Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants Used by Manobo Tribe in Surigao del Sur, Philippines

This descriptive research documented the species of medicinal plants used by Manobo Tribe in Surigao del Sur. The plant parts used for medicinal purposes, methods of preparations and mode of administration were determined. Survey questionnaires were given to four informants mostly datus and herbalists. They were interviewed regarding the plants they utilized for medicinal purposes. Plants collected were identified at Provincial Environment Natural Resources Office (PENRO), Local Government Unit of the Province of Surigao del Sur. There were 19 plants collected from the Manobo Tribe at Bitaugan, Surigao del Sur. Two plants were identified from Poaceae family namely, Miligoy and Tubo. Two also were from the family Myrtaceae specifically, Tambis and Bayabas. The other plants were from families Fabaceae, Menispermaceae, Mimosoideae/ Mimosaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Costaceae, Malvaceae, Lauraceae and Basellaceae. Most plants were used to treat hyperacidity. Leaves were the most used plant part. Decoction was the most widely used medicinal preparation and majority was taken orally. There were no known side effects recorded from all medicinal plants collected. The time of effect for most of the medicinal plants collected was undetermined. Most of the medicinal plants were native, only some were recorded to be endemic and utilized as food by the locals.