Traditional Utilization of Plants for Malaria Prevention and Treatment by The Sumba Tribe, East Nusa Tenggara

Abstract

Malaria is a tropical disease that remains a major public health problem in Indonesia. The eastern region of Indonesia, including Sumba Island, is recorded as an area with a high prevalence of endemic malaria cases. This study aims to identify plant species used for the prevention and treatment of malaria, determine the plant parts most commonly utilized, and analyze the Use Index Value (UVi), Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC), and Fidelity Level (FL) of each plant species used. This study employed structured interview techniques using the snowball sampling and purposive sampling methods on 25 informants, consisting of 76% males and 26% females. Field observations were conducted to identify plant species, and documentation was carried out. Plant species were identified using the Flora of Malesiana book, while species verification was conducted using the Plants of the World Online (POWO) database. The data were analyzed quantitatively. This study identified 43 plant species from 32 families used for malaria treatment on Sumba Island. The families with the highest number of species were Fabaceae and Meliaceae. Most of the plants used were trees (51%), with the most common processing method being decoction (53%). The most frequently utilized plant part for therapeutic preparation was the leaves (49%). The plant most commonly used for malaria treatment, based on the highest UVi value (0.64) and the highest RFC value (0.56), was Carica papaya L. Additionally, 24 plant species with an FL of 100% were recommended as potential materials for malaria prevention and treatment. Medicinal plants should be preserved due to their ecological value, such as maintaining soil fertility, acting as natural pest control, balancing water cycles, producing oxygen, and providing habitats. This study demonstrates that ethnomedicine practices play a crucial role in people's lives. The medicinal plants used have the potential to be further developed as natural alternative treatments. Therefore, efforts should be made for conservation and further research on their effectiveness and safety. The contribution of this study lies in the preservation of biodiversity and the improvement of public health, particularly on Sumba Island.