Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for cough management on Calagna-an Island, Carles, Iloilo, Philippines

Abstract

Abstract. Duga AC, Cordero CS, Alejandro GJD. 2026. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used for cough management on Calagna-an Island, Carles, Iloilo, Philippines. Asian J Ethnobiol 9 (1): y090124. https://doi.org/10.13057/asianjethnobiol/y090124. Cough remains a public health concern in the Philippines, particularly in island communities with limited access to healthcare where traditional medicine supports primary care. This study documented medicinal plants used for cough management on Calagna-an Island, Carles, Iloilo, Philippines, and assessed their diversity, preparation, origin, conservation status, and cultural importance. Ethnobotanical data were collected from November 2022 to January 2023 through semi-structured interviews with 220 informants aged ≥40 years using purposive and snowball sampling. Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) was used to determine cultural significance. A total of 25 medicinal plant species representing 21 genera and 17 families were recorded, with Lamiaceae as the most represented family. Herbs and leaves were the predominant growth form and plant part used, respectively, while decoction and oral administration were the most common preparation and application methods. Most species were non-native (72%), although several native taxa were harvested from the wild, raising potential conservation concerns. Coleus amboinicus, Blumea balsamifera, and Vitex arvensis had the highest RFC values and were the most culturally salient species. The tendency of respondents to rely on only one or two preferred medicinal plants suggests a selective, experience-based therapeutic strategy centered on a few trusted remedies. These findings underscore the importance of traditional medicine in isolated communities and identify priority species for pharmacological validation, biodiversity conservation, and culturally responsive community healthcare initiatives.