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AN ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL SURVEY OF HERBAL REMEDIES USED FOR

CANCER TREATMENT AND THEIR METHODS OF PREPARATIONS IN THE


ENREKANG-INDONESIA
Ermina Pakki1, Gemini Alam1, Usmar1, Rahmawati Syukur1, Lukman M2
1Facultyof Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Perintis Kemerdekaan Km.10,
Makassar, Indonesia 90245
2Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Farmasi Makassar, Perintis Kemerdekaan Street KM 13.7,

Makassar, Indonesia 90241


Correspondent to:
Ermina Pakki
Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Perintis Kemerdekaan Km.10,
Makassar, Indonesia 90245
Email: er_pakki@yahoo.co.id

Abstract
Introduction: Plants have been the primary source of medicines before modern drug
was established which has been used for generations. Experimental: An
ethnopharmacological survey of herbal remedies used in cancer treatment was carried
out in Enrekang Indonesia. A questionnaire was distributed to traditional healer in
each village. Collected information included the names of plants, used parts, types of
cancer for which these plants were used and their preparation method. Results:
Collected data has shown that 14 formula (approximately 32 plants) are utilized for
treatment of cancer and many similarities about the formula composition. Leaves were
the most commonly used parts, while decoctions were the main method of preparation.
Conclusion: This study showed that many herbal remedies are still used the herbalist
in Enrekang South Sulawesi for treatment of cancer, some of them have been
approved scientifically while other are not identified. Synergism effort between
traditional healers and scientific should be encouraged in the discovery of new
anticancer compounds.
Keywords: Ethnopharmacology, anticancer, traditional use, herbal remedies
INTRODUCTION
Regency of Enrekang as included in one of the pripince in South Sulawesi Indonesa
located at 314'36"- 350'00" SL and 11940'53"-12006'33" EL and is at an altitude of
442 m above sea level, with an area 1,786.01 km. Enrekang is a unique land, adjacent
to four regencies with many ethnics (Bugis, Toraja, Mamasa, Palopo and Majenne)
[1]. These diversities causes rinsed many tradition including folkloric herbal medicine.
Howerer, herbal remedies have waned over hundreds of years with their own method.
Alternative medicines and herbal remedies in the past become populer before sythetic.
Endless of thecnology and knoledge of medicinal plant first used in herbal tea,
powders, syrups, infusions, ointmants, liniments and decoction [2]. As a tropis country,
Indonesia has the second biggest biodivesity in the world. [3]
Fig. Map of the regency of Enrekang

MATERIALS AND METHODS


RESULTS
Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of the respondents
Variable N (%)
Gender
Male 10 (47.62)
Female 11 (52.38)
Education level
Uneducated 18 (85.71)
Elementary 3 (14.29)
Secondary school 0 (0.00)
High secondary school 0 (0.00)
Undergraduate 0 (0.00)
Graduate (higher education) 0 (0.00)
Residency
Enrekang 2 (9.52)
Maiwa 4 (19.05)
Anggeraja 5 (23.81)
Baraka 1 (4.76)
Alla 1 (4.76)
Curio 1 (4.76)
Bungin 1 (4.76)
Malua 3 (14.29)
Cendana 1 (4.76)
Masalle 1 (4.76)
Baroko 1 (4.76)
Buntu batu 0 (0.00)
Table 2. Medicinal plants used for treatment of cancer in the Enrekang-Indonesia
No. Scientific name Common name Local name Family Part used Cancer type Preparation
method and
administration
1. Aleurites moluccanus Kemiri Pelleng Euphorbiaceae Seed Liver, prostate Decoction
2. Allium cepa var Bawang merah Lasuna cella Amaryllidaceae Bulb Breast Fresh bulb
ascalonicum (L) Back
3. Allium sativum Bawang putih Lasuna pute Amaryllidaceae Bulb Fresh bulb
4. Allium tuberosum Kucai Gonda Amaryllidaceae Dried bulb Ovarian, prostate Fresh bulb
Rottler ex Spreng
5. Alpinia galanga Lengkuas Lekku Zingiberaceae Rhizoma Liver, prostate Decoction
6. Andrographis Sambiloto Daung pai- Acanthaceae Leaves Liver Decoction
paniculata pai
7. Annona muricata Sirsak Sarikaja Annonaceae Leaves Breast, liver, ovariun Decoction
8. Areca catechu Pinang Pinang Piperaceae Seed Skin, prostate, liver, Decoction
ovarian, breast
9. Artocarpus Nangka Panasa Moraceae Leaves Ovarian, liver Decoction
heterophyllus
10. Capsicum annum L. Lombok Ladang Solanaceae Fruit and leaves Liver Topical
11. Carthamus tinctorius Safflower Ralle Asteraceae Flower Liver Infusion
12. Coleus benth Miana Miana Lamiaceae Leaves Ovarian, breast Infusion
13. Curcuma Caesia Kunyit hitam Onyyi lotong Zingiberaceae Rhizoma and leaves Ovarian, breast Tropical
14. Curcuma domestica Kunyit Onyyi Zingiberaceae Rhizoma Ovarian, Breast Tropical, infusion
15. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Rosella Rosella Malvaceae Flower Liver Decoction
16. Jatropha curcas L. Jarak pagar pelle kaliki Euphorbiaceae Leaves Liver Decoction
(steam) and
tropical (leaves)
17. Macrosolen Benalu Benalu Loranthaceae Root Prostate, liver, breast Decoction
cochinchinensis (Lour.)
van Tiegh
18. Mangifera indica L. Mangga Pao Anacardiaceae Leaves Liver Decoction
19. Mimosa pudica Putri malu Tindo-tindo Fabaceae Whole plant Ovarian, breast, liver Decoction
20. Morinda citrifolia L Mengkudu Bampu Rubiaceae Fruit Breast, liver Fresh juice
21. Moringa oleifera Kelor Kiloro Moringaceae Fruit and leaves Liver Decoction
22. Musa paradisiaca Pisang Otti Musaceae Fruit Ovarian, liver Fresh unripe fruit
23. Orthosiphon aristatus Kumis kucing kumis kucing Lamiaceae Leaves with flower Liver Decoction
24. Oryza sativa L Beras Were Poaceae Flour Liver Mix fresh
25. Piper betle Sirih Otta Piperaceae Leaves Skin, prostate, liver, Topical
ovarian, breast
26. Piper nigrum Linn. Merica Borica Piperaceae Seed Breast, ovarian Powder (tropical)
27. Pogostemon cablin Laruna Laruna Labiatae Leaves Breast, ovarian Infusion
28. Psidium guajava Jambu biji Jampu benni Myrtaceae Leaves Breast, ovarian Decoction
29. Punica granatum Delima Dalima Punicaceae Seed Breast, ovarian Decoction
30. Solanum lycopersicum Tomat Lambace Solanacea Leaves Breast, ovarian Infusion
31. Tamarindus indica Asam jawa Cemba Fabaceae Leaves Breast, liver Decoction
32. Zingiber cassumunar Bangle Temmu Zingiberaceae Rhizoma Breast, liver, ovarian Decoction
Skin

Prostate

Ovarian

Liver

Breast

0 5 10 15 20

Fig 2. Consensus categorized by the types of cancer


Table 3. Fidelity level of herbal medicines mentioned
No Medicinal plant Repetition in
recipe
1. Annona muricata 10
2. Aleurites moluccanus 2
3. Allium cepa var ascalonicum (L) Back 3
4. Allium sativum 3
5. Allium tuberosum Rottler ex Spreng 3
6. Alpinia galanga 5
7. Andrographis paniculata 7
8. Areca catechu 10
9. Artocarpus heterophyllus 1
10. Capsicum annum L. 1
11. Carthamus tinctorius 3
12. Coleus benth 1
13. Curcuma Caesia 4
14. Curcuma domestica 5
15. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. 4
16. Jatropha curcas L. 9
Macrosolen cochinchinensis (Lour.) van
17. Tiegh 1
18. Mangifera indica L. 1
19. Mimosa pudica 1
20. Morinda citrifolia L. 4
21. Moringa oleifera 2
22. Musa paradisiaca 1
23. Orthosiphon aristatus 2
24. Oryza sativa L 22
25. Piper betle 22
26. Piper nigrum Linn. 21
27. Pogostemon cablin 1
28. Psidium guajava 2
29. punica granatum 3
30. Solanum lycopersicum 3
31. Tamarindus indica 2
32. Zingiber cassumunar 5

Without preparation

Topical

Juice

Infusion

Fresh bulb

Decoction

0 5 10 15 20

Fig. 3 Frequency of methods of preparation from herbals


Bulb

Fruit

Root

Rhizoma

Seed

Leaves

0 5 10 15

Fig. 4 Frequency of the used parts of medicinal plants in cancer treatment

Skin

Prostate

Ovarian

Liver

Breast

0 5 10 15 20

Fig. 5 Cancer types treated with herbals in Enrekang-Indonesia


DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
Enrekang societies still using plant species for treating various types of cancer. Almost
of knowledge is obtained from generation to generation. Many of the used plants have
been approved a scientific evidence to have some anticancer activity. Synergism effort
between traditional healers and scientific should be encouraged in the discovery of
new anticancer compounds.
ANKNOLEDMENT
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education of the
Republic of Indonesia, B2P2TOOT Tawangmangu, to all the herbalists, traditional
healer and all participants in this study.
CONFLIC INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
REFERENCES

[1] E. Sriputri, Bentuk duni pada situs liang datu Kabupaten Enrekang (studi komparasi),
Arkeologi, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 2013.
[2] B. Saad, H. Azaizeh, O. Said, Tradition and Perspectives of Arab Herbal Medicine: A
Review, Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2 (2005) 475-479.
[3] Elfahmi, H.J. Woerdenbag, O. Kayser, Jamu: Indonesian traditional herbal medicine
towards rational phytopharmacological use, Journal of Herbal Medicine, 4 (2014) 51-73.

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