Faculty of Science and Natural Resources,Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Sabah Campus,
Locked Bag No.62,88996 Kota Kinabalu.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is gain to more information on the ethnobotany of medicinal plants, used by local communities in Sabah. This article reported on medicinal plants used by the Murut community in Sabah, especially in Nabawan, Sepulut and Pensiangan.

METHODS

The information on medicinal plants used by the Murut community presented here is based on field interviews. A number of herbalists from different villages have been interviewed and the plant samples have been collected for further analysis in the laboratory. Local names of the plants,their uses, methods of medicinal preparation and dosage were recorded.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The Murut, like other ether communities in Sabah have their own herbalists who use plants as well as certain animal to cure many ailment and complaints. The herbalists usually are elderly men or women who are respected and possess great knowledge on plants that are used as medicine. Remedies for various ailment normally involve the use of roots, leaves and bark of the plants, while flowers ,fruits and seeds are very seldom used because they are only available at certain times of the year. Remedies normally consist of a single herb for a particular disease or disorder but sometimes herbal mixture consisting of various plant are often used to increase the potency and effectiveness of the preparation.

Plant uses in medicine generally can be divided into two broad lines: for internal or external uses. For external use plant materials are crushed with oil or water into poultice or paste and applied on effected areas. This method is suitable especially for skin complaints, stomachaches, headaches, etc. For internal treatment such as fever, gastric, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. the plant part or mixtures are boiled water and the concoction taken as tea.

Table 1 given the information on plant used by Murut,their local names uses and brief method of preparation. Some of there plants are very common such as Imperata cylindrica,carica papaya,Eupatorium odoratum and Mimosa Pudica that can be found in the vicinity of the many villages or settlements, but many other are found only in secondary or primary forests. Some of the important plant that are often used to treat common ailments such as cough, flu , fever, skin infection etc. are grow by the herbalists near or around their homes.

Skin Infection

Some of the important plants that are commonly used by Murut community include Cassia alata, Blechnum orientale, Artocarpus elasticus, Canarussp, Capsicum frutesnens and Ficus aurantiacea. Cassia alata is widely used and claimed to be most effective against skin fungal infection,especially the ringworm. The leaves of the plant is pounded with some kerosene and applied on to the affected skin.

Wounds and Cuts

The plants used to stop bleeding in wounds or cuts include Eupatorium odoratum, Melastoma malabathricum, Paspalum conjugatum and Curculigo latifolia. The young leaves of the above plant are pounded and applied as a paste onto the wound or cuts.

Fever and Headache

For fever the Murut people use Cymbopogon citratus, Erechtites valerianaefolia, Mastigophora diclados, Mimosa pudica, Selaginella arge ntea and Tetrastigma trifolata. The plants are normally boiled and the decoction taken as used for bathing. Plants that are used to cure headaches include cymbopogon citatus, Graptophyllum pictum, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, kalachoe pinnata and mimosa pudica.The leaves of the mentioned plants are pounded with some hot water and applied as poultice, normally every two hours.

Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and Lumbago

The important plant used to cure diabetes, high blood pressure and lumbago include Eurycoma longifolia, andrographis paniculata, Tinospora crispa, Leucosyke capitellata, Momordica charantia, Alstonia angustiloba and Polyalthia insignis. The plant parts, either roots or leaves, are boiled in water and the preparation taken as tea, two or three times daily.

Stomach Ache and Diarrhea

The plant used to cure stomachache include the fruit of Annona Muricata Elephanthopus scaber and Canarus sp where the leaves or stems are boiled and taken as tea. The leaves of Homalanthus populneus and Blumea balsamifera are used as poultice and applied onto the stomach in the treatment of stomachache. For treating diarrhea, roots of Artocarpus elasticus and capsicum frutesens and leaves of psidium guajava are boiled and the decoction taken as tea.

Cough and Asthma

For cough the Murut community widely used costus speciosus, sindora sp, and Mimosa pudica, while for asthma Dinochloa scabrida, Eleusine indica and sindora sp. are commonly used. Decoctions are normally prepared by boiling plant parts and taken as tea.

Table 1 : Plant used in traditional medicine by Murut in Nabawan Sepulut

In conclusion ,there is a need to carry out chemical and pharmacological studies on these plant and herbs in order to evaluate their potentials as source for new drugs.

The authors would like to thank MPKSN for R & D Grant No :4-07-03-11,UKMS for all facilities and Ms.Gomera Jumat for typing manuscript.