An Ethnobotanical Study of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables Among Local Communities in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia

Authors

  • NOORASMAH SAUPI Dr.
  • AINUL ASYIRA SAIDIN
  • MUTA HARAH ZAKARIA@YA
  • SHAHRUL RAZID SARBINI
  • NURUL AISYAH YUSLI

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.2623.2020

Abstract

The consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables (ILV) is a common practice among local people in Bintulu. It serves as an important food resource for local communities in rural areas. However, these traditional practices were declining in urban areas and among younger generations. Therefore, the study aimed to record the ILV consumed by the local people, and mode of consumption of the ILV. A field survey was carried out with two phases; phase one was the distribution of structured questionnaires and the second phase was the interview session with 20 respondents from each of the three native markets located in Bintulu Division; Bintulu, Tatau, and Sebauh market. The study has identified 20 species of ILV from 18 different families: Agavaceae, Anacardiaceae, Athyriaceae, Blechnaceae, Brassicaceae, Compositae, Euphorbiaceae, Flacourtiaceae, Gnetaceae, Leguminosae, Limnocharitaceae, Menispermaceae, Myrtaceae, Olacaceae, Ophioglossaceae, Piperaceae, Smilacaceae and Verbenaceae. Identified ILV were consumed in many ways by the natives. The plant parts used also differ from one species to another and had different taste. A further study should be carried out to analyse the plant nutritional values and agronomy factors for commercialization of the potential ILV.

Keywords: Bintulu, consumption method, ethnobotany, ethnobotanical study, indigenous leafy vegetables

References

Aban, M.L., Concepcion, S.B. & Montiflor, M.O. (2009). Consumers' perceptions on food safety of vegetables in Davao City, Philippines. BANWA: A Multidiciplinary Journal, 6(1774-2016-141624): 13-30.

Agboola, A.F., Adekunle, I.A. & Ogunjimi, S.I. (2015). Assessment of youth participation in indigenous farm practices of vegetable production in Oyo State, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture Extension and Rural Development, 7(3): 73-79.

https://doi.org/10.5897/JAERD2014.0590

Ainul Asyira, S., Noorasmah, S. Sarbini, S.R. & Muta Harah Z. (2016). Mineral content of five indigenous leafy vegetables from Bintulu Market, Sarawak Malaysia. Journal of Medicinal Herbs and Ethnomedicine, 2: 26-35.

Akhtar, S., Karak, C., Biswas, P., Chattopadhyay, A. & Hazra, P. (2012). Indigenous leafy vegetables: A potential source of ß-carotene and ascorbic acid. International Journal of Vegetable Science, 18(4): 370-375.

https://doi.org/10.1080/19315260.2011.649163

Aworh, O.C. (2015). Promoting food security and enhancing Nigeria's small farmers' income through value-added processing of lesser known and under-utilized indigenous fruits and vegetables. Food Resource International, 76: 986-991.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2015.06.003

Bintulu Development Authority: Official Website. Retrieved April, 5, 2017, from http://www.bda.gov. my/.

Chai, P.P.K & Kho, S.Y. (Eds.) (2000). Proceeding of ITTO Workshop 2000: Development of Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary as a Totally Protected Area: Kuching.

Collins, M. (1986). Sampling. In Worcester, R. (ed.). Consumer Market Research Handbook. Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishing Company Inc.

Det. P.A., Lau, C.Y., Umar, S., Brooke, P., Razili, R.M., Ismawi, H., Liew, S.M. (2013). Edible Wild Plants in Sarawak. Kuching: Department of Agriculture Sarawak.

Dhingra, D., Michael, M., Rajput, H. & Patil, R. (2012). Dietary fibre in foods: a review. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 49(3): 255-266.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-011-0365-5

Hartley, L., May, M.D., Loveman, E., Colquitt, J. & Rees, K. (2015). Dietary fibre for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews, 1: 1-12.

https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011472

Hassan, L. & Umar, K. (2006). Nutritional value of Balsam Apple (Momordica balsamina L.) leaves. Pakistan Journal of Nutrition, 5(6): 522-529.

https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2006.522.529

Howard, P. (2003). Women and the plant world: An exploration. In Howard, P.L. (Ed.), Women & Plants: Gender Relations in Biodiversity Management and Conservation. New York and London: Zed Books and St. Martin's Press. Pp 1-48

Ichikawa, M. (2019). Immigration and adaptation of the Iban from rural to urban outskirts in Sarawak. Tropics, 28(2) 39-48.

https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.MS18-14

Irawan, D., Wijaya, C.H., Limin, S.H., Hashidoko, Y., Osaki, M. & Kulu, I.P. (2006). Ethnobotanical study and nutrient potency of local traditional vegetables in Central Kalimantan. Tropics, 15(4): 441-448.

https://doi.org/10.3759/tropics.15.441

Kulip, J. (2003). An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal and other useful plants of Muruts in Sabah, Malaysia. Telopea, 10(1): 81-98.

https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea20035608

Man, N., Nawi, N.M. & Ismail, M.M. (2009). An overview of the supply chain management of Malaysian vegetable and fruit industries focusing on the channel of distribution. Journal of Agribusiness Marketing, 2(2009): 1-18.

Rahman, A.H.M.M. & Akter, M. (2013). Taxonomy and medicinal uses of Euphorbiaceae (Spurge) family of Rajshahi, Bangladesh. Research in Plant Sciences, 1(3): 74-80.

Rukayah, A. (2000). Ulam dan Sayuran Tempatan Semenanjung Malaysia, Selangor: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Salinitro, M., Vicentini, R., Bonomi, C. & Tassoni, A. (2017). Traditional knowledge on wild and cultivated plants in the Kilombero Valley (Morogoro Region, Tanzania). Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 13(1): 1-17.

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-017-0146-y

Samy, J., Sugumaran, M. & Lee, K.L.W. (2014). 100 Useful Herbs of Malaysia and Singapore: An Introduction to Their Medicinal, Culinary, Aromatic and Cosmetic Uses. Singapore, Marshall Cavendish Editions.

Saupi, N., Zakaria, M. & Bujang, J. S. (2009). Analytic chemical composition and mineral content of yellow velvetleaf (Limnocharis flava L. Buchenau)'s edible parts. Journal of Applied Sciences, 9(160): 2969-2974.

https://doi.org/10.3923/jas.2009.2969.2974

Saupi, N., Zakaria, M.H., Bujang, J.S. & Arshad, A. (2015). The proximate compositions and mineral contents of Neptunia oleracea Loureiro, an aquatic plant from Malaysia. Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, 27(3): 266-274.

https://doi.org/10.9755/ejfa.v27i3.16876

Shaffiq, S.M.A., Bujang, J.S., Zakaria, M. & Devi Ramaiya, S. (2013). Marketable wild fruits of Sarawak, Borneo: Their mode of consumption, uses and sugar profiles. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 12(2): 195-201.

van Rensburg, W.J., van Averbeke, W., Slabbert, R., Faber, M., van Jaarsveld, P., van Heerden, I. & Oelofse, A. (2007). African leafy vegetables in South Africa. Water SA, 33(3): 317-326.

https://doi.org/10.4314/wsa.v33i3.180589

van Rensburg, W.J., Venter, S., Netshiluvhi, T., van Den Heever, E., Vorster, H., De Ronde, J. & Bornman, C. (2004). Role of indigenous leafy vegetables in combating hunger and malnutrition. South African Journal of Botany, 70(1): 52-59.

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0254-6299(15)30268-4

Voon, B.H. & Kueh, S.H. (1999). The nutritional value of indigenous fruits and vegetables in Sarawak. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 8(1): 24-31.

https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-6047.1999.00046.x

Vorster, H. & van Rensburg, W.J. (2005). Traditional vegetables as a source of food in South Africa: Some experiences. African Crop Science Conference Proceedings, 7: 669-671.

World Health Organization (WHO) (2012). Guideline: potassium intake for adults and children. World Health Organization.

Downloads

Published

2020-12-31

How to Cite

SAUPI, N. ., SAIDIN, A. A., ZAKARIA@YA, M. H., SARBINI, S. R., & YUSLI, N. A. . (2020). An Ethnobotanical Study of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables Among Local Communities in Bintulu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Borneo Journal of Resource Science and Technology, 10(2), 155–165. https://doi.org/10.33736/bjrst.2623.2020