Ethnobotanical study of Zingiber album Nurainas, an endemic ginger from Sumatra

Zingiber album Nurainas is an endemic ginger of Sumatra which was published as a new species in 2017 and have been listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN assessment informs that there is habitat degradation due to the conversion of land functions accompanied by local community utilization in Simanau, Solok Regency, West Sumatra. This study aimed to explore local utilization patterns of Z. album through an ethnobotanical approach. The methods used include field observations through direct and indirect interviews with 18 respondents, also literature studies to see the performance of species among other species in Zingiberaceae in West Sumatra. Use Value (UV), Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI), and ethnoalluvial using EthnobotanyR package were used for analysis. The research results revealed that Z. album was traditionally utilized as a vegetable along with traditional treatment for swollen uterus after childbirth, abdominal pain, internal heat, and abdominal swollen known as “panyakik rajo” and “panah gadang” that has a low benefit value (UV; 0.28) and medium cultural importance (CFSI; 45.6) and classified as low utilization among other species. Ethnoalluvial plot shows that the potential use of Zingiber album amid other Zingiberaceae species in West Sumatra suggests that this plant possesses a little importance.


Introduction
Zingiberaceae, or ginger plants, are widely known as a group of plants with various benefits.Ginger (Zingiber officinale), turmeric (Curcuma longa), galangal (Alpinia galanga), and cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) are the most commonly used as cooking spices, food ingredients, traditional medicine raw materials, and ornamental plants.Some ginger species have been cultivated and commercialized by the community, while others grow wild in the forest.Ginger plants are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, with Southeast Asia as the center.Malesia regions, such as Sumatra and Borneo, are the most distributed with terrestrial habitats, are montane, and live as epiphytes occasionally [1,2].Indonesia has a very diverse number of Zingiberaceae species, including ±76 species in Sumatra, ±112 species in Kalimantan, ±94 species in Java, ±102 species in Sulawesi, ±38 species in Maluku, and ±125 species in Irian Jaya [1].
Sumatra is one of the centers of distribution of Zingiberaceae, with a diverse number of both wild and cultivated species.Ref. [3] reported that at least 18 Zingiber species have been identified from Sumatra, including Zingiber album Nurainas, which was published as a new species.This species grows wild in nature in areas close to agricultural land in its natural habitat.According to [4], local 1255 (2023) 012035 IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1255/1/012035 2 communities have used the young flowers of this species as food ingredients (vegetables).However, information on the utilization of this species is not well documented scientifically.
In West Sumatra, the utilization of Z. album was found in Simanau, Solok District.This plant, called "Pangalan" in the local language, is a wild species that is only distributed in the forest.Z. album is listed as an endangered species (EN) by the IUCN Red List due to habitat degradation caused by farming activities and visitor arrivals [4].In addition, local communities have not yet made efforts to cultivate this plant.Therefore, its endangerment in nature might be increased.Native people in Simanau were once reported to make use of the young flowers of this plant as local food.
According to previous study in Sumatra, the utilization of Zingiberaceae as a food ingredient, such as torch ginger (Etlingera elatior), which is consumed by the local community in various processing [5].Torch ginger generally plays a role as an additional food in various traditional dishes [6].Another species is Bilongkiang (Zingiber sp.), which is used as a cooking ingredient by the community in Talang Babungo and Surian village, Solok Regency, as a vegetable, fresh vegetable, or snack with good nutritional content [7].Moreover, ginger plants are also consumed by communities in Japan, Korea, and China, such as Mioga (Zingiber mioga), which is used as a food ingredient that contains metabolites of sugar, organic acids, amino acids, and fatty acids [8].
Information on the utilization of Z. album is limited, making the potential of this plant as a local food source not well documented in the scientific community.Based on this, it is necessary to analyze the utilization of this species through qualitative ethnobotanical studies and interviews with the community regarding the potential of this species in its utilization as a food source and the possibility of other uses.Additionally, a quantitative ethnobotanical analysis using the Use Value (UV) to determine the extent of its benefits among the community, a calculation of the Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI) to assess the cultural significance of Z. album as a food, and an ethnoalluvial analysis to investigate the potential utilization of Z. album along with the other Zingiberaceae in West Sumatra.

Research Methodology
This research was conducted in Simanau village, Solok District, West Sumatra, at the location points -0.934612 S, 100.865296E (Fig. 1).Material samples of Z. album were collected, preserved as specimens, and stored at the Herbarium of Andalas University (ANDA).
The technique for selecting respondents used a combination of purposive sampling and snowball sampling.Key informants were selected using purposive sampling (traditional healers, members of the Family Empowerment and Welfare women's community, and people who know and use the plant), and then the selection of subsequent respondents was recommended by previous respondents.The population of Simanau village was obtained from the Central Agency on Statistics of Solok Regency [9].The population was selected in the age range of 20-over 55 years old, and then 10% were selected as respondents [10].The selection of respondents considered age and gender.The sample size was determined using the formula [11]: n = n' / (1+n' / N) which is : n' = s2 / V2 and s2 = p (1 -p).where: n = sample size; n' = sample size without adjustment; N = population size; s2 = variance of the temporary sample (how far a set of numbers is spread out); V = tolerance limit (1.5%); p = probability that the sample is distributed randomly (0.9).
Based on the calculation, 18 respondents were interviewed.The respondents were divided into four age groups: under 25, 25-39, 40-54, and over 55 years old.The age groups were 15 years apart to observe changes in traditional knowledge retention [12].The interviews conducted directly with guided questionnaires and indirectly through Google Forms included the plant's local name, availability in the wild, forms of use, parts used, frequency of use, processing methods, taste as food, and potential as a traditional medicine [13].
The data were analyzed quantitatively using the use value analysis, which was applied to calculate the value of a plant species' benefits using the informant consensus method, in which the importance (use value) of the use of each species is calculated from the questionnaire results for each informant using the formula [14]: UV = ∑U/n which is UV = use value of a species; U = total use of a species; n = number of respondents.The cultural significance of plants used in everyday life was analyzed using a modified Cultural Food Significance Index (CFSI) formula by [13], which is divided into seven index value variables.The CFSI is calculated using the formula: CFSI = QI x AI x FUI x PUI x MFFI x TSAI x FMRI x 10-2 which is QI = Quotation Index; AI = Availability Index; FUI = Frequency of Use Index; PUI = Part Use Index; MFFI = Multi-Function Food Use Index; TSAI = Taste Score Appreciation Index; and FMRI = Food-Medicinal Role Index.The categories used in determining the cultural significance value of food plants are as follows: very high significance (> 100), high significance (50-99), moderate significance (20-49), low significance (5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19), very low significance (1-4), and no significance (0).
Information about traditional uses of the Zingiberaceae family was collected through a literature review.The data was then analyzed quantitatively using the ethnobotanyR package in the R Studio software and visualized using a flow diagram with the ethnoalluvial formula [15].

Characteristics of respondents
A total of 18 respondents interviewed provided information about the uses of Z. album.The distribution of respondent groups based on gender, age, and occupation is presented in Table 1.Based on the results of the interviews, the use of the Z. album was more widely known by women than men.Respondents in the elderly age group provided much information about the use of Z. album.Respondents who were farmers had higher knowledge than those in other occupations.

Respondent's knowledge of the uses of Zingiber album
The respondents knew Z. album as a spice plant that is used as a flavoring ingredient in food and also as an herbal plant.Female respondents in the elderly group had a high percentage of using Z. album as a food ingredient and for medicinal purposes (Table 2).Knowledge of the use of Z. album as a food ingredient in the female groups in the elderly age group had a higher percentage than knowledge of its medicinal uses.However, the male groups only have knowledge on the use of Z. album as a food ingredient.Local communities usually collect the plant after managing their fields located in the forest.Some communities sell the plant directly to their neighbors for around IDR 3,000 per four individuals, but it is not traded in local markets.The frequency of using Z. album is consumed once every few months, which is low due to the community's dependence on its availability in nature, as its population is relatively small and it has a periodic flowering phase.Ref. [17] mentioned that flowering in ginger plants is influenced by various factors such as climate, photoperiod, and location.In some areas, ginger plants are more likely to flower, while in other areas, ginger does not flower as often.Additionally, flowering in ginger takes 20-25 days for the bud to fully develop and 23-28 days for the flowers to fully open.The local community consumes Z. album by cooking it with other ingredients such as fish and potatoes.Moreover, it can also be consumed as a side dish with "samba lado uok", a steamed chili sauce.The part of Z. album that is consumed is the flower buds.This part has a smooth texture and is slightly fibrous.It has a shape like an unopened flower bud, is white in color, and has bracts surrounding the bottom, which are described by the community as having a shape like the spines on a porcupine's body (Figure 2).Flower buds that have a unique taste and fragrance can enhance seafood and coconut milk dishes by eliminating the strong fishy odor of seafood and the unpleasant aftertaste caused by coconut milk, because the species contains essential oil [18].The processing method of Z. album is similar to that of making curry in general.The young conus (figure 2a) is first cleaned and peeled of all the brachtea until the inside of the conus looks like a flower bud (figure 2b).Then this part is sliced and boiled.Meanwhile, spices and other ingredients, such as fish and potatoes, are prepared.The spices used in this dish include red chili (Capsicum annuum), onion (Allium sp.), garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), turmeric (Curcuma longa), coconut milk (Cocos nucifera), kaffir lime leaves (Citrus hystrix), and bay leaves (Syzygium polyanthum).Red chili, onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and salt are ground using traditional grinding methods.Coconut is grated and squeezed to make coconut milk.Then the coconut milk and all the prepared spices are added to the pan.Then the boiled Pangalan, fish, and potatoes are added.Then it is cooked until all the ingredients are fully cooked (figure 2c).The flavor of this plant dish is fresh and slightly sour (figure 2d).The sour taste of the Z. album flower is not as strong as that of torch ginger (Etlingera elatior), which is also commonly processed as a source of food by the local community in Nagari Simanau.Flower buds of E. elatior have also been used by Acehnese traditional communities on a wide variety of processed foods as a spice and flavoring, such as tasak telu, menekem, and bakut penget [19].A previous study showed that Zingiber processed as a condiment has a good nutritional content such as calcium, carbohydrates, protein, water content, and phosphorus [7].

Local knowledge in utilization of Zingiber album as a medicinal plant
Local communities in Simanau used Z. album as a traditional medicinal plant to treat various ailments.There were four diseases mentioned by the respondent that can be cured with this plant (Table 3).The flower buds of Z. album are used to treat swollen uteruses after childbirth.The rhizome of Z. album is used as a heat-clearing medicine.Young shoots of Z. album (umbuik in local language) are used to treat abdominal pain (maag and gerd), "panyakik rajo" (swelling in the stomach for males), and "panah gadang" (swelling in the stomach for women) (Fig. 2a).The application of traditional medicine is done by mixing this species with other species consisting of torch ginger (Etlingera elatior), white torch ginger (Etlingera sp), banana (Musa balbisiana), tibarau or white sugarcane (Saccharum spontaneum), tabu udang or sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum), sitawa or crêpe ginger (Cheilocostus speciosus), and sidingin or cathedral bells plant (Bryophyllum pinnatum).The parts of plants used in the mixture, processing methods, and application methods are different for each type of disease (Table 3).
The utilization of a single ingredient in a medicinal plant can enhance the production of bioactive compounds and achieve the desired pharmacological effects [20].The combination of two or more medicinal herbs has a stronger impact compared to using just one herb [21].The application of medicinal herbs was carried out both internally and externally.The method of drinking was mainly used to treat internal ailments, while the application of a fogged herb was utilized to treat external physical conditions.The ingested potion has a rapid effect as it enters the body directly, leading to faster healing [22].The fogged herb releases its properties through the skin's pores and into the bloodstream.
The obtained data show that Z. album has the potential to be used as an additional food ingredient with various processing methods.In addition, Z. album is also effective for treating some diseases.However, many people outside the research location are still unaware of the existence and utilization of Z. album.This is because Z. album is an endemic plant and its distribution is limited to only a few locations.In addition, the lack of conservation efforts in the form of cultivation makes the existence of this plant difficult to find.According to some respondents, Z. album is not cultivated because its growth period requires a long time.The young shoots is boiled with torch ginger, white torch ginger, tibarau, tabu udang young shoots and young leaves of sitawa and sidingin, then consumed

Use value of Zingiber album
The Use Value (UV) is used to determine the extent of the benefits of a plant to the community.A plant with a high UV value indicates that many benefits and properties are known to the community, while a plant with a low UV value indicates that there are few benefits or no properties known to the community.A comparison of Z. album UV values with several species of the Zingiberaceae family is presented in Table 4. Table 4 shows that the use value of Z. album is 0.28 and falls under the category of low among other species of the Zingiberaceae family.Compared to A. malaccensis, E. elatior, H. tomentosa, and P. mucida that are also used as food, Z. album has a lower value but is higher compared to E. longituba and Zingiber sp."bilongkiang" in terms of its utilization.Compared to Z. macradenium, which is also an endemic plant of Sumatra, the value of Z. album also falls into the lower category.This is because the use of this species is limited to food and medicine for some diseases.The UV value of Z. album is low because its utilization is still not well known by the public.The endemic distribution of Z. album also causes its utilization to remain localized in Simanau village, Solok Regency, West Sumatra.In addition, the lack of cultivation also contributes to the low value of this species compared to other species of the Zingiberaceae family that are widely known and used and have been cultivated.A plant with a high UV value indicates a medicinal plant with many benefits widely known by the community, while a plant with a low UV value indicates a plant with few benefits known by the community [23].The Use Value can determine the level of local knowledge in an ethnic community.In addition, the UV value is greatly influenced by cultural values, spirituality, and the geographical conditions of the location of the utilization of a plant species [24,25,13].

Cultural food significance of Zingiber album
The Cultural Food Significance Index is a quantitative analysis technique applied to evaluate the cultural significance of a plant processed into food by local communities.This study evaluated the cultural significance of Z. album as processed into food by the local community in Simanau.The local community makes use of Z. album by processing it into a curry dish.The calculation of the cultural significance level of the CFSI for this plant showed that it falls into the category of moderate importance (Table 5).The result of the calculation of the CFSI value of Z. album is 45.6 with a moderate category.Compared to its close relatives, this species is relatively low, and the species with the highest CFSI value is turmeric (C.longa).A high CFSI value indicates that the plant, as a food ingredient, is used as herbal medicine, has a high cultural value for a particular ethnic community, and is known to have many forms of utilization with various processing methods.A. galanga, C. longa, and Z. officinale have high cultural values as food ingredients because they are known by the community to have various forms of utilization inherited from generation to generation, have been cultivated, and have widespread distribution.
Z. album belongs to the moderate category of importance, meaning it is utilized in small quantities, difficult to find, but useful for health.The CFSI value of Z. album is relatively low compared to other species due to the plant's utilization not being widely known by the community.The CFSI value of Z. album is in the same category as Zingiber sp."bilongkiang" and A. compactum.The CFSI values of these three species are due to the presence of Z. album is recognizable only during certain seasons, specifically during its blooming season, which is relatively short and does not bloom throughout the year.Nevertheless, this food plant does not play a role in customary or religious rituals.The gap in knowledge, particularly between older and younger generations, could lead to the loss of local wisdom [29].Food plants can be preserved, including through customary rituals passed down from generation to generation [30].The inheritance of local knowledge is believed to play a role in preserving plant sustainability [31].Therefore, there is a need for knowledge exchange among communities in order to conserve traditional knowledge.

Potential uses of Zingiber album among other species of Zingiberaceae in West Sumatra
We found that the people who live in West Sumatra make use of 51 different species from 14 different genera that are a part of the Zingiberaceae family [23,[26][27][28][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42].These uses fall into six different categories.According to the flow chart, the most typical application of Zingiberaceae in West Sumatra is as a medicinal substance, followed by applications as a spice, natural color, fruit, vegetable, and culture (Fig. 3).When treating a sickness with an herbal medicine, the preparation process can look very different depending on the illness being treated.In most cases, the herbal treatment for internal ailments is prepared by boiling the herb until it boils, after which the patient drinks the heated water, which can have an effect on the metabolism of the body.In the meantime, herbal medicine for external diseases is prepared by pounding it until it is smooth, burning it, grinding it, slicing it into little pieces, baking it, or simply moistening it with water.All of these preparations have the ability to render the herbal medicine antibacterial.According to the ethnoalluvial plot, the species Alpinia galanga, Curcuma longa, Etlingera elatior, and Zingiber officinale are the most extensively utilized by the people in West Sumatra, particularly as herbal medicine.These species have the highest level of use and a diverse range of information sources originating from a wide variety of regions.The most common uses for C. longa include as a cooking spice, for stimulating hunger, in the treatment of skin diseases, for allergies, rheumatism, gout, diarrhea, toothache, fever, and postpartum pain, and for postpartum pain relief.Curcumin is a phenolic chemical that can be found in the Curcuma spp., particularly in the rhizomes of C. longa, and this species, Curcuma longa, includes it.This fact lends credence to the widespread use of C. longa.It is common knowledge that curcumin acts as a regulator of a number of different signaling molecules, including inflammatory molecules, protein reductase, and transcription factors [43].
Because each organ of the Zingiberaceae plant has a unique impact on the functioning of the human body, the indigenous people who live in the area employ a variety of the plant's components in combination with one another to treat a wide range of illnesses.Rhizomes are part of the Zingiberaceae family of plants that are utilized the majority of the time [27,43].Because this section of the plant contains significant levels of flavonoids and phenolics, rhizomes have a wide range of applications [43].This is backed by the fact that [44] rhizomes are the components that are utilized as ingredients in herbal therapy for various disorders the most regularly.
The primary application for Z. album is in the medical field rather than the culinary one.Due to the potential therapeutic usefulness of these wild species in the Zingiberaceae family as well as the threat to their existence in nature posed by changes in land use, it is essential that further research and conservation efforts be conducted on these Zingiberaceae species.It is concerning because there is a lack of knowledge about the nutritional content and phytochemical substances of these species.It is essential that these plants be protected since they have the potential to be employed as medicines, and the extinction of these species can have a severe impact not just on biodiversity but also on ecological and human health.

Conclusion
Based on the results of research and discussion, it can be concluded that Z. album has been used by some people in Simanau until now as a food ingredient and in some traditional medicine.The community's traditional knowledge of the species seems to be decreasing, this can be seen from the lower UV and CFSI values of plants.Among other species of Zingiberaceae in West Sumatra, Z. album is categorized as having low importance.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Map of location for collecting data.

Figure 2 .
Figure 2. Part of Z. album utilized.A. Young flower.B. Young flower bud.C. Young flower bud boiled.D. Cooked Z. album.Source: Author's documentation.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. Ethnoalluvial diagram of potential use of Z. album among other species of Zingiberaceae in West Sumatra

Table 1 .
Characteristics of gender, age, and occupation of respondents.

Table 2 .
Respondent's knowledge (in percentage) on the use of Z. album as a food ingredient and medicinal plant [16]Utilization of Zingiber album as a food ingredientZ.albumhaspotential as a cooking ingredient, specifically in the form of vegetables, and can be processed in various ways.The use of this plant as a local food source is a tradition that enriches local cultural heritage[16].Based on field observations, Z. album can only be found in forests in several locations, including Aie Busuk, Pincuran Gadang, Lurah Pariang, Karang Putiah, and Batas Nagari Simanau-Sirukam.Z. album typically grows near swamps, river banks, and wet areas in green forests.

Table 3 .
Utilization of Z. album as medicinal plant by the Simanau community in Solok District

Table 4 .
Comparison of Z. album UV Score with Other Species in the Zingiberaceae Family from Various Locations in Sumatra ♦ = Endemic of Sumatra

Table 5 .
Comparison of Z. album CFSI score with other species in the Zingiberaceae family from various locations in Sumatra