Identification and collection of indigenous medicinal plants in Barangay Agsalanan, Dingle, Province of Iloilo

Abstract

This botanical survey was carried out to classify and identify the indigenous medicinal plants that thrive in Barangay Agsalanan, Dingle, Iloilo and assess their medicinal uses and conservation status, frequency and percentage were the only statistics used in the study. Results showed that 155 plant species are under the 137 genera and 61 families of which 31.61 %, 34.19%, 21.29%, 7.09%, 3.23%, 1.94%, and 0.65% were trees, herbs, shrubs, vines/climbers, grasses, palms, and a sedge, respectively. A relatively higher number of medicinal species belong to <em>Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Solanaceae, Lamiacea, Poaceae</em> and <em>Verbenaceae</em> families. The medicinal uses range from treatment of a simple skin irritation to a deadly tumor and human cancer. Those reported to have anti-cancer property include, among others, Kalauag (<em>Curcuma longa</em> Linn.), Tsaang gubat (<em>Carmona retusa</em> (Vohl.) Masam), Bamban (<em>Donax cannaeformis</em> (Forst, f.) K. Schum), Rosas de Baybayon (<em>Catharanthus roseus</em> L.), Pandakaki (<em>Tabernaemontana pandacaqui</em> Poir), Lomboy (<em>Syzygium cuminii</em> (L.) Skeels), Bulubito-on (<em>Barringtonia asiatica</em> (Linn.) Kurz.), and Niyog (<em>Cocos nucifera</em> L.). At least 59 (38.06 %) were found to be endangered, threatened, depleted, or vulnerable plant species. Meanwhile, 83 (53.55%) plant species have been assessed as abundant and 13 (8.39 %) were indeterminate in terms of conservation status.