A Review of Ethnobotanical Knowledge on Antidiabetic Medicinal Plants in Minangkabau Communities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31958/js.v18i1.16501Keywords:
Ethnobotany; Ethnomedicine; Antidiabetic; Minangkabau society; West Sumatra; Traditional knowledgeAbstract
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder with an increasing global prevalence. Ethnobotanical knowledge is essential for identifying natural antidiabetic agents. The Minangkabau people of West Sumatra possess extensive traditional knowledge of medicinal plants for diabetes management. This review documents these plants and analyzes species richness, plant-part utilization, and family distribution across regions. Data were collected through a systematic literature review using Google Scholar and Crossref. Relevant ethnobotanical studies from seven locations in West Sumatra were screened with predefined criteria and analyzed descriptively. A total of 53 medicinal plant species from 33 families were recorded. Most species were region-specific, with 32 species found in only one locality, indicating localized knowledge. Only ten species were shared among two or three regions. IV Koto Subdistrict exhibited the highest richness with 42 species, followed by Sungai Abu Solok and Nagari Sianok with eight each. Sijunjung recorded three species, while Sintuak, Talang, and Koto Baru Kambang each reported one species. Leaves were the most frequently used part (26 species), followed by rhizomes and fruits (seven each). Zingiberaceae dominated with six species, Asteraceae with four, while Lamiaceae and Poaceae each contributed three species. These findings reveal that traditional antidiabetic knowledge in West Sumatra is highly heterogeneous, shaped by ecological accessibility, cultural transmission, and local biodiversity. IV Koto represents a key center of ethnomedicinal knowledge and should be prioritized for future pharmacological and conservation studies.
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