Ethnophytomedical Practices and Medicinal Plant Diversity in a Remote Island Community: Evidence from Abusur Village, Southwest Maluku, Indonesia

Abstract

This study investigates the ethnophytomedical practices of the Abusur village community in Southwest Maluku, Indonesia, emphasizing the diversity, utilization, and cultural significance of medicinal plants in traditional healthcare systems. The research aims to document medicinal plant species, analyze their therapeutic functions, and examine the plant parts utilized by the community. A qualitative descriptive design with an ethnophytomedical approach was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, field observations, and documentation involving six key informants selected using a snowball sampling technique. Data analysis followed a descriptive qualitative framework supported by simple quantitative measures, including frequency and percentage distribution. The results identified 36 medicinal plant species belonging to 27 families, used to treat a wide range of health conditions from common ailments to chronic diseases. Leaves were the most frequently utilized plant part, accounting for 75.0% of total usage, reflecting a sustainable and accessible practice. The findings highlight the central role of traditional knowledge in supporting primary healthcare, particularly in remote areas with limited access to modern medical services. Furthermore, the study demonstrates a strong interconnection between biodiversity and indigenous knowledge systems. This research contributes to ethnophytomedicine by providing empirical evidence from an underrepresented region and offers practical implications for biodiversity conservation, pharmacological development, and the integration of traditional medicine into formal healthcare frameworks.