Cross-cultural ethnobotanical knowledge of Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr. supported by multi-target ethnopharmacological evidence

Authors

  • Nur Anisa Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Science, IPB University
  • Asril Burhan Plant Biology Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia and Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Health Science, Universitas Almarisah Madani, Makasar, Indonesia
  • Hersan Bayu Kurnia Department of Biology, Riau University, Pekanbaru, Indonesia
  • Ulfa Febiana Whatin Biotechnology Study Program, Graduate School, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • I Gusti Ngurah Sentana Putra Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • M. Salman Nuryahya Integrated Pest Management Study Program, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • Dyah Ayu Puspitasari Biotechnology Study Program, Graduate School, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • Fajar Dini Microbiology Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • Rosa Amelia Microbiology Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • Rati Lestari Integrated Pest Management Study Program, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • Arman Integrated Pest Management Study Program, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • Muh Akbar Idris Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia and 9Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sulawesi Barat, Majene, Indonesia
  • Silmi Mariya Laboratory Microbiology and Immunology, Primate Research Center (PSSP), IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
  • Berry Juliandi Animal Biosciences Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr is embedded in Southeast Asian ethnobotanical knowledge, where bark, leaves, roots, and fruit pericarps are used for digestive disorders, fever, inflammation, postpartum recovery, wounds, and functional beverages. Although these practices are culturally diverse, they converge around symptom clusters associated with inflammatory and metabolic imbalance. This study examined whether cross-cultural plant-part selection and preparation patterns can be linked with supporting ethnopharmacological evidence.

Methods: Published ethnobotanical records were synthesized to map plant parts, traditional uses, preparation practices, and reported bioactive constituents. Based on documented use, leaves and fruit pericarps were evaluated using α-glucosidase inhibition as a limited supporting assay. Reported triterpenoids and limonoids were further assessed through drug-likeness screening, target prediction, network pharmacology, PPI analysis, GO/KEGG enrichment, and molecular docking to explore plausible mechanisms related to inflammation, metabolic regulation, and cancer-associated pathways.

Results: Ethnobotanical records showed repeated cross-cultural use of bark, leaves, roots, and fruit-derived materials, with decoction, infusion, topical application, and functional beverages. Leaf extract showed moderate alpha-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 228.27 ± 0.91 ppm), whereas fruit pericarp activity was weak (>500 ppm). Network analyses identified IL6, TNF, PPARG, and TP53 as key inflammatory and metabolic-oncogenic regulators connecting traditional symptom categories between selected compounds and these proteins.

Conclusions: S. koetjape use appears to reflect culturally transmitted plant-part selection associated with inflammation, digestive disturbance, and metabolic regulation. Laboratory and computational findings should be interpreted as supportive, hypothesis-generating evidence rather than direct therapeutic proof.

Keywords: Ethnobotany, Ethnopharmacology, Traditional knowledge, Triterpenoid, Sandoricum koetjape.

Author Biographies

Nur Anisa, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Science, IPB University

Graduate student at Animal Biosciences Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Asril Burhan, Plant Biology Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia and Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Health Science, Universitas Almarisah Madani, Makasar, Indonesia

Doctoral student on Plant Biology Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia and a lecturer on Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Faculty of Health Science, Universitas Almarisah Madani, Makasar, Indonesia

Hersan Bayu Kurnia, Department of Biology, Riau University, Pekanbaru, Indonesia

Research assistant on Department of Biology, Riau University, Pekanbaru, Indonesia

Ulfa Febiana Whatin, Biotechnology Study Program, Graduate School, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Graduate student on Biotechnology Study Program, Graduate School, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

I Gusti Ngurah Sentana Putra, Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Graduate student on Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

M. Salman Nuryahya, Integrated Pest Management Study Program, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Graduate student on Integrated Pest Management Study Program, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Dyah Ayu Puspitasari, Biotechnology Study Program, Graduate School, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Graduate student on Biotechnology Study Program, Graduate School, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Fajar Dini, Microbiology Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Graduate student on Microbiology Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Rosa Amelia, Microbiology Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Graduate student on Microbiology Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

 

Rati Lestari, Integrated Pest Management Study Program, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Graduate student on Integrated Pest Management Study Program, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Arman, Integrated Pest Management Study Program, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Graduate student on Integrated Pest Management Study Program, Department of Plant Protection, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Muh Akbar Idris, Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia and 9Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sulawesi Barat, Majene, Indonesia

Graduate student on Department of Statistics and Data Sciences, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia and bachelor student on Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Sulawesi Barat, Majene, Indonesia

Silmi Mariya, Laboratory Microbiology and Immunology, Primate Research Center (PSSP), IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Researcher on Laboratory Microbiology and Immunology, Primate Research Center (PSSP), IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Berry Juliandi, Animal Biosciences Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

Lecturer on Animal Biosciences Study Program, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia and a dean of Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia

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Published

2026-07-14

How to Cite

Anisa, N., Burhan, A. ., Kurnia, H. B. ., Whatin, U. F. ., Putra, I. G. N. S. ., Nuryahya, M. S. ., Puspitasari, D. A. ., Dini, F. ., Amelia, R. ., Lestari, R. ., Arman, Idris, M. A. ., Mariya, S. ., & Juliandi, B. . (2026). Cross-cultural ethnobotanical knowledge of Sandoricum koetjape (Burm.f.) Merr. supported by multi-target ethnopharmacological evidence. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 35, 1–86. Retrieved from https://ethnobotanyjournal.org/index.php/era/article/view/8474

Issue

Vol. 35 (2026)

Section

Research

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