Ethnomedicinal Uses of Some Common Malaysian Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Historically, natural products have always been a rich source of novel pharmacological leads, thus, making the ethnobotanical and ethnopharmacological knowledge an important and major asset of the medicinal plant-based drug discovery in providing hints for effective and safe chemotherapeutic compounds. Such knowledge, however, requires a thorough review and documentation of the ethnomedicinal and indigenous uses of local plants of every part of the world. Malaysia is a global hub for natural products which contributes to its GDP. Malaysia is also one of the 12 most diverse Megabiodiversity countries. Its rainforest is ranked 4th on the list of biodiversity hotspots in Asia after India, China, and Indonesia and is also acknowledged as the world’s oldest rainforest. Natural products are relevant to both Malaysian health care and agriculture which are parts of the national key economic areas (NKEA) under the Government’s Economic Transformation Plan as well as parts of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Though the quality, efficacy, and safety of herbal products require global and international standardization, herbal products should be made accessible to low-income and rural communities across the globe. The proper documentation of the ethnopharmacological important plants in addition to their preservation and cultivation would enhance the sustainable use of the various indigenous plants. This work is unique in the sense that it is meant to review some of the most important high-value herbal products in Malaysia. Though it covers only a few representatives of Malaysian medicinal plants.