~ 179 ~ Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 2015; 4(4): 179-184 E-ISSN: 2278-4136 P-ISSN: 2349-8234 JPP 2015; 4(4): 179-184 n harves: 12-09-2015 Accepted: 13-10-2015 Lianah Kuswanto IAIN Walisongo, Jl Walisongo 4- 5, Semarang, Indonesia 50185. Krisantini Bogor Agricultural University, Kampus IPB Darmaga, Indonesia 16680. Peter Sopade Centre for Nutrition and Food Science, the University of Queensland, St Lucia QLD 4072, Australia. Correspondence: Lianah Kuswanto IAIN Walisongo, Jl Walisongo 4- 5, Semarang, Indonesia 50185. Status of traditional herb Tetrastigma glabratum (Blume). Planch in Mt Prau, Central Java, Indonesia Lianah Kuswanto, Krisantini, Peter Sopade Abstract Medicinal plants growing in Mt Prau, Central Java, Indonesia were surveyed, and their traditional uses and preparation methods were documented. The entire study area was stratified into three zones based on altitudes, and a total of 23 medicinal species were identified and recorded. Tetrastigma glabratum (Blume) Planch was the main herbal used in Mt Prau for at least three generations. The exudate from large stem is believed to cure several ailments and diseases. T. glabratum was found in small numbers at >1300m above sea level and was not found in the lower altitudes. Preliminary phytochemical analysis in T. glabratum plant extracts confirmed the presence of diverse group of phytochemicals (steroids, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins). There is a need to conserve T. glabratum, and recommendations are made. Keywords: medicinal plants, traditional uses, conservation, habitat degradation 1. Introduction People in Indonesia have been using plants as a source of traditional herbal remedies for generations. In Surakarta, Central Java alone, 1,734 traditional plant-based formulas for healing have been documented [17] . Harvesting medicinal plants from the rainforest have been a common practice in countries, such as India [8, 17] , Nigeria (Osemeobo, 2010) and Indonesia [17] . Harvesting and trades in medicinal plants taken from natural habitats generated huge incomes in Nigeria [18] but often resulted in destruction of natural forests. Mt Prau, Central Java, Indonesia is home to diverse plant species including medicinal plants, unique ornamental carnivorous plants Nepenthes and black lip orchid Coelogyne pandurata Lindl. [13] . It is also home to endemic animals such as leopard (Panthera pardus), Javan hawk- eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi), Javan rusa (Cervus timorensis), and black monkey (Presbytis comate) [13] . Amongst many plant species with ethno-pharmacological uses in Mt Prau, is Tetrastigma glabratum, and its local names include walikadep, gangputih, akar darik-darik, bantengan, oyod epek, and oyonwaliran [19, 13] . The exudate from T. glabratum stem is believed to cure a number of ailments and diseases, has refreshing and stimulating effects, and increases appetites. Tetrastigma is a widespread genus of approximately 100 species occurring from Asia to Oceania [9, 18] . The species are found in subtropical and tropical regions of Asia and Australia, and suited to grow in hillsides and valleys of shady and moist primary rainforests [20] . Tetrastigma is the sole host species of the Rafflesia (Rafflesiaceae), a parasitic genus that has the largest flower of all flowering plants [15] . Despite the long history of traditional uses of plants in Central Java, Indonesia, limited pharmacological studies of these plants exist. Abdiyani (2008) reported the diversity of medicinal plants in Dieng Plateau, Central Java. Medicinal plants produce secondary metabolites that have a broad range of therapeutic properties. The present study describes the identification and uses of traditional herbs growing in protected rainforests at Mt Prau, Candiroto, North Kedu, Central Java, Indonesia, with particular interests in the distribution, population and ecology of T. glabratum. Preliminary phytochemical profiling is presented. 2 Materials and Methods 2.1 Study area The study was conducted in the protected rainforests at Mount Prau, Candiroto, North Kedu (7°42”S, 3°45”E), Central Java, Indonesia. Mt Prauis located about 95km North East of Semarang city [2] . Mt Prau area has a relative humidity of 80%, soil pH of 6.9, slopes of up to 60°, day and night temperatures of 20-25 °C and 16-20 °C respectively, and a precipitation of