International Journal of Herbal Medicine 2020; 8(3): 08-16

E-ISSN: 2321-2187
P-ISSN: 2394-0514
www.florajournal.com Ethnobotany and physiological review on folkloric
IJHM 2020; 8(3): 08-16
Received: 04-03-2020 medicinal plants of the Visayans in Ipil and Siay,
Accepted: 06-04-2020
Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines
Alexis A De Guzman
Department of Biological
Sciences, College of Science and Alexis A De Guzman, Ceasar Eugene Vincent A Jamanulla, Al-shaibi M
Mathematics, Western Mindanao
State University, Zamboanga Sabturani and Genelyn G Madjos
City, Philippines
Abstract
Ceasar Eugene Vincent A Medicines tend to be expensive and oftentimes inaccessible; however, local inhabitants such as the
Jamanulla Visayans are resourceful enough to utilize plants as an alternative medicine (commonly called
Department of Biological
“Binisayang tambal”). Binisayang tambal practice serves as the local primary health care especially in
Sciences, College of Science and
rural areas and patients claimed that it is effective. Documentation of this alternative medicinal practice is
Mathematics, Western Mindanao
State University, Zamboanga
necessary since this is just being passed on from generations to another orally but is never scientifically
City, Philippines documented. Herein, an ethnobotanical study and physiological review on folkloric medicinal plants
among the Visayans in Ipil and Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay were conducted. A snowball sampling method
Al-shaibi M Sabturani was utilized to interview 30 key informants from Siay and 1 known Visayan herbalist in Ipil, Zamboanga
Department of Biological Sibugay, Philippines. Results revealed fifty (50) medicinal plants belonging to 32 Families which are
Sciences, College of Science and utilized by the Visayans to treat different ailments. Blumea balsamifera (sambong) of the Family
Mathematics, Western Mindanao Asteraceae emerged as the frequently answered plant used in treating cough, colds and fever, “panuhot”
State University, Zamboanga and “piang” (fracture or dislocation of nerves or tissues). Other commonly treated diseases using
City, Philippines medicinal plants include “bughat” (physical relapse). Culturally unique to Visayans is the practice of
“toob” in treating diseases especially during fever which utilizes smoke from certain medicinal plants
Genelyn G Madjos and inhaled by the patient in a closed compartment. Ethnobotanical knowledge in the municipality of Ipil
Department of Biological
and Siay is still conventional and lineages gave notable contribution for exhibiting actual records of these
Sciences, College of Science and
plants for conservation of their culture and practices for the utilization of the next generation.
Mathematics, Western Mindanao
State University, Zamboanga
City, Philippines Keywords: Ethnobotany, medicinal plants, snowball sampling, Ipil, Siay

1. Introduction
Medicinal plants have helped the human existence especially in the developing countries like
the Philippines by providing natural remedies to common diseases such as cold, cough, flu,
and skin infections [1-3]. Ethnobotany, the science of utilizing these medicinal plants by local
peoples [4], has currently led to a resurgence of scientific interest in treating diseases since itis
safe, effective, and inexpensive [5]. According to World Health Organization [6], 80% of the
population in some Asian and African countries depends ontraditional medicine as their
primary health care due to economic and geographical constraints. The Department of Science
and Technology – Philippine Council for Health Development Program [7] in the Philippines
recognizes this through emphasizing it in their research priority areas by evaluating the health
benefits and safety of these medicinal plants beyond its basic nutrient function and
components which reduces the risk of respective disease occurrence.
Philippines is an archipelagic country where cultural and biological diversity abound with
approximately 1,100 known medicinal plants [8]. The majority of the people in the Philippines
are of Malay descent, consisting of different ethnic groups. These ethnic tribes despite the
evolutionary development have managed to keep their cultural aspects such as ethnobotany [9].
The Bisaya people or Visayans are a group of Austronesian people who originate from the
central and southern regions of the Philippines. The sole reason why there are also many
Visayan tribe in Mindanao because some of them migrate from one place to another to look for
livelihood and government-sponsored resettlement programs in Mindanao during the 1940`s.
Historically, due to the fluidity of migration these days, Bisaya term may refer to the one who
Corresponding Author: comes from Mindanao – not born or raised in the Visayas but speaks any of the Visayan
Genelyn G Madjos
languages like Ilonggo, Waray or Cebuano [10].
Department of Biological
Sciences, College of Science and Binisayang tambal is a way of differentiating the practiced medicines of the group from the
Mathematics, Western Mindanao Western Medicine.This practice serves as the local primary health care especially in rural areas
State University, Zamboanga and patients claimed that it is effective. Even as the government gears for the implementation
City, Philippines of the Universal Health Care Law, the Department of Health [11] is pushing for the rational and
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safe use of traditional and alternative healthcare methods. 2. Materials and Methods
Documentation of this alternative medicinal practice is 2.1 Site Selection
necessary since this is just being passed on from generations The research sites are purposively chosen due to the reported
to another orally but is never scientifically documented [12]. widespread use of binisayang tambal. These are the
Hence, this study was conceptualized which generally aimed Municipalities of Ipil and Siay, in the 2nd district and eastern
to conduct ethnobotanyand physiological review on folkloric part of Province of Zamboanga Sibugay. Zamboanga Sibugay
medicinal plants among the Visayans in Ipil and Siay, is a province in the Philippines located in the Zamboanga
Zamboanga Sibugay, Mindanao, Philippines. Peninsula region in Mindanao. Its capital is Ipil while Siay is
38 kilometers away from Ipil (Fig. 1).

Fig 1: Map showing the research sites.

2.2 Data gathering 3. Results and Discussion

Data gathering was conducted in the research sites through a Traditional healers are found in most societies [13]. They are
semi-constructed questionnaire to obtain the information often part of a local community, culture and tradition, and
regarding the ethnomedicinal plants used in the community. A continue to influence on local health practices. Traditional
snowball sampling method was used to select key informants medical knowledge of medicinal plants and their use by
that could help gain information and data, starting from one traditional healers are not only useful for the conservation of
person to another, until it reaches the 30th respondents in Siay, cultural traditions and biodiversity but also for community
Zamboanga Sibugay. A known herbalist from the nearby healthcare and drug development in the present and future [14].
town of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay was also purposively Figure 2 shows the actual study site in Siay, Zamboanga
chosen for being well-known herbalist in the nearby Sibugay (left) and the known traditional healer from Ipil,
municipalities. Prior to the interview proper, the researchers Zamboanga Sibugay (left) and “binisayang tambal” ritual
asked permission from the barangay captain to formally and practice (right).
conduct the data gathering from the key informants. A free,
prior informed consent was also obtained from each of the
key informant. An ethics clearance from the Western
Mindanao State University-Research Ethics Oversight
Committee (WMSU-REOC) was also obtained. A series of
questions related to medicinal plants, was asked to the
respondents; such as the basic information of the plants
(physical characteristics, its common name) as well as its
effectiveness were thoroughly asked. Inclusion criteria
involved those of legal age (18 years old up) regardless of
their gender and educational attainment. At least one year of
utilizing herbal medicines is also required before they can be
considered as key informant. Photographs of the plant habit
and different parts were also taken to serve as voucher Fig 2: The actual community in Siay, ZamboangaSibugay (left) and
specimen for the WMSU Mini-Herbarium. the known traditional healer from Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay during
the “binisayang tambal” ritual and practice (right).
2.3 Physiological Review
A physiological review was conducted to further validate the In terms of the demographic profile of the key respondents
data obtained from the key informants with the use of from Ipil and Siay, 6 are males and 25 are females with age
published researches related to ethnobotany, bioactivities, and ranging from 19-65 years old. Table 1 shows the
active isolates of each medicinal plant. comprehensive summary of the medicinal plants as well as
the physiological review of folkloric medicinal plants among
the Visayans in Ipil and Siay, ZamboangaSibugay.

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Table 1: Medicinal plants utilized by the Visayans of Ipil and Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay and systematic review of each folkloric medicinal plants.
Com-mon Review of Related Literature
Family/ Indige-nous
Name Plant part Research done by institu-
Scientific Name name (Visa- Mode of Prepara-tion Folklo-ric Use
(local + used tion Bio-activities Active isolates
(Incl. Author) yan)
English
Annonaceae
Heat leaves then apply directly to alkaloid; annona-ceousacetogenin,
Head-ache; University of Malaya Anti-oxidant, inflam-matory, anti-
Annona muricata Guya-bano Guya-bano Leaves forehead; [15] flavonol, triglycosidephenoli-cyclo-
High blood diabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-cancer
Decoction peptide
Apiaceae
prenylatedchalcones, linear and angular
Use for aching of hips, University of North Carolina Cytotoxic, anti-diabetic anti-obesity, anti-
Angelica keiskei Ashita-ba Asetaba Leaves Decoction [16] coumarins, and flavanones.
UTI oxidant, anti-inflamma-tory
Wound healing and vascular effects by
Centella asiatica [17]
Penny-worth gotu kola Leaves Extraction Wounds inhibiting the production of collagen at saponins
the wound site
Arecaceae
Flesh and the [18] phenols, flavonoids, glycosides, tannins,
Cocos nucifera Coconut Butong Direct eating and drinking Detoxi-fying, for UTI Antioxi-dant, anti-inflam-matory
juice alkaloids, and saponins
Diarrhea Antimicro-bial
Root Juice Extraction
Corypha
Myristic, palmitic, oleic, linoleic, stearic,
umbraculi-fera Talipot palm buli Roots Flora of China, [19]
arachidic and lignoceric acids in its oils
Inflam-matory
Young Stems
Rheuma-tism
Asteraceae
Artemisia Com-mon terpenoids, flavonoids, coumarins,
Pain relief; fever; [20]
vulgaris Linn. mug-wort / Hilbas Leaves Dried and use as a tea Analgesic; Hyperlipi-demicActivitiy caffeoyl-quinic acids, sterols and
hypertension
herbaka acetylenes
Pound the leaves then drink the High fever, cough, Anti-tumor, hepato-protective, anti- mono-terpenes, sesqui-terpenes,
Blumea Leaves extract; UTI, Stomach ache, Chinese Academy of Tropical oxidant, diterpenes, flavonoids, organic acids,
Sam-bong Gabon
balsamifera The extract is rubbed on the body pain, panuhot, Agricul-ture Sciences [21] anti-microbial and anti-inflam-matory, esters, alcohols, dihydro-flavone, and
tummy/ aching parts of the body aching due to piang wound healing sterols
Flavonoids, flavone, anthocya-nin,
Oklahoma Medical Research
Emilia Decoction Cough, colds, kid’s flavonol, isoflavone, anti-histamine,
Tassel-flower Pisaw-pisaw Leaves Foun-dation Anti-inflam-matory and analgesic
sonchifolia Get the extract then drink it. fever [22] anti-inflamma-tory,
analgesic
Pseudele-
Roots, stem [23] hydroxyl groups, phenolic compound,
phantopus Sigang-dagat Kukugbanog Decoction Hyper-acidity Anti-Acne, Anti-oxidant and Cytotoxic
and leaves flavonoids and tannins
spicatus
Bignoniaceae
diarrhea, cold, bron-
Com- Direct Eating; Decoction; Mindanao State University- alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids,
Crescentia cujete Fruit chitis, cough, asthma,
moncala-bash cala-bash tree Juice Extraction Main Campus, Marawi City, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic phytosterol, reducing sugars, saponins,
Leaves and urethritis
tree Decoction Phil. [24] tannins, and triterpenes
Hyper-tension
Cardiopteridaceae
Get the extract and mix it with Citral, vitro on 5-lipoxygenase, caspase-3,
Citronella dandruff; [25] Anti-inflam-matory, anti-cancer, anti-
Citro-nella Citro-nella Leaves coconut oil then apply it to a- and b- unsaturated aldehyde groups;
mucronata ring-worm oxidant, anti-prolifera-tive, anti-microbial
affected areas (use as a lotion) essential oils
Convolvulaceae
Indone-sian Institute of
Ipomoea batatas Camote Kamote tops Leaves stem Decoction, eat as viand UTI, High blood Anti-oxidant Flavonoids, phenols
Sciences [26]
Costaceae

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International Journal of Herbal Medicine http://www.florajournal.com

triterpenoidalkaloids, tannins, saponins,

Insulin Insulin Leaves and Wash the leaves and shoots then Diabetes, anemia, Manjuna-theswara College of Anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, hypolipi-
Costus igneus flavonoids, steroid, and appreciable
plant plant shoots directly consume it stroke, high blood Ayurveda and Hospital [27] demic, diuretic, anti-microbial
amounts of trace elements
Cucurbitaceae
Momordica [28] triterpene, proteid, steroid, alkaloid,
Bitter melon ampa-laya fruit Cooking; part of the viand Diabetes anti-diabetic and hypogly-caemic effect
charantia inorganic, lipid, and phenolic compounds
Cyperaceae
Soaking in water during night time
Kyllinga Stem and Head-ache, muscle University of the Philip-pines
bosikad bosikad and [29] Analgesic flavonoids, tannins & phenolic compounds
monocepha-la leaves pain, fever
drink the water morning time
Euphorbiaceae
Pound and use like a bandage or is
Fractured bone, body [30]
Jatropa curcas Jatropa Tuba- tuba Leaves directly applied on skin like a anti-inflam-matory flavonoids, saponins and tannins
ache
liniment
Graduate School, Polytech-
High fever caused by nic Univ. of the Philip-pines,
Euphorbia hirta Tawa-tawa Man-gaw-ngaw Leaves Decoction Cytotoxi-city and Antimicrobial Property alkaloids and tannins
dengue Manila, Philip-pines
[31]

Fabaceae
Post Graduate Department
Leaves Decoction Panuhot,
Madre de and Research Centre of Anti-oxidants and anti-microbial glycosides, phytoste-rols, alkaloids, oils,
Gliricidia sepium Kaka-wate Leaves Pound the leaves, add vinegar then Con-vulsion due to
cacao Botany, Mahatma Gandhi properties saponins, phenols and flavanoids
rub all over the body high fever
College [32]
National Institute of
alkaloids, non-protein amino acid
Leaves and Technolo-gy and Manage- Antiasth-matic, aphrodi-siac, analgesic,
Mimosa pudica Touch-me-not Maka-hiya Decoction UTI (mimosine)flavonoids C-glycosides,
roots ment, India and anti-depressant
[33] sterols, terpenoids, tannins, and fatty acids
Tamarindus Gastro-instes-tinal Anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, anti-
Fruit & [34] Essential amino acids, potassium, malic
indica Tama-rind sambag Extraction/direct eating system and related venomic, anti-oxidant, laxative &amelio-
Leaves acid and tartaric acid
disorders rative
Guttiferae
US National Library of
Anti-oxidant, anti-prolifera-tive, pro-
Garcinia Pee-lings of Decoction Medicine xanthones, flavonoids,
Mango-steen Mango-stan Stomach- ache apoptotic, anti-inflamma-tory, anti-
mangostana the fruit National Institutes of Health triterpenoidandbenzo-phenones
[35] carcinoge-nic and anti-microbial
Lamiaceae
Head-ache ethanol,
Heat leaves then apply directly to antibacterial, antioxidant and antidiabetic
Gmelina arborea Gamhar Gemeli-na Leaves fractured bone and [36] n-butanol, ethyl acetate
forehead activities
Leaves inflamed/swelling part
Decoction
of the body, Panuhot
Origanum Boil the leaves then add sugar to [37] methanol, dichlorme-thane and
Orega-no Orega-no Leaves Cough Anti-microbial activity
vulgare become a syrup cyclo-hexane, phenolic compounds
University of the Phili-ppines analgesic, anti-inflam-matory and antimi- analgesic, anti-inflam- matory and antimi-
Coleus blumei Coleus Mayana Leaves Decoction Cough
Diliman [38] crobial crobial
Lauraceae
Get the extract and filter it, then
drink
Cinnamo-mum
Cover the leaves with banana [39] 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-
mercadoi Cinna-mon Litik-litik Shoots Cough for kids Anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial
leaves, place it in a mild fire then radical scavenging, phenols
get the extract from it;
Decoction
Persea LBM, Diarrhea, College of Agricultu-ral phenolic acids, condensed tannins, and
Avoca-do Avoca-do Leaves Decoction Ethanol, phenolic compounds
americana stomach ache Sciences, USA flavonoids, antioxidant and anti-

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[40]
inflamma-tory
Lecythidaceae
Barringtonia Fish poison Stomach-ache, rheuma- [41] amides, alkaloids, lignans, flavones
bitoon Leaves heated and externally applied Anti-microbial; Analgesic
asiatica tree tism, wounds
Lythraceae
Lagers-
Leaves [42]
troemia speciosa banaba banaba Decoction Diabetes mellitus Anti-diabetic activity corosolic acid
L.
Malvaceae
Get the leaves and dry it. After Anti-cancer, Anti-oxidant, Anti-inflam- Polyphe-nols, butanol extract and ethyl
Corchorus Jute mallow [43]
Saluyot Leaves drying, pour hot water to the dried High blood matory, analgesic and antipyretic, acetate extract, coumaric acid, ferulic,
olitorius
leaves like a tea Antimicrobial vanillic, hydroxyl-benzoic, vanillic acids
Menispermaceae
alkaloids, flavonoids, and flavone
Get the extract then mix it with anti-inflam-matory, anti-oxidant,
Tinospora glycosides, triterpenes, diterpenes,
candle wax to make it like an Arthritis, skin allergies, [44] immune-modula-tory, cytotoxic, anti-
cordifolia Maka-buhay Panya-wan Leaves diterpene glycosides, cis clero-danetype
ointment, then massage the body high blood, stroke malarial, cardio-protective, and anti-
furanoditerpenoids, lactones, sterols,
using it. diabetic activities
lignans, and nucleosides
Moraceae
Ficus
Head-ache and De La Salle Univer-sity β-Sitosteryl-3αglucopyranoside-6'-O-
septica lagnob lagnob Leaves Fresh leaves bruised with oil [45] Cytotoxic
rheuma-tism palmitate
Moringaceae
Hyper-choleste-
Moringa oleifera Horse raddish rolemia, high blood [46] vitamins, phenolic acids, flavonoids,
malung-gay Leaves Decoction through viand Anti-inflam-mation, cytotoxic
tree pressure, diabetes, isothiocyanates, tannins and saponins
cancer
Myrtaceae
Decoction tannins, triterpenes, flavonoids, resin,
Leaves LBM [47]
Psidium guajava Guava Bayabas Pound the leaves the directly place Antimicro-bial, anti-bacterial eugenol, malic acid, fat, cellulose, chloro-
Shoots Wounds
on skin phyll, mineral, salts
Antho-cyanins, glucoside, alkaloid,
Svzygium cumini [48]
duhat lumboy Fruits/seeds Direct eating Type II Diabetes Diastatic conversion of starch into sugar jambosine, and glycoside jambolin or
antimellin
Oxalidaceae
Averrhoa
chronic head-ache, oxalate, which is hazardous for uremic
carambola [49] Anti-oxidant; anti-inflam-matory; anti-
Star fruit Balim-bing Fruits Direct eating; Juice extraction fever, cough, gastro- patients, and caramboxin (CBX),saponins,
microbial
enteritis flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins
Pandanaceae
Pandanus High blood, pain Kaoh-siung Medical Panda-marine B and pandali-zines C and
Pandan Pandan Leaves Decoction Anti-oxidant, anti-inflam-matory
amarylli-folius reliever University [50] D
Piperaceae
Decoction;
Peperomia Pansit- Whole plant Gently pound the leaves then place Chafing fever, [51] Antimicro-bial, anti-oxidant, anti-angio- alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins,
Sinaw-sinaw
pellucida pansitan Leaves directly on wounds or affected Any type of wounds genic, anti-inflam-matory, analgesic, terpenoids, steroids and glycosides
areas
Poaceae
Biotech-nology Engi-neering
Cymbopo-gon polyphenol rich extractants and citral
Decoction or mix it on vegetable Joints and body aches, Depart-ment, Interna-tional Anti-oxidant, anti-inflam-matory, anti-
citratus Lemon grass Tanglad Whole plant isolate, lipid and essential oil and
soup to taste better headache Islamic University Malaysia bacterial, anti-obesity, analgesic activity
polyphenol fractions
[52, 53]
[54]
Eleusine indica Paragis Bila-bila Whole plant Decoction High blood and fever Antibiotic and anti-cancer saponins, cyanogenic glycosides,

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Roots Decoction Body ache and bughat unsaturated lactones and glucosino-lates
(after child birth)
Department of Pharma-
Peel the hard part of the stem then Fatty acid, alcohol, phytoste-rols, higher
Saccharum Liver condition cognosy, Khalsa College of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-hyper-
Sugar-cane Tubo Old stem chew and sip the fleshy juice/ terpenoids, flavonoids, glycosides, and
officinarum (jaun-dice) Pharmacy, Amritsar, India glycemic, diuretic, and hepato-protective
extract [55] phenolic acids
[56]
Zea mays Corn Bugas mais Hairs/Cobs Decoction and drink as a tea UTI diuretic maizeric acid, resin; sugar
Polypodiaceae
Labor pains;
Bird’s nest Infusion/ [57]
Asplenium sp. kabka-bon Frond extract bughat(physical Anti-cancer, Anti-oxidant, Antimicro-bial Flavonoids
fern Decoction
relapse)
Rutaceae
Get the fruit extract by squeezing it Depart-ment of Natural
Citrofortu-nella Hypo-lipidemic, hypoglycemic, and anti- ascorbic acid, citric acid, flavonoid,
Cala-mansi Lemon-sito Fruit and add a little bit of water then Cough and colds Sciences, San Beda College,
microcarpa [58] oxidative calamondin
drink it Manila, Philip-pines
Sapotaceae
Depart-ment of Biological
Chryso-phyllum Antio-xidant, anti-inflam-matory, Polyphe-nolic anti-oxidants;
Star apple Caimito Leaves Decoction LBM, diarrhea Sciences, Lehman College
cainito hypoten-sive and anti-microbial quercetin, myricitrin, garlic acid
and The Graduate Center [59]
Synsepalum UTI, High blood, Shenzen Polytech-nic Acarbose,, MFP-S, MFP-L,
Miracle fruit Miracle fruit Fruits Eat the fruit [60] Anti-oxidant, glucose-dase inhibition
dulcificum diabetes polysaccharides
Solanaceae
Get the extract by pounding then Carbohy-drates, phenolic glycosides and
Solanum Anti-bacterial activity, cytotoxic-city and
Egg-plant Talong Shoots put some salts on the wound before Tetanus Jahangirnagar University [61] weak presence of alkaloids, falvonoids,
melongena antioxidant
placing the extract on it directly tannins, terpenoids, steroids and saponins
Capsicum Crush fruit, mix with oil and apply Pains; rheuma-tism; [62]
Red pepper sili fruit Anti-oxidant, analgesic capsaicin, carotenoids lutein, ascorbic acid
frutescens on affected part. arthritis
Urticaceae
Anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-inflam- essential amino acids, fatty acids,
Stinging Leaves and For some cancer Institute of General and
Urtica dioica Aliga-tong Decoction matory, antiviral, anti- carotenes, terpenoids, poly-phenolic
nettle roots ailments Physical Chemistry [63]
ulcer compounds
Zingiberaceae
Decoction Diarrhea,
Rhi-zomes [64] Anti-microbial, anti inflam-matory, anti- Polyphe-nolic compounds collectively
Curcuma longa Turme-ric Dulao Pound the leaves then apply De-toxifying
Leaves oxidant, anti-cancer activity known asurcumi-noids
directly on affected areas Wounds
Diarrhea,
Zingiber Leaves Decoction Hyper-tension, Hong Kong Poly-technic Anti-oxidative, anti-inflamma-tory and
Ginger Luy-a Phenolics and flavonoids
officinale Rhi-zome Decoction cough and stomach University [65] anti-cancer
ache

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Results revealed fifty (50) medicinal plants belonging to 32 causing pain and swelling in areas where air has consolidated
Families which are utilized by the Visayans to treat different [68]
. “Piang” is a fracture or dislocation of nerves or tissues,
ailments. Blumeabalsamifera from the Family Asteraceae affecting any part of the body brought about by a fall or
emerged as the frequently answered plant used in treating mishandling which can accordingly result in a cough when
cough, colds and fever through decoction. Most of the species occurred in the chest, the back, or underarm. Cold wind which
are in conjunction with the study of Morilla et al. [66] which could also enter the piang site can also cause cough; the
accordingly proven already to contain various chemical condition is termed gipanuhot ang piang [68].
compounds and metabolites that are known to have medicinal Unique to the Visayans is the practice of “toob” especially
properties. Physiological review from the different published during fever which utilizes smoke from certain medicinal
researches reveals significant bioactivities and important plants and inhaled by the patient in a closed compartment. In
bioisolates which are necessary for further researches. the works of Bucol [69], “toob” is practiced by a folk healers
Furthermore, the use of leaves were abundantly utilized by the or herbolarios in Siquijor Island in Central Philippines as a
Visayan people in making herbal medicines since it is the part means of curing toothache by utilizing the smoke and the
of the plant that is easily collected and stored. As supported medical ailments. However, the healing effect of “toob” is
by the works of Morilla et al. [66], the leaves are the sites of not yet scientifically explored.
the production and storehouse of many chemical compounds
through photosynthesis that generates important 4. Conclusion and Recommendation
phytochemicals for effective healing ability like the tannins, Ethnobotanical knowledge of medicinal plant species among
alkaloids and flavonoids. the community of Visayans residing in the municipality of
Decoction is the most common process in preparing herbal Siay and Ipil, Zambonga Sibugay is still practiced and is
medicines. This preparation involves the boiling of the plant passed on from generations to generations. Documentation of
materials for an extended period of time so the hard material this ethnobotanical practice records fifty (50) important plant
of the plants will soften and release its active components. species belonging to thirty-two (32) Families. Blumea
Other mode of preparation includes extraction, direct intake, balsamifera (sambong) of the Family Asteraceae emerged as
direct application on skin such as applying as liniment and the frequently answered plant used in treating cough, colds
sun drying the leaves afterwards pouring hot water to it and fever through decoction. All of the species exhibits
similar to the preparation of a tea drink. significant bioactivities and active bioisolates based on the
The localities believed that plants have a substantial systematic review, which may lead for further researches.
contribution to the lives of the people and it signifies a
dominant role in the well-being of the global population. Most 5. Acknowledgements
of the people are aware of the importance of plants and are The authors are grateful to the funding assistance of Western
constantly gaining knowledge on how to use these as a Mindanao State University through the institutional research
remedy to different ailments and diseases. This is supported project titled “Ethnobotany, Field Mapping and Systematic
by the World Health Organization (WHO) [6] that the practice Review on Folkloric Medicinal Plants in Zamboanga
of herbal medicines in treating diseases still poses a great Peninsula, Mindanao, Philippines”.
impact on the health of the people across the globe.
According to Morilla et al. [66], indigenous people around the 6. References
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