution used for bathing. The fruits is crushed and applied to the effected part. |
Stenochlaena palustris (Burm.)Bedd (POLYPODIACEAE) |
Lomiding(Dusun/Kadazan) Karaumolot(Murut) |
Swelling |
Leaves and frond pounded and applied as paste. |
Syzygium malaccense(L.)Merr. (MYRTACEAE) |
Jambu yagang(Dusun) |
Diarrhoea |
Stem bark boiled for drinking. |
Tinospora crispa Miers (MENISPERMACEAE) |
Sapai(Dusun) Aratnavali(Murut) |
Diabetes, hypertension, Lumbago |
Stem decoctions as drinks. |
Uncaria glabrata DC. (RUBIACEAE) |
Kalataguk(Rungus) |
Diarrhoea |
Leaves decoctions for drinking. |
Uvaria grandiflora Roth (ANNONACEAE) |
Potudong(Kadazan, Sungei) |
Cold, shivers |
Leaves pounded into paste and used as poultice. The whole preparation is wrapped around abdomen and lower back. |
Urena lobata L. (MALVACEAE) |
Tongirupang(Dusun) |
Skin diseases Fever |
Crushed flower applied as paste. Decoction of roots as drink. |
Vitex pubescens Vahl. (VERBENACEAE) |
Kulimpapo(Dusun, Kadazan, Murut) Bogil(Rungus) |
Stomach ache |
Stem boiled for drinking. |
Vernonia arborea Ham. (COMPOSITAE) |
Embong gaid(Idahan) |
Stomach ache, chest pain, cuts |
Leaves pounded and applied as paste on affected parts. |