Documenting ethnobotanical knowledge of rural community for sustainable benefits / Jovita Elderson Ripen... [et al.]

A study was conducted to identify and document all plants with economic and cultural significance to the nine Singai Bidayuh communities (villages) around the foothills of Mount Singai. Key informant surveys were carried out in each of the villages prior to field documentation and collection of specimens for identification. The information on use and methods of preparations and applications were obtained from active practitioners or traditional “medicine men” and “medicine women” through interviews and application observations for medicinal plants. For each of the plant species identified, specific use, parts of the plant used, method of preparation and applications, and general precautionary notes were included. A total of 52 species of useful plants were documented for medicine and the remaining were for food, preservatives, and spiritual healing. A use and valuation survey on these plant species also revealed that the total value of traditional medicinal plant use for the Singai Bidayuh community based on the current rate of household participation of 10% is at RM15, 443.90 per year. The results have provided a baseline on the economic value of the forest resources and contributed towards a better management of the area as a community heritage

The Genus Sulettaria A.D.Poulsen & Mathisen (Zingiberaceae) in Sarawak, Malaysia

Zingiberaceae is one of the most common herbaceous plant families in the tropical rainforests of Borneo, Malaysia. Many studies have been conducted on this family, yet the documentation of this family is still far from complete. Zingiberaceae also included many species that were reclassified, with many new genera introduced to accommodate the species based on the molecular work. Sulettaria A.D.Poulsen and Mathisen is one of the examples of a new genus introduced to accommodate such ginger species from Southeast Asia formerly from the genera Elettaria and Amomum. The majority of the species that are assigned to this new genus are found in Sarawak. This study aims to document information on Sulettaria with special reference to ecological and taxonomic aspects from Sarawak. A checklist of species found in Sarawak is included

Economic Valuation of Medicinal Plants in Jagoi Area, Bau, Malaysia

The use of indigenous plants based on traditional knowledge is widely known among the Bidayuh community in Sarawak. Following a study carried out among the Bidayuh community of Jagoi area, a total of 117 species of plants with economic and cultural significance, particularly plants with medicinal uses, were documented and collected. Of these, 60 species were recorded for medicinal purposes while 57 species of plants were for other uses. The plant family with the most species used were Euphorbiaceae and Moraceae (8 species each), Fabaceae (7 species), Arecaceae, Asteraceae and Dipterocarpaceae (5 species each), followed by Piperaceae, Poaceae and Zingiberaceae (4 species each). Information was obtained by interviews with medicine men and women, recognized as having knowledge of their culture. Information collected included the species of plants used, their specific use, and the method of preparation or applications. In this study, the use of medicinal herbs collected from the forest resources by local communities is an example of non-marketed and marketed direct use. During this study, market visits were made in all local markets in Bau District during weekends. Interviews were conducted with people selling plants and herbal products. The price of the plants and herbal products were noted. For non-marketable resources, the costs of the plants were estimated based on the availability cost and time to get the plants. How easy or difficult it was to obtain the plants and the number of hours spent to get them was also considered. A use and valuation survey on these plant species also revealed that the average value per household was estimated at RM 2,961 per year. With the assumption that 10% of the total population living around Gunung Jagoi depends on the forest area, the total estimated value of plants for the Bidayuh Jagoi community was RM 2,087,505 per year. The results of this study have provided a baseline on the economic value of the resources from the forest and will contribute towards a better management of the area as a community heritage site. The involvement, knowledge and reliability of the information obtained from the active Traditional Medicine Practices (TMPs) helped greatly in producing good estimated potential values of the useful plants as well as the net revenue of the TMPs in the area selected for the study

Sulettaria meekiongii, A new Zingiberaceae species from western Sarawak, Borneo

Sulettaria meekiongii Ripen & S.P. Teo, a new Zingiberaceae species is described herein. The new species is close to Sulettaria polycarpa. The new species can be differentiated by the pure white flower and fruits enclosed by the bract, (vs S. polycarpa) flower is white with a yellow band at the median of the labellum and the fruits are exposed. With the discovery of the new species, the number of Sulettaria species in Sarawak now has increased to 14 species. Keywords: species, Sarawak, Borneo, zingiberacea

Amomum jackliamii, A new zingiberaceae species from western Sarawak, Borneo

Amomum jackliamii, a new Zingiberaceae species is described herein. The new species is close to Amomum stenosiphon but this species has white prickly hairs towards the leaf tip at both edges of the leaf margin at the apex, adaxially surface reddish to dark green when matured. The leaves produce lemony smell and strong smell on the root when crushed white-cream flowers, the lip has a yellow centre bordered by two red lines, about 8.5 cm long, that graduall

The Genus Sulettaria A.D.Poulsen & Mathisen (Zingiberaceae) in Sarawak, Malaysia

Zingiberaceae is one of the most common herbaceous plant families in the tropical rainforests of Borneo, Malaysia. Many studies have been conducted on this family, yet the documentation of this family is still far from complete. Zingiberaceae also included many species that were reclassified, with many new genera introduced to accommodate the species based on the molecular work. Sulettaria A.D.Poulsen and Mathisen is one of the examples of a new genus introduced to accommodate such ginger species from Southeast Asia formerly from the genera Elettaria and Amomum. The majority of the species that are assigned to this new genus are found in Sarawak. This study aims to document information on Sulettaria with special reference to ecological and taxonomic aspects from Sarawak. A checklist of species found in Sarawak is included. Keywords: Borneo, diversity, endemic, Malaysia, taxonomy, wild ginger

Ecthyma gangrenosum as the presenting clinical feature of X-linked agammaglobulinaemia: report of three cases and a review of literature

Background: Children with X-linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) usually present with pneumonia and otitis media caused by pyogenic bacteria. Rarely, ecthyma gangrenosum (EG), a known cutaneous manifestation of Pseudomonas septicaemia present in XLA as the first presenting features. We report three cases of EG caused by P. aeruginosa in previously healthy boys, leading to the diagnosis of XLA. In addition, we provide a brief literature review on those cases of EG where an underlying XLA was eventually diagnosed. Methods: Three paediatric cases admitted to the intensive care unit with P. aeruginosa septicaemia associated with ecthyma gangrenosum were reviewed retrospectively. Laboratory workup consisted of microbiological, haematological and immunological investigations were analysed. Results: The ages of the three patients were: one year and six months, three years and five months, and five years and six months. All patients had septic shock and required mechanical ventilation. P. aeruginosa was isolated in the blood and/or skin lesions of all patients. Underlying hypogammaglobulinaemia and neutropaenia were detected in all patients. Treatment consisted of combined antipseudomonal antimicrobial therapy and surgical debridement. All patients survived. Subsequent B-cell measurement and Brutonʼs tyrosine kinase (BTK) protein and genetic analysis confirmed the diagnosis of XLA. Twelve other similar reported cases were reviewed and analysed based on their clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment. Conclusion: P. aeruginosa sepsis should be treated as early as possible. The most common risk factor for ecthyma gangrenosum in XLA patients is neutropaenia. In previously healthy children presenting with EG, immunological evaluation is important to rule out an underlying immunodeficiency