Abstract
Background Philippines is renowned as one of the species-rich countries and culturally megadiverse in ethnicity worldwide. Ethnomedicinal knowledge of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) is vital for biodiversity conservation and healthcare improvement. This study aims to document the traditional practices, medicinal plant use, and knowledge; to determine the relative importance, consensus, and the extent of all medicinal plants used; and to integrate molecular confirmation to some medicinal plants used by the Agusan Manobo. Methods Quantitative ethnopharmacological data were obtained using semi-structured interviews, group discussions, field observations, and guided field walks with a total of 335 key informants comprising of tribal chieftains, traditional healers, community elders and residents of the community with their traditional medical knowledge. The use categories (UC), use report (UR), fidelity level (FL), and informant consensus factors (ICF) were quantified. The informants' medicinal plant use knowledge and practices were statistically analyzed using the descriptive and inferential statistics Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results A total of 122 medicinal plant species belonging to 108 genera and 51 families, used in 16 use categories, were collected and identified. Integrative molecular approach confirmed 24 species with uncertain identity using multiple universal markers. The highest ICF (0.96) was cited for the category of abnormal signs and symptoms (ASS). The maximum FL values of 100% were found for Carica papaya L., Premna odorata Blanco, Cinnamomum mercadoi S.Vidal, Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook.f. & Thomson, and Ficus concinna (Miq.) Miq. used for the treatment of dengue fever, cough with phlegm, stomach trouble, joint pain, and fracture and dislocation, respectively. The highest UR (1134) and UC (12) was reported for Anodendron borneense (King & Gamble) D.J.Middleton. Statistically, the medicinal plant knowledge among respondents was significantly different ( p <0.001) when grouped according to education, gender, position, occupation, civil status, and age but not significantly different ( p =0.379) when grouped according to location. Conclusion Documenting such traditional knowledge of medicinal plants and practices is highly important for future management and conservation strategies of these plant genetic resources. This quantitative ethnopharmacological study will serve as a future reference not only for more ethnopharmacological documentation but also for further pharmacological studies and public healthcare improvement.