PertanikaJ. Trap. Agric. Sci. 22(2): 85 - 94 (1999) ISSN: 1511-3701 © Universiti Putra Malaysia Press The Use of Medicinal Plant Species by the Temuan Tribe of Ayer Hitam Forest, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia 1. FARIDAH HANUM and NURULHUDA HAMZAH Department of Forest Production, Faculty of Forestry, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor Keywords: Medicinal plant species, uses, plant parts, method of application, Temuan tribe, Ayer Hitam Forest ABSTRAK Hasil awal kajian ke atas kegunaan spesies tumbuhan ubatan oleh masyarakat Temuan di Ayer Hitam dipersembahkan. Walaupun hutan ini dikelilingi oleh kegiatan pembangunan sosio-ekonomi yang pesat, ia merupakan gedung ubat yang agak mencukupi untuk masyarakat Temuan ini. 98 spesies tumbuhan yang mempunyai nilai perubatan serta 140 kegunaan telah direkodkan. Kegunaan telah dikumpulkan dalam tujuh cara penggunaan iaitu minum, makan, kunyah, tampal, sapu, mandi dan syampu. ABSTRACT Preliminary results of a study on the use of medicinal plant species by the indigenous people from the Temuan tribe at Ayer Hitam Forest are presented. Although this forest is surrounded by rapid socio-economic development, it is ironically a substantial pharmacopoeia for the Temuans. A total of 98 plant species with 140 different uses were recorded and they were grouped into seven methods of application namely drink, eat, chew, poultice, rub, bath and shampoo. INTRODUCTION Plants have been used for many thousands of years to treat human disorders and pains. To the aborigines, plants which are found in their surroundings are not only important sources of food and materials for shelter but also valuable sources of medicines. In many developing countries of the world, pharmacognosy owes its development to a certain extent to the aborigines and native medicine men, who through history have used the therapeutic qualities of herbs with special skills (Gimlett 1939). It has been indicated that of the 7000 species of angiosperms and 600 species of ferns in Malaysia, about 1150 species are reported to have medicinal properties (Latiff 1985). While many species are more popularly known and used than others, many species form the minor ingredients of a decoction or components of a wider curative concept. SITE DESCRIPTION AND METHODS This study was conducted in Compartments 12, 14 and 15 of the Ayer Hitam Forest, Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia. The details of the site have been presented in a companion paper (Faridah Hanum 1999). This forest is inhabited by about 150 aborigines or "orang asli" from the Temuan tribe who still rely on the forest resources for their living. Data were gathered following a method modified from Martin (1995). In this study, four permanent 1-ha plots (lOOm x 100m) that have been established for other studies in the forest were used. The informants were two elderly medicine men from the Temuan tribe and they were walked into the plots and asked to identify all plant species that were used as medicines in their community. Information on the plant parts used, uses and method of use were recorded only when there was mutual agreement between the two medicine men. Discussion on the administration and method of application of the medicinal plant species was conducted in the Malay language, which is fairly understood by both parties. When a misunderstanding of terms cropped up, another Temuan who worked in