S104 Asian Pac J Trop Med 2014; 7(Suppl 1): S104-S107

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Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine

journal homepage:www.elsevier.com/locate/apjtm

Document heading doi: 10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60213-3

Ethno-botanical survey of plants used in the traditional treatment of

malaria in Sei Kepayang, Asahan of North Sumatera
1 2 2 3
Syamsudin Abdillah *, Risma Marisi Tambunan , Yanti M Sinaga , Yunahara Farida
1
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pancasila University, Jakarta, Indonesia
2
Departement of Biological Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pancasila University, Jakarta, Indonesia
3
Department of Chemical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pancasila University, Jakarta, Indonesia

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article history: Objective: T o investigate and collect information from traditional health healer/tribal
Received 10 May 2014 communities on the use of medicinal plants for treatment of malaria in Sei Kepayang, Asahan
Received in revised form 11 Jun 2014 District of North Sumatera.
Accepted 23 Jun 2014
Methods: The ethno-botanical study was conducted in Sei Kepayang, Asahan District of North
Available online 10 Sep Jun 2014
Sumatera in January-March 2013 through questionnaire and personal interviews, and their
responses were documented.
Results: The present study enumerated 16 ethno-medicinal plant species belonging to 13 families
Keywords:
used by the tribal communities and medicinal healers in Sei Kepayang, Asahan District of North
Ethno-botanical survey
Sumatera in treatment of malaria. Some of the recipes, methods of preparation and administration
Malaria
were also documented.
Sei Kepayang
Conclusions: From the interviews conducted, 16 plant spesies belonging to 13 families have been
identified in the treatment of malaria.

1. Introduction transmitted by Anopheles mosquito. T his was figured

M alaria remains a crucial health problem in both
developing and developed worlds. A ccording to the
W orld H ealth O rganization, about 41 % of the world’s
population lived in high-risk malaria endemic areas
and it is estimated that 300-500 thousands of the world’s
population are infected by malaria and 1.5-2.7 million
people, particularly children under five years of age and
pregnant women, die from malaria every year[1].
I n N orth S umatra, it was estimated that 67 314
individuals had been infected by malaria, which was
*Corresponding author: Syamsudin Abdillah, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty
of Pharmacy, Pancasila University, Jl. Srengseng Sawah, Jagakarsa, South Jakarta 12640,
Indonesia.
E-mail: syamsudin.abdillah@yahoo.co.id
F oundation P roject: S upported by the D irectorate G eneral of H igh E ducation,
Ministry of Education & Culture, Republic of Indonesia from Grand Competititon (Grant
No: 0263/E5/2014).
out after the examination of blood specimen using
microscope in 38 380 individuals and rapid test in 28 961
individuals within a series of clinical examinations that
involved 88 165 individuals. M alaria-positive patients
were treated in health facilities, such as auxiliary health
centers and village health post. The cases were detected
from January to November 2011. The largest number of
malaria-positive cases were identified in Nias, namely,
14 165 cases, followed by 9 124 cases in Deli Serdang, 7 011
cases in Mandailing Natal (Madina), 6 942 cases in Padang
Lawas, 6 263 cases in Labuhan Batu, 4 692 cases in South
N ias, 4 340 cases in B atu B ara, 3 416 cases in C entral
Tapanuli, 2 622 cases in North Padang Lawas, 1 196 cases
in S amosir, 577 cases in S outh T apanuli, 326 cases in
Toba Samosir, 281 cases in North Tapanuli, 354 cases in
the District of Asahan, 187 cases in Dairi, and 120 cases
in Karo. On the other hand, malaria-positive pregnant
 Syamsudin Abdillah et al./Asian Pac J Trop Med 2014; 7(Suppl 1): S104-S107
S105

KAB BATUBARA

SELAT MALAKA
MERANTI SLAJLAUT
RAWANG RANCA ARGA
TANJUNG BALAI
N
KISARAN TIMUP
KISARAN BARAT AIR JOMAN
SEIKEPAYANG
NORTH SEI D.DAP SEIKEPAYANG BARAT
SETIA JANJI
KAB. SIMALUNGUN SIMPANG EMPA-
SUMATBA
BUNTU RANE SEI KEPAYANG
AIR BATU

TINGGI RAJA TELLK DALAM

TU
BANDAR PASIR MANDOGE

BA
RAHUNING PULAU RAKYAT

N
HA
BU
LA
AEK KUASAN

B.
BANCAR PULAU

KA
RIAU

AEK LEDONG
AEK SONG SONGAN

KAB. TOBA SAMOSIR

Map of North Sumatera

Asahan District
Figure 1. Location of Sei Kepayang, one of the subdistrict of the Asahan District.

women were 453 cases. In response to the problems, the
local government had distributed anti-malaria drug to 21
malaria-endemic districts/municipalities. Sumatra Island
targeted the elimination of malaria in 2020. In this way,
there will not have been any malaria detection anymore,
including in North Sumatra[2,3].
Sei Kepayang is one of the subdistrict in Asahan Distict
(Figure 1), North Sumatra, with an area of 23 530 km . It
2
in Sei Kepayang are on stilts that under dirty water pools,
which are the appropriate places for Anopheles mosquito
breeding and the places they were found.
S ei K epayang is an isolated area, where the society
still believes traditional medicine because of the
limited health facilities and service coverage. G iven
the background, the researcher was interested in
studying anti-malarial plants that had been used by the

had 17 128 populations and consisted of 6 villages, namely, local community in S ei K epayang. T his study aims at
B angun B aru, P erbangunan, P ertahanan, S ei K epayang presenting the ethno-pharmacological characteristics of
K anan, S ei K epayang T engah, S ei P aham [4] . M alaria selected medicinal plants.
distribution was determined by the local characteristics
of the area ( F igure 2 ) , including ecological difference
between the areas.
2. Materials and methods

An ethno-pharmacological study had been

Figure 2. Sei Kepayang is characterized by home to palm tree plantation,
rice field, rivers, and marshes.
I t is established that malaria is transmitted by
Anopheles mosquito and every species has different
behavior and bionomics based on its habitat. Anopheles
larva is found on the surface of static water[5], such as
oaks and rivers in Sei Kepayang. In addition, most houses
conducted from 17 th J anuary 2013 to 22 nd M arch 2013
in S ei K epayang. T he research involved inventory,
determination, herbarium. I nterview based field study
and guided field work was done, in which the information
on taxonomic diversity, distribution, local name, parts of
plants used in treatment of malaria were obtained. The
techniques of data collection were explorative survey
and participatory rural appraisal, namely, investigations
that were oriented to active participation and role of the
society in the research.
T he plants taken as the samples for herbarium
preparation varied with the type of plants used as anti-
S106 Syamsudin Abdillah et al./Asian Pac J Trop Med 2014; 7(Suppl 1): S104-S107

malaria agents by the local community at Sei Kepayang. Table 3

H erbarium is a collection of dried specimens, usually D escription of anti-malarial plants based on the used parts,
processing method, and usage.
stacked based on the classification system. Determination
Description No. Percent (%)
refers to a branch of taxonomy that deals with the
Used parts of the Fruit 30 7.4
application of a plant type or plant group that has been plant Stem 8 2.0
recognized in the key book. Determination was conducted Stem, leaves 37 9.1
in the Dendrology Laboratory of North Sumatra University. Seed 75 18.5
Leaves 245 60.5
Bark 4 1.0
Processing method Others 96 24.1
3. Results Juice 14 3.5
Decoction 289 72.4
A total of 319 respondents were interviewed, and all of Usage Others 81 20.3
them were malaria patients, of which 48.1% were females Drink 318 79.7

and 51.9% males. This population mainly comprised of

farmer/fishermen (48.9%), herbalist (5.6%) and housewives
( 36 . 0 % ) ( T able 1 ) . S urveys, in-depth interviews, and 4. Discussion
questionnaire revealed that 16 plants have been used
by the society at Sei Kepayang to treat malaria. These In-depth interviews revealed that the local community
16 plants species used in the treatment of malaria had been so familiar with malaria-related questions since
belonging to 13 families were identified and compiled for almost every member in every family has been infected
detailing information such as common and vernacular by malaria. The field interviews were most effective as
names, parts used and methods of preparation (Tables they took less time than the house-to-house interviews.
2 and 3 ) . T he traditional usage of Luffa cylindrical, O f 319 respondents, malaria occurred more often in
Blumea balsamiferae, Garcinia atroviridis, Smallanthus men, 166 cases ( 51 . 9 % ) compared to it did in women,
sonchifolia and Annona muricata in the treatment of 153 cases ( 48 . 1 % ) . T here were more male respondents
malaria is reported here for the first time. than female respondents, because women generally pay
Table 1
more attention to their health than men do. According to
Distribution of respondents according to their age group in Sei Kepayang.
Age groups Farmer/
literature, a research in Bagolo in 2001 found that adult
Herbalist Housewives Teacher Herb seller men were in the highest risk for developing malaria. In
(year) fishermen
15-25 86 2 20 1 2 2003, population groups other than adult male were also
26-35 30 3 30 10 5
at high risk[6]. According to other literatures, more men
36-45 20 5 30 10 -
46-55 15 5 20 2 - (88.63%) were affected by malaria than women (11.37%)[7].
56-65 5 3 15 - - The respondents were found to have a good understanding
of malaria and could distinguish it from other disease
Table 2
Local plants used for anti-malarial treatment at Sei Kepayang, based on Latin
conditions characterized by increased body temperature.
names and family. T hey were also aware of that malaria was spread by
Percent mosquitoes.
No. Local name Latin name Family
(%) The study revealed that most of malaria patients were
1 Sambiloto Andrographis paniculata Acanthaceae 9.4
2 Brotowali Tinospora crispa Menispermaceae 2.0
farmers/fishermen, namely, 156 cases ( 39 . 0 % ) . M alaria
3 Kumis kucing Orthoshipon stamineus Lamiaceae/Labiatae 3.2 respondents in S ei K epayang were mostly farmers/
4 Manggis Garcinia mangostana Clusiaceae 1.0 fishermen because they worked outside and tended to
Meniran Phyllanthus niruri L. Euphorbiaceae 3.5
work in dirty places, such as marshes, rice fields, rivers,
5
6 Pare Momordica charantia Cucurbitaceae 2.7
7 Papaya Carica papaya Caricaceae 39.0 sea, and other places, where diseases such as malaria
8 Asam gelugur Garcinia atroviridis Clusiaceae 1.5 were common. Another study found that most of malaria
Guava Psidium guajava Myrtaceae 3.2
9
patients were workers in coral mining and gold mining
10 Pulai Alstonia scholaris L. Apocynaceae 5.7
11 Sembung Blumea balsamifera Asteraceae 1.5 in mountainous areas. In addition, majority of malaria
12 Insulin Smallanthus sonchifolia Asteraceae 1.2 cases also involved individuals who worked as farmers or
Sour sop Annonaceae 2.7
13 Annona muricata
plantation workers[8,9].
14 Oyong Luffa cylindrica Cucurbitaceae 17.3
15 Mahogany Swietenia mahagoni Jacq Meliaceae 2.7 Eighteen herbalist in the area were identified with the
16 Johar Cassia siamea Fabaceae 2.0 assistance of the sanctuary management board. I t was
 Syamsudin Abdillah et al./Asian Pac J Trop Med 2014; 7(Suppl 1): S104-S107
arranged for them to collect plants they used in the
treatment of malaria. T he greatest number of species
used to treat malaria in the sanctuary were identified
during the house-to-house and field interviewss, and
16 species were identified by asking herbalist to collect
antimalarial plants.
T he study revealed that local community in S ei
K epayang preferred Carica papaya ( 3 9 . 0 % ) from
C aricaceae group, which is known as papaya ( leaves )
in local names. T he survey revealed that plants used
by the local community in S ei K epayang were local
plants, which had been used by many generations
since they were believed to cure malaria. Without any
understanding on scientific matter, they recognized
that the plants were potent in treating malaria. T he
existing literature shows that herbal plants have been
the mainstay for human health. T hese plants might
possess phenolate compound, alkaloid, terpenoid, and
non-protein amino acid[10].
T he survey showed that local community of S ei
K epayang used the plant leaves to treat malaria [ 245
cases ( 60 . 5 % ) ] and processed them by boiling and
drinking [ 318 cases ( 79 . 7 % ) ]. R esearch conducted by
Kasali et al. showed that most of the decoction methods
to process is by boiling and drinking. W ater is the
mostly used solvent for the preparation of the recipes
( 91 . 3 % ) and decoction is the main mode of preparation
of remedies; it represents 85% of preparation modes[11].
The ethno-medicinal investigation conducted in Sei
K epayang show that 16 species of plants were used by
Sei Kepayang people for the treatment of malaria. Fruit,
stem, leaves, seed and bark are used to develop many
medicinal preparations by decoction which is the often
used method. T he drinking is the most widespread
mode of administration.
F rom the interviews conducted, 16 plant spesies
belonging to 13 families have been identified in the
treatment of malaria. I n general, drug development
research could be applied to isolate and characterize
the bioactive compounds likely responsible for these
species being used for treatment malaria.
Conflict of interest statement
We declare that we have no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgements
S107
Author is grateful to the Directorate General of High
E ducation, M inistry of E ducation & C ulture, R epublic
of I ndonesia particularly SIMLTABMAS , for financial
support received from G rand C ompetititon ( N o 0263 /
E5/2014). Author is thankful to all the tribal informants
who have participated in this survey and provided their
valuable knowledge relevant to this work.
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