ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN GAMPONG ATONG, ACEH BESAR

Abstract

Medicinal plants have secondary metabolite compounds that are effective for treatment and health care. The people of Aceh Besar, especially Gampong Atong, have their own traditions in medicine by utilizing medicinal plants as local wisdom. This study aims to inventory plants that have pharmacological activity in relation to treatment and maintenance of public health in Gampong Atong, Montasik. This type of research is a qualitative study with a snowball sampling technique. The research subjects were determined through informant sampling. The methods used were interview, observation, and documentation methods. The data validity checking technique used was the triangulation technique of sources, techniques, and time. The results of the study obtained 22 types of medicinal plants that were utilized by the people in Gampong Atong as traditional medicine. The parts of the plant that were utilized were mostly leaves (63.7%), then fruit (13.6%), rhizomes (18.2%) and tubers (4.5%). The techniques for utilizing parts of medicinal plants vary, such as boiling, grinding, applying, pounding, kneading, and crushing. The medicinal plants obtained were classified into 17 families. It is hoped that the PKK mothers in Gampong Atong will be able to preserve various types of medicinal plants spread across the village area by creating a village medicinal garden so that it can be utilized by the community.