Ethnomedicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Malaria in Malaka, West Timor

Objective: This study aims to document ethnomedicinal plants used in the traditional treatment of malaria in some areas of Malaka District in West Timor, Indonesia. Methods: Semi-structured questionnaire interviews and focused group discussion were used to gather ethnomedicine data from traditional healers and people who know about traditional medicines. The study involved 38 informants, 30 women and 8 men, aged between 32-90 years, from 10 villages in 4 sub-districts. Results: A total of 44 plants species belonging to 25 families used for the treatment of malaria in some area of Malaka. Calotropis gigantea, Cleome rutidosperma, and Physalis angulata were the most cited for oral administration. Jatropha curcas, Garuga floribunda, and Calotropis gigantea were the most used by massage method. For the bathing method of treatment, Tamarindus indica was the most cited. Conclusion: Indigenous people of Malaka in West Timor have a culture of ethnomedicine for malaria treatments that is mainly based on local plants, and is transmitted from one generation to the next by oral instructions.