Top

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Published in:

01-12-2020 | Furuncle | Research

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by Mulam people in Guangxi, China

Authors: Renchuan Hu, Chunrui Lin, Weibin Xu, Yan Liu, Chunlin Long

Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

The Mulam are an ethnic group native to Guangxi, and nearly 80% of the Mulam population lives in Luocheng Mulam Autonomous County, northern Guangxi, southern China. They have accumulated rich medicinal folk knowledge through practice and experience in their long-term struggles with disease and the harsh natural environment. However, their traditional medicinal knowledge is threatened due to a lack of written records, conservative inheritance patterns, and rapid economic development. Therefore, the investigation and documentation of medicinal plants and their associated indigenous wisdom are necessary.

Method

Ethnobotanical data were collected from 12 villages and five communities in Luocheng County from January 2013 to April 2017. A total of 128 informants were interviewed through semistructured interviews, field observations, group discussions, and guided field walks. Quantitative indices such as use categories, preference ranking exercises, the informant consensus factor (ICF), and the fidelity level (FL) were used to evaluate the importance of medicinal plant species. Additionally, group discussions were conducted about the conservation of and threats to medicinal plants and traditional knowledge.

Results

A total of 456 medicinal plant species from 350 genera and 132 families were recorded and documented in our ethnobotanical investigation. Most of them (335 species, 73.47%) were obtained from wild habitats. Most of the documented species (246) were herbaceous (54%), followed by shrubs, with 76 species (17%), lianas, with 75 species (16%), and trees, with 59 species (13%). The most common method of administration was oral administration, which was used for 390 species (62.70%). The most common method of preparation was decoction (316 species, 54.11%). The plants were used to treat 312 human diseases in 12 disease categories, and most of the categories had a high ICF value. The highest ICF value was recorded for gynecological ailments (0.92), followed by nervous and psychosomatic problems (0.90) and digestive system diseases (0.89). Traditional medicinal knowledge and medicinal plants are under threat due to conservative inheritance processes and anthropogenic pressures for various reasons.

Conclusion

A rich diversity of medicinal plants is distributed in the Mulam area, and these plants play an important role in healthcare among the Mulam people. Mulam people are skilled in using the plants in their surroundings to treat diseases in their daily lives. However, their traditional medicinal knowledge and medicinal plants are greatly threatened by rapid economic development for various reasons. Thus, policies and practices for the conservation of medicinal plants and the associated traditional knowledge are necessary.

Huai HY, Pei SJ. Medicinal ethnobotany and its advances. Chin Bull Bot. 2002;2(19):129–36.

Zhu YP, Woerdenbag HJ. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Pharm World Sci. 1995;17(4):103–12.CrossRef

Brandão MGL, Acúrcio FA, Montemor RLM, Marlière LDP. Complementary/alternative medicine in Latin America: Use of herbal remedies among a Brazilian metropolitan area population. J Complem Integr Med. 2006;3(1). https://doi.org/10.2202/1553-3840.1025.

Sheldon JW, Balick MJ, Laird SA. Medicinal plants: can utilization and conservation coexist? Econ Bot. 1997;12:1–104. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4256213.

World Health Organization. WHO traditional medicine strategy 2002-2005. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2002.

Burton A, Smith M, Falkenberg T. Building WHO's global strategy for traditional medicine. Eur J Integr Med. 2015;7(1):13–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eujim.2014.12.007.

Aati H, El-Gamal A, Shaheen H, Kayser O. Traditional use of ethnomedicinal native plants in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2019;15(1):2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-018-0263-2.

WHO. Traditional medicine, 2008. Fact sheet 2009. p. 322.

Bannerman RH, Burton J, Chen WC. Traditional medicine and health care coverage: a reader for health administrators and practitioners. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1983.

10.

Aziz M, Adnan M, Khan A, Shahat A, Al-Said M, Ullah R. Traditional uses of medicinal plants practiced by the indigenous communities at Mohmand agency, FATA. Pakistan. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2018;14(2):2–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0204-5.

11.

Sun X, Yu J, Qian HN. Research progress and prospect of Shennong Bencao Jing. Chin Arch Tradit Chin Med. 2014;32:9.

12.

Liu Y, Dao Z, Yang C, Liu Y, Long CL. Medicinal plants used by Tibetans in Shangri-la, Yunnan, China. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2009;5(1):15. http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/5/1/15.

13.

Ahmad M, Sultana S, Fazl-i-Hadi S, Ben Hadda T, Rashid S, Zafar M, Khan MA, Khan MPZ, Yaseen G. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in high mountainous region of Chail valley (District Swat-Pakistan). J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2014;10(1):36. http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/10/1/36.

14.

Tugume P, Kakudidi EK, Buyinza M, Namaalwa J, Kamatenesi M, Mucunguzi P, Kalema J. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plant species used by communities around Mabira Central Forest Reserve, Uganda. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2016;12(1):5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0077-4.

15.

Tewelde F, Mesfin M, Tsewene S. Ethnobotanical survey of traditional medicinal practices in LaelayAdi-Yabo District, Northern Ethiopia. Int J Ophthalmol Visual Sci. 2017;2(4):80–7. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijovs.20170204.11.

16.

Aziz MA, Khan AH, Adnan M, Izatullah I. Traditional uses of medicinal plants reported by the indigenous communities and local herbal practitioners of Bajaur Agency, Federally Administrated Tribal Areas, Pakistan. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017;198:268–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.01.024.

17.

Kidane L, Gebremedhin G, Beyene T. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Ganta Afeshum District, Eastern Zone of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2018;14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-018-0266-z.

18.

Yang C, Long CL, Shi Y, Wang Y, Wang H. Ethnobotanical study on medicinal market during Dragon Boat Festival in Jingxi County, southwestern Guangxi region. J CUN (Nat Sci Ed). 2009;18(2):16–26.

19.

Lin CR, Liu Y, Xu WB, Liang YY. Diversity of medicinal plant resources on traditional medicinal market in Jingxi, Guangxi. Lishizhen Med Mat Med Res. 2010;21(12):3286–8.

20.

Lin CR, Lu ZC, Liu J, Huang YS, Xu WB, Liu Y. Investigation of medicinal plants on medicinal market during Dragon-Boat Festival in Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County of Guangxi. Mod Chin Med. 2016;18(6):730–6.

21.

Su SL, Zhang TT, Zhang B, Huang K, Zeng XB. Ethnobotany study in the minority area of Baise region. Anhui Agri Sci Bull. 2011;17(23):123–4 142.

22.

Hong LY, Guo ZY, Huang KH, Wei SJ, Liu B, Meng SW, Long CL. Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by Maonan people in China. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2015;11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0019-1.

23.

Cao M, Su LY, Ming X, Chen JS. Ethnobotany survey on traditional medicinal plants used by Yao people in Nanping town, Shangsi County, guangxi. J Inner Mongol Norm U (Nat Sci Ed). 2016;45:218–23.

24.

Du Q, Wei WM, Mi DQ. Knowledge and existing status of medicinal ethnobotany of mangrove among Jing People in Guangxi. Guihaia. 2016; 36(4):405–12. https://doi.org/10.11931/guihaia.gxzw201508008.

25.

Chen JS, Cao LM, Su XZ, Cao M. Ethnobotany knowledge of traditional medicinal plants among Hong-Yao in Longsheng, Guangxi. Guihaia. 2019;39(3):375–85. https://doi.org/10.11931/guihaia.gxzw201805052.

26.

Deng QY, Wang CC, Wang XQ, Wang LX, Wang ZY, Wu WJ, Li H, Consortium G. Genetic affinity between the Kam-Sui speaking Chadong and Mulam people. J Syst Evol. 2013;51(3):263–70. https://doi.org/10.1111/jse.12009.

27.

The Population Census Office of the State Counci and National Bureau of Statistics Population and Employment Statistics Division. Tabulation on the population census of the people’s republic of china by county. Beijing: China Statistics Press; 2011.

28.

Pan Q, Yin JJ, Long DB. General History of Mulam. Beijing: The Ethnic Press; 2011.

29.

Wen YT. Exploration on the origin of Mulam. Guangxi Ethnic Study. 2010;2:131–5.

30.

Megersa M, Asfaw Z, Kelbessa E, Beyene A, Woldeab B. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Wayu Tuka district, east Welega zone of oromia regional state, West Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9(1):68. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-68.

31.

Wang YH, Wang C. Common Research Methods of Ethnobotany. Hangzhou: Zhejiang Education Publishing House; 2017.

32.

Martin GJ. Ethnobotany: A Method Manual. London: Chapman and Hall; 1995.CrossRef

33.

Bernard HR. Research methods in cultural anthropology (4th ed). Newbury Park, CA: Sage; 2006.

34.

Teklay A, Abera B, Giday M. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used in Kilte Awulaelo District, Tigray Region of Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9(1):65. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-65.

35.

Friedman J, Yaniv Z, Dafni A, Palewitch D. A preliminary classification of the healing potential of medicinal plants, based on a rational analysis of an ethnopharmacological field survey among Bedouins in the Negev Desert, Israel. J Ethnopharmacol. 1986;16(2-3):275-287. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-8741(86)90094-2.

36.

Ugulu I. Fidelity level and knowledge of medicinal plants used to make therapeutic Turkish baths. J Altern Complement Med. 2010;16(3):313–22. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2009.0040.

37.

Luo BS, Liu YJ, Liu B, Liu SZ, Zhang BX, Zhang LH, Lin CR, Liu Y, Kennelly EJ, Guo ZY, Long CL. Yao herbal medicinal market during the Dragon Boat Festival in Jianghua County, China J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2018;14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-018-0260-5.

38.

Abbasi AM, Khan MA, Shah MH, Shah MM, Pervez A, Ahmad M. Ethnobotanical appraisal and cultural values of medicinally important wild edible vegetables of Lesser Himalayas-Pakistan. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9. http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/9/1/66.

39.

Lee S, Xiao C, Pei S. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants at periodic markets of Honghe Prefecture in Yunnan Province, SW China. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008;117(2):362–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.02.001.

40.

Chekole G, Asfaw Z, Kelbessa E. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in the environs of Tara-gedam and Amba remnant forests of Libo Kemkem District, northwest Ethiopia. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2015;11. http://www.ethnobiomed.com/content/11/1/4.

41.

Huang J, Pei SJ, Long CL. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Lisu people in Nujiang, northwest Yunnan, China. Econ Bot. 2004;58(1):S253–64. https://doi.org/10.2307/4256922.

42.

Cunningham AB. Recommendations for multiple use zones and development alternatives around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. People & Plants Working paper. 1996;4.

43.

Polat R, Cakilcioglu U, Kaltalioglu K, Ulusan MD, Tuurkmen Z. An ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants in Espiye and its surrounding (Giresun-Turkey). J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;163:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.01.008.CrossRef

44.

Phumthum M, Srithi K, Inta A, Junsongduang A, Tangjitman K, Pongamornkul W, Trisonthi C, Balslev H. Ethnomedicinal plant diversity in Thailand. J Ethnopharmacol. 2018;214:90–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.12.003.

45.

Hirt HM, M’pia B. Natural medicine in the Tropics. Thirdth ed. Kisubi, Uganda: Marianum Press; 2008.

46.

Scherrer AM, Motti R, Weckerle CS. Traditional plant use in the areas of monte vesole and ascea, cilento national park (Campania, Southern Italy). J Ethnopharmacol. 2005;97(1):129–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2004.11.002.

47.

Bano A, Ahmad M, Hadda TB, Saboor A, Sultana S, Zafar M, Khan MPZ, Arshad M, Ashraf MA. Quantitative ethnomedicinal study of plants used in the skardu valley at high altitude of Karakoram-Himalayan range, Pakistan. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2014;10(1):43 https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-10-43.CrossRef

48.

van Tubergen A, van der Linden S. A brief history of spa therapy. Ann Rheum Dis. 2002;61(3):273–5. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.61.3.273.

49.

Wang J, Zhu M, Xiang L, Xiao Y. Chinese medicinal bath for psoriasis vulgaris. J Chin Phys. 2002;4:96–7.

50.

Long CL, Li R. Ethnobotanical studies on medicinal plants used by the Red-headed Yao People in Jinping, Yunnan Province, China. J Ethnopharmacol. 2004;90(2-3):389–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2003.10.021.

51.

Li SM, Long CL, Liu F, Lee S, Guo Q, Li R, Liu Y. Herbs for medicinal baths among the traditional Yao communities of China. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;108(1):59–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2003.10.021.

52.

Zhang XP, Li YZ, Li SS, Luo JY. An overview of rheumatoid arthritis therepeutic drugs. Drug Eval Res. 2018;41(10):1906–10.

53.

Alamanos Y, Drosos AA. Epidemiology of adult rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmun Rev. 2005;4(3):130–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autrev.2004.09.002.

54.

Hou Y, Zhao Y. Progress on diagnosis and treatment for rheumatoid arthritis [J]. Pract J Clin Med. 2011;2:8–10.CrossRef

55.

Zhou X, Han L, Ye Y, Wang R, Zhang Y, Bai C. Progress on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with ethnodrugs. China J Chin Mat med. 2017;42(12):2398–407.

56.

Xie SY, Yao KL, Wu XJ, Lin XG, Han CL, Ling FX, Lian HM. Overview of pharmacological research on Semiliquidambar cathayensis H. T. Chang. J Fujian For Sci Tech. 2018;45(4):122–7.

57.

State Administrative Bureau of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Chinese Materia Medica. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers; 1999.

58.

Jia MR, Li XW. National Medicine of China. Beijing: China Medical Science and Technology Press; 2005.

59.

Au DT, Wu J, Jiang Z, Chen H, Lu G, Zhao Z. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by Hakka in Guangdong, China. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008;117(1):0-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2008.01.016.

60.

Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publishers; 2006.

61.

Jin B, Liu YJ, Xie JX, Luo BS, Long CL. Ethnobotanical survey of plant species for herbal tea in a Yao autonomous county (Jianghua, China): Results of a 2-year study of traditional medicinal markets on the Dragon Boat Festival. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2018;14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-018-0257-0.

62.

Pan YM, Liu HM, Xu ZF. Traditional beverage plants used by Dai villagers in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China. Acta Bot Yunnanica. 2006;28(6):653–64.

63.

Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Beijing: China Medical Science and Technology Press; 2015.

64.

Tang AL, Wei YX, Tang GX, Liu XF, Luo ZH, Ou XH, Chen SY, Qin HY. Primary research on the chemical constituents of Laportea violacea Gagnep. Strait Pharm J. 2008;20:121–3.

65.

Liu YJ, Ahmed S, Long CL. Ethnobotanical survey of cooling herbal drinks from southern China. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2013;9:82. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-9-82.CrossRef

66.

Ghorbani A, Langenberger G, Feng L, Sauerborn J. Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants utilised by Hani ethnicity in Naban River Watershed National Nature Reserve, Yunnan, China. J Ethnopharmacol. 2011;134(3):651–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2011.01.011.

Title: Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by Mulam people in Guangxi, China
Authors: Renchuan Hu
Chunrui Lin
Weibin Xu
Yan Liu
Chunlin Long
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Furuncle
Cough
Carbuncle
Cough
Cough
Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4269
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-020-00387-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Ethnobotanical study on medicinal plants used by Mulam people in Guangxi, China

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Method

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

Management, morphological and genetic diversity of domesticated agaves in Michoacán, México

“Peruvian balsam”: an example of transoceanic transfer of medicinal knowledge

Ethnobotanical survey of the medicinal flora of Harighal, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan

Indigenous uses of wild and tended plant biodiversity maintain ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes of the Terai Plains of Nepal

Wild edible ectomycorrhizal fungi: an underutilized food resource from the rainforests of Tshopo province (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Correction to: Local preferences for three indigenous oil-seed plants and attitudes towards their conservation in the Kénédougou province of Burkina Faso, West-Africa