BIO300/DEC- APRIL 2015

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA SABAH

FACULTY OF APPLIED SCIENCES

BIOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS

BIO300

PROJECT PROPOSAL

AS1205A

TITLE: TAXONOMICAL STUDY ON

MEDICINAL PLANTS USED BY DUSUN
COMMUNITY IN KOTA MARUDU, SABAH.

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PART A: RESEARCHER BACKGROUND

i. PROJECT LEADER/ MATRIC NO. /CONTACT NO.:

NOREEN BINTI NORDIN / 2012546337 / 0138307745

ii. PROJECT MEMBERS:

NO. NAME MATRIC CONTACT

NUMBER NUMBER
01. AMMAY HENRY MAHALIH 2012552219 0168127636
02. RASS ADIRA AYUNNI BT 2012790721 0109311642
JULKEPLI

iii. PROJECT SUPERVISOR:

MISS RAFIDA RAZALI

iv. CO-SUPERVISOR (if any)

v. LECTURER (Lecture/Laboratory)

MISS RAIMALYNAH ABD RAZAK

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PART B: RESEARCH PROJECT PROPOSAL

i) OBJECTIVES:

The objective of the study is:

1. To identify the plants that used for medicinal purposes used by Dusun
community in Kota Marudu, Sabah.

ii) SIGNIFICANCE OF PROJECT:

This project can increase the knowledge of students on plants that are
used by the Dusun community for medicinal purposes. The result from
this project will be helpful to other students as a reference for the future
project.

iii) DEFINITION OF TERMS/CONCEPTS:

Taxonomy is a scientific discipline concerned with naming and classifying

the diverse forms of life (Campbell & Reece, 2008).

Medicinal plants a plant which has been used for medical purposes at
one time or another, and which, although not necessarily a product or
available for marketing, is the original material of herbal medicines (Han,
1997).

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iv) LITERATURE REVIEW:

The documentation of traditional knowledge on medicinal plants is still

carried out in many parts of the world. In Sabah, there are not many
studies has been done about the medicinal plants used by the
communities in Sabah. Due to this scenario students are lack of useful
resources for reference. In contrast, in penisular Malaysia there a many
studies that has been done about medicinal plants such as for Jah Hut
people, Orang Asli and in Kampung Mak Kemas in Terengganu.
However, the documentation on traditional knowledge on medicinal
plants is still on-going (Hean et al., 2011).

According to previous studies by Ahmad and Holdsworth (1995), this

research studied about the traditional medicinal plants used by the
Rungus people in Sabah. In their research, they stated that there are 31
species of plants that are used by Rungus people and the uses of each
species.

Kulip (2003) has conducted an ethnobotanical survey of medicinal and

other useful plants used traditionally by the Muruts people in Sabah. With
a total of 91 species of plants were noted and collected during the
survey, 68 species are medicinal plants and other 64 species are useful
plants. Kulip said that the opening of forests for agricultural development
and timber harvesting make the resources scarce, which also contributes
to the loss of knowledge.

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Another survey was done by Kulip (1995) for the Kadazandusun ethnic in
Tambunan of useful plants for food and medicine was conducted by the
Forest Department Sabah. There are 168 indigenous species of
medicinal uses and food plants collected during the survey. 117 of them
are for medicinal purposes and the rest are for food. Of the 168
specimens, there are about 168 species in 64 families of plants.

v) REFERENCES:

Campbell, N.A. and Reece, J.B. (2008). Biology. 9th Edition. Pearson
Benjamin Cummings. San Francisco.

Guntavid, J.P. (1992). Traditional Medicinal Plants: Their uses by the

Dusun/Kadazan of Tambunan. Borneo Research Council second
Biennial International Conference. 13 17 July 1992. Kota
Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Han et al., (1998). Guidelines for the Appropriate use of Herbal

Medicines. WHO Regional Publications, Western Pacific Series No.
23.

Hean, C.O., Rosnaini, M.Z., & Milow, P. (2011). Traditional Knowledge of

Medicinal Plants Among The Malay Villagers in Kampung Mak
Kemas, Terengganu, Malaysia. Ethno Med, 5(3), 175-185.

Herbarium of the Science & Agrotechnology Complex (KOMSAT),

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sabah.

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Kulip J. (1995) A Survey Of Indigenous Plants Used For Food And

Medicine By The Kadazanduzun Ethnic In Tambunan, Sabah East
Malaysia.

Kulip J. (2003). An Ethnobotanical Survey Of Medicinal And Other

Useful Plants Of Muruts In Sabah, Malaysia. Telopea 10(1).

Lin, K.W. (2005). Ethnobotanical Study Of Medicinal Plants Used By The

Jah Hut Peoples In Malaysia. Indian Journal of Medical
Sciences. 59 (4), 156-161.

Make Your Own Specimen Voucher (n.d). School Botany University of

Melbourne Herbarium Standard, University of Melbourne.

Watson B. (2008). PLANTS (Their Use, Management, Cultivation and

Biology) The Crowood Press Ltd Ramsburry, Marlborough.

RESEARCH METHODS:

1. Interviews

The Dusun community was majorly selected to be respondents via a

snowballing whereby belief is gained through recommendations and word
of mouth rather than a random sampling technique. The location of the
interview to be performed is chosen by the participant and reached from
the participants home, the community center, and to walks in the field.
Mostly different locations were used in this project to get the information
about medicinal plants. The type of the plants used for medicinal purposes
which comprising the local name, health problem treated, source of
collection, growth form, the specific part that are being used, method of

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preparation and application as well as the simple information about the

respondent background will be given by the respondents. The
morphological properties and the habitats of the medicinal plant will be
observed and perceived carefully.

2. Sample Collection

Materials

- Strung tags
- Plastic bags
- Cutter
- Knife
- Plant presses
- Old newspaper

1. After all the data was collected from the respondent, the
respondent may lead to the plants location for taking sample
process.
2. The plant sample is place inside the plastic bags with
tagging that show the data about the plant.
3. By using two wooden boards or lattice ( 30 x 45 cm ),
cardboard and newspaper, the collected samples is then arranged
like a sandwich and will be press using plant presses.
4. The straps or belts will be wrapped around the press to grip
the presses together.

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3. Drying

Material

- Electric drier

1. The electric drier will be used to drying the presses and

provides steady bottom heat between 95F and 113F (Blanco et
al., 2006).
2. Further tighten the straps on the press is necessary to
reduce the shrinkage and wrinkling after the specimens dry.

4. Mounting

Materials

- herbarium paper (an acid-free cardstock) 29 x 43 cm

- cutter / scissor
- plastics wrap
- glue
- gummed linen mounting strips (any acid free mounting strips)
- linen thread (any suitable acid free thread)
- needle

1. Mounting is the process of attaching a dried pressed plant

and its label to a sheet of heavy paper. The dried plant will be
placed in a life-like arrangement where the roots or lower stem
toward the bottom and flowers toward the top of the sheet.
2. The plastic wrap should be wrapped the sheet that contain
any fragments of the specimen that can break off over time.

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3. When the optimum arrangement of the specimen has been

decided, the specimen is attached to the sheet using a glue and
strips of gummed linen cloth tape. The glue is used carefully to
attach the larger part of the plant, such as stems, large leaves, and
fruits.
4. The gummed linen mounting strips is then spread in the
sheet to increase the stickiness of the part of the plant that possibly
torn loose as the specimen is used.

5. Labelling the mounted specimen

Materials

- Data label
- Pencil
- Glue

The plant specimen is incomplete without data label. The following are
important elements:

1. Scientific name
2. Determiner of the scientific name
3. Detailed location
4. Habitat:
5. Plant
6. Plant description
7. Collector name.
8. Other collectors present with the collector
9. Collection number
10. Date of collection

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6. Identification of plant specimen

Materials

- Dichotomous keys
- Published plant descriptions
- Illustrations and photographs
- Identified herbarium specimens
- Microscope
- Magnifying glass.

The process of identifying of the unknown plant material is done with the
use of dichotomous keys; published plant descriptions, illustrations and
photographs; and comparison with properly identified herbarium
specimens. The uses of microscope is important for the observation for
many diagnostic features.

vi) LIST OF EQUIPMENTS/FACILITIES:

- Strung tags
- Plastic bags
- Cutter
- Knife
- Plant presses
- Old newspaper
- Mounting card (acid free paper)
- Plastics wrap
- Strip
- Cardboard

vii) LIST OF CHEMICALS/MEDIA:

- Ethanol 70%

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DECLARATION AND SIGNATURE

We are hereby declaring that the project is based on our original

work except for quotations and citations which have been duly
acknowledge. We are conducting our investigations with honesty
and integrity

SIGNATURE OF PROJECT LEADER: ________________________

( )

SIGNATURE OF PROJECT MEMBER:

1.___________________________ : _____________________________
(NAME) (SIGNATURE)

2.___________________________ : _____________________________

Signature of Supervisor: _________________________________

Received date: ____________________________

Returned date: ____________________________

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