Indigenous Herbs and Spices in Selected Areas of North Cotabato: An Ethnobotanical Survey

Aims: To establish an ethnobotanical data on the various species of herbs and spices in selected areas of North Cotabato. Study Design: The study was carried out using observational and descriptive survey type of research Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted from January 2013 to January 2014. Methodology: this study was conducted using structured interview and actual field survey visit. Samples collected were identified using field Guidelines by Remollo [1]. Selected samples of plants were propagated in a nursery and Conservation and distribution status were determined using the Redlist 2010. Results: A total of forty-eight (48) species of herbs and spices belonging to thirty-eight (38) genera and twenty-seven (27) families were found in four study areas in North Cotabato. The species richness and abundance and the diversity index were generated on the study. Out of the 48 species, Euphorbia neriifolia Linn was categorized as critically endangered, Cinnamomum mercadoi Vidal (Kalingag), Dillenia philippinensis Rolfe (Katmon) and Koordersiodendron pinnatum (Blanco) Merr. (Amugis) belong to the vulnerable category (VU), and four belong to near threatened category (NT) namely: Hoya multiflora (Blume) Desne, Pangium edule Reinw. Ex Blume, Peperomia pellucida (L.) HBK. and Morinda umbellata Linn. Various parts of the plants were used as herbs and spices. These were the fruits, seeds, young leaves or shoots, flowers, bark and saps, young stems, rhizomes, tubers that were prepared and cooked with different dishes. Two plant species, Atuna racemosa Rafin.ssp. racemosa and Euphorbia neriifolia Linn were subjected to phytochemical screening and were positive for saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins. Both showed absence of anthraquinones. Conclusion: A baseline survey of indigenous herbs and spices in the four study sites with emphasis on the characterization of species richness and abundance.