Philippine Medicinal Plants and Ethnolinguistic Groups

BIO 127 Medicinal Botany: Philippine Medicinal Taxa

• Course focuses on medicinal plants and their uses in the Philippines.
• KM. Matias is the instructor

Philippine Forest Blooms

• Survey includes plants like Ilang-Ilang, Salingogon, Ipil, Banaba, Amugis, and Bagawak Morado

Ethnolinguistic Groups and Medicinal Plants

• CAR and Region 1 includes groups such as Bontoc, Balangao, and Kankanaey
• Region 2 groups encompass Agta, Kalanguya-Ikalahan, and Gaddang
• Luzon accounts for 34% of groups
• Island groups (Regions IV, VI, & VII) feature Agutaynon, Tagbanua, and Mangyan tribes
• Visayas accounts for 3% of groups
• Northern and Western Mindanao (Regions IX & X) have Subanen, Manobo, and Teduray
• Mindanao has greater presence at 63%
• Region III and the rest of Luzon include Aeta, Negrito, and Dumagat
• Southern and Eastern Mindanao (Regions XI & XIII) consist of Manobo, Mandaya, and Mansaka
• Central Mindanao (Region XII) includes Aromanen, Teduray, and Maguindanao

Plant Diversity and Terrestrial Adaptations

• Chloroplastida phylogeny splits into Chlorophytes (green algae) and Streptophytes (green algae and land plants).
• Embryophytes include bryophytes (non-vascular plants) and tracheophytes (vascular plants), diverging about 450 million years ago.
• Key adaptations include cuticles to prevent desiccation and specialized roots
• Lignin aids in structural support
• Flavonoids protect against UV damage
• Flowers emit volatile compounds for pollination.
• Tannins are expressed as antifeedants in seeds and other plant parts

Primary vs Secondary Metabolites

• Primary metabolites are essential for growth, development, and reproduction, found in all organisms
• Examples: carbohydrates, proteins and nucleic acids.
• Directly involved in metabolic processes and produced continually during growth
• Secondary metabolites play roles in defense, signaling, and ecological interactions, often specific to certain species
• Examples: alkaloids, terpenes, phenolics, flavonoids. Not directly involved in basic metabolic processes and are produced in response to stress

Plant Secondary Metabolites

• Roles include plant defense signalling, and interactions with other organisms
• Phenolics protect plants from pathogens
• Terpenes and alkaloids from insect attacks
• Examples of N-containing compounds and Nicotine
• Tannins (Gallotannins and Ellagitannins)

Plant Secondary Metabolite Categories

• Terpenes, Phenolics, and Nitrogen-containing Compounds.

Botanical Terminology

• Leaf shapes vary: linear, oblong, lanceolate, elliptical, orbicular, reniform, cordate.
• Leaf margins include entire, serrate, dentate, crenate, and ciliate.
• Leaf types can be simple, pinnately compound, or bipinnately compound.
• Phyllotaxy (leaf arrangement) can be alternate, opposite, whorled, or basal.

Flower Terminology

• Perfect flowers have both male and female parts, while imperfect flowers have only one
• Monoecious plants have separate male and female flowers on the same plant, while dioecious plants have male and female flowers on separate plants
• Complete flowers possess all floral whorls (sepals, petals, pistils, stamens), incomplete ones are missing a part

Inflorescence and Ovary Position

• Solitary flowers appear alone at the stem apex
• Inflorescence refers arrangement of flowers in a cluster
• Ovary position can be superior or inferior: Hypogynous (superior) or Epigynous (inferior)

Plant Habit and Origin Terminology

• Herbs are non-woody with soft stems
• Vines have elongated, weak stems
• Lianas are woody climbing plants
• Shrubs are woody plants smaller than trees
• Trees are tall, woody plants with a single trunk
• Native plant species naturally occur in a specific region
• Exotic species are introduced by humans
• Naturalized species adapt and self-sustain in a new environment
• Cultivated species are grown by humans for various purposes

Medicinal Plants

• Peperomia pellucida is indicated for joint pain and lowers uric acid
• Allium sativum is useful for cuts, blood pressure, and cholesterol
• Blumea balsamifera is used for kidney problems
• Clinopodium douglasii treats cold and headache, amongst others
• Vitex negundo is employed for coughs, asthma, and more
• Senna alata addresses skin diseases and constipation
• Euphorbia hirta used for Dengue fever

Ethnobotany

• Defined as study of the relationship of primitive societies and plants

Topic Outline and Ethnobot Objectives

• Traditional uses of medicinal plants and cultural significance in Filipino culture
• Topics in ethnobotany: food, economic, cultural an medicinal botany

Medicinal Plants in Mindanao and Ethnobotany Surveys

• Ethnobotanical studies have been conducted in Mindanao, studying plants in various forest habitats with a variety of tree species

Ethnobotanical Survey in Visayas

• The distribution of genera and species of medicinal plants for certain areas in the Phillipines.

Culture Important Medicinal Plants

• Traditional Panay Bukidnon still believe illnesses caused by spirits, supernatural beings, and sorcery.
• Different plants and preparations are used for different perceived remedies and health issues
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale) used for protection from evil spirits.

Ethnobotanical ethics

• A gratuitous permit is required to collect botanical specimens for research
• The Nagoya Protocol aims for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources
• International Society of Ethnobiology has established guidelines for fieldwork