Local people knowledge on medicinal plants in Seram Island, Moluccas

Abstract

Susiarti S. 2015. Knowledge on medicinal plants of local people in Seram Island, Moluccas. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 1: 1083-1087. Indonesia is known as a source of raw materials for tropical medicines that can be used to mitigate the various kinds of diseases. In addition to raw materials, the traditional knowledge about beneficial of medicinal plants used by several communities is very diverse. However, knowledge among the community of Eastern Indonesia, such as local community in Seram, Moluccas Province, is still not extended widely. Therefore, research on knowledge about the medicinal plant was conducted in Besi, north Seram and Hualoy, Kairatu in Seram. This data can enrich the existed data, diversity and knowledge of medicinal plant species among the Indonesian community. This research was executed through an open interview and direct observation in the field. The results showed that no less than 45 species, including 40 genera and 28 plant parts are used for medicinal purposes. Some of them such as itchy leaves, sinan (Laportea decumana) are often utilized by people in Moluccas and Papua. Puli (Alstonia scholaris) and gaharu (Gyrinops versteegii) were enlisted as rare plants through the gaharu has already been planted. Besides medicinal plants , body care, as for instance powder derived from bark, plants are grown in these regions such as jambu air (Syzygium aqueum) and jambu makoi (Syzygium malaccense), which are rarely found in other areas in Indonesia.