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Background <p>Medicinal plants constitute a vital component of healthcare systems, cultural identity, and community resilience in many rural societies, particularly in northeastern Thailand. However, ethnomedicinal knowledge in borderland regions—where cultural exchange and environmental pressures intersect—remains insufficiently documented. This study presents the first systematic and quantitative ethnobotanical assessment of medicinal plant use in Dan Sub-district, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province, a Thai–Cambodian borderland, with an emphasis on locally distinctive practices and implications for biocultural conservation.</p> Methods <p>Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 40 local informants. Medicinal plant uses were categorized by therapeutic application, life form, plant parts used, sources (wild or cultivated), and routes of administration. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including Fidelity Level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), were applied to evaluate cultural importance and agreement among informants. Jaccard’s similarity index was used to compare ethnomedicinal knowledge with surrounding regions. Community-based conservation practices and perceived threats were documented through local consultations.</p> Results <p>A total of 73 medicinal plant species belonging to 65 genera and 41 families were recorded, including 39 species newly documented for Surin Province. Herbs were the dominant life form (50.68%), and leaves were the most frequently used plant part (24.02%). Oral administration was the primary route of application (78.21%). High FL values were observed for <i>Aquilaria crassna</i> Pierre ex Lecomte (87.50%), <i>Piper nigrum</i> L. (82.50%), and <i>Ficus hispida</i> L.f. (80.00%). ICF analysis revealed strong agreement among informants for treatments related to gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and reproductive ailments. Comparative analysis indicated both shared regional knowledge and locally specific adaptations characteristic of the borderland context. While community-based conservation practices persist, wild plant populations remain vulnerable to habitat loss and overharvesting.</p> Conclusion <p>By documenting new provincial records and elucidating how cross-border cultural interaction shapes ethnomedicinal knowledge, this study addresses a significant geographic and cultural gap in Thailand’s ethnobotanical literature. The findings underscore the importance of integrating quantitative ethnobotanical approaches with community-based conservation strategies to sustain ethnomedicinal knowledge and plant resources within rapidly transforming borderland agroecosystems.</p>

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Ethnomedicinal plants and traditional healing practices of indigenous communities in Dan Sub-district, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province, Thailand

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月30日

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  • Piyaporn Saensouk,
  • Surapon Saensouk,
  • Bin Huang,
  • Wei Shen,
  • Khamfa Chanthavongsa,
  • Auemporn Junsongduang,
  • Phiphat Sonthongphithak,
  • Tammanoon Jitpromma

摘要

Background

Medicinal plants constitute a vital component of healthcare systems, cultural identity, and community resilience in many rural societies, particularly in northeastern Thailand. However, ethnomedicinal knowledge in borderland regions—where cultural exchange and environmental pressures intersect—remains insufficiently documented. This study presents the first systematic and quantitative ethnobotanical assessment of medicinal plant use in Dan Sub-district, Kap Choeng District, Surin Province, a Thai–Cambodian borderland, with an emphasis on locally distinctive practices and implications for biocultural conservation.

Methods

Ethnobotanical data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 40 local informants. Medicinal plant uses were categorized by therapeutic application, life form, plant parts used, sources (wild or cultivated), and routes of administration. Quantitative ethnobotanical indices, including Fidelity Level (FL) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), were applied to evaluate cultural importance and agreement among informants. Jaccard’s similarity index was used to compare ethnomedicinal knowledge with surrounding regions. Community-based conservation practices and perceived threats were documented through local consultations.

Results

A total of 73 medicinal plant species belonging to 65 genera and 41 families were recorded, including 39 species newly documented for Surin Province. Herbs were the dominant life form (50.68%), and leaves were the most frequently used plant part (24.02%). Oral administration was the primary route of application (78.21%). High FL values were observed for Aquilaria crassna Pierre ex Lecomte (87.50%), Piper nigrum L. (82.50%), and Ficus hispida L.f. (80.00%). ICF analysis revealed strong agreement among informants for treatments related to gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and reproductive ailments. Comparative analysis indicated both shared regional knowledge and locally specific adaptations characteristic of the borderland context. While community-based conservation practices persist, wild plant populations remain vulnerable to habitat loss and overharvesting.

Conclusion

By documenting new provincial records and elucidating how cross-border cultural interaction shapes ethnomedicinal knowledge, this study addresses a significant geographic and cultural gap in Thailand’s ethnobotanical literature. The findings underscore the importance of integrating quantitative ethnobotanical approaches with community-based conservation strategies to sustain ethnomedicinal knowledge and plant resources within rapidly transforming borderland agroecosystems.