Traditional plant-based medicine is increasingly sought as an alternative to synthetic drugs with adverse effects, yet the medicinal potential of understory vegetation in Indonesia's tropical forests remains poorly documented. This study investigated the diversity and medicinal potential of understory plants in the lowland forests of Mount Ciremai National Park, specifically examining species distribution patterns across altitudinal gradients and their bioprospecting potential. Surveys were conducted using stratified sampling along five elevation zones (700-1,200 m asl) with 200 quadrats (1×1 m). Diversity was assessed using Shannon-Wiener index (H'), community structure through Importance Value Index (IVI), and medicinal potential through ethnobotanical validation and systematic literature review. Results revealed 39 species across 25 families (1,583 individuals total), with 16 species (41%) demonstrating validated medicinal properties for treating digestive, genitourinary, and dermatological disorders. Diversity exhibited a hump-shaped pattern peaking at intermediate elevations (H' = 2.88 at 900-1,000 m), with strong positive correlation between altitude and phytochemical diversity (r = 0.73, p < 0.01). Leaves constituted the most utilized plant part (56.3%). These findings provide critical implications for: (1) ex-situ conservation of priority medicinal species; (2) altitude-specific sustainable harvesting protocols; (3) evidence-based pharmaceutical bioprospecting; and (4) traditional knowledge documentation supporting community-based cultivation programs. The altitude-phytochemical diversity relationship indicates that conservation strategies must incorporate elevation-specific management zones to preserve genetic and chemical diversity. This study substantiates the pharmaceutical potential of tropical understory plants and provides empirical foundation for integrating biodiversity conservation with sustainable forest resource utilization.
Sudiana et al. (Wed,) studied this question.