Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used in the treatment of infectious diseases in Central Maluku, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Infectious diseases remain a major health issue in Central Maluku, where communities depend on medicinal plants for treating infection-related conditions. Despite being culturally embedded, this knowledge is poorly documented, and previous ethnobotanical studies have lacked botanical indices to assess its consistency and reliability. This study documents medicinal plants used for infectious diseases in Central Maluku and examines their potential chemical constituents and antimicrobial properties based on available scientific evidence.

Methods: Information was gathered through questionnaires, interviews, and observations involving 43 traditional healers. Several ethnobotanical indices—including the informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), use value (UV), and frequency of citation (FC)—were analyzed to evaluate agreement among informants and highlight species of particular therapeutic interest.

Results: A total of 74 medicinal plants from 43 families were recorded as treatments for 18 infectious diseases. Several species showed strong associations with specific conditions, including Curcuma longa for purulent navel, Tinospora crispa for malaria, and Curcuma zanthorrhiza for abdominal pain. Endemic plants such as Myristica fragrans and Syzygium aromaticum were commonly used for postpartum infections, and prior studies indicate that both contain antimicrobial compounds. Plants with high index values and distinctive uses included Flagellaria indica for hernia. Meanwhile, species with lower consensus but noteworthy applications included Catharanthus roseus, Ceiba pentandra, and Hibiscus × rosa-sinensis for pneumonia.

Conclusions: Overall, the findings demonstrate the therapeutic relevance of medicinal plants in Central Maluku and highlight key species that warrant further phytochemical and antimicrobial investigation to support their traditional uses scientifically.

Keywords: Ethnomedicine, Herbal medicine, Infections, Informant consensus factor, Fidelity level, Use value.