ETHNOBOTANY OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN SIJUNJUNG REGENCY, WEST SUMATRA: A NARRATIVE REVIEW OF SIX PRIMARY STUDIES, 2021–2025

Abstrak

Ethnobotanical knowledge concerning plant use for health purposes in Sijunjung Regency, West Sumatra, is dispersed across studies conducted across locations and research foci. This narrative review summarizes evidence on species diversity, plant parts, preparation methods, and methodological characteristics of ethnobotanical studies. A literature search was conducted on 5 October 2026 using Google Scholar, Garuda, university journal portals, and Dimensions. Because the initial search was not fully documented, this study is presented as a narrative review rather than a systematic review. Six primary studies published between 2021 and 2025 were included. Reported species counts varied across locations and research objectives: 43 species associated with diabetes in Sijunjung District, 81 species in Nagari Padang Laweh, 42 species from 29 families in Nagari Sijunjung, and 24 species in Nagari Buluh Kasok. Leaves were the most frequently used plant part in two studies, while preparation methods were documented in only one study. Six species appeared in multiple studies based on extractable lists. The reviewed studies were predominantly descriptive inventories, and information on knowledge transmission was limited. The evidence indicates diverse local medicinal-plant knowledge, but heterogeneous data and incomplete reporting limit comparisons. Future research should improve search documentation, species-list extraction, and quantitative ethnobotanical analysis.