Erosion of Ethnobotanical Knowledge in the Younger Generation: Level of Student Knowledge of the Use of Medicinal Plants in Culture in North Sumatra
DOI:
10.29303/jbt.v26i3.12826Published:
2026-07-21Downloads
Abstract
Traditional knowledge preservation is a fundamental component of sustainable development, contributing to biodiversity conservation, community health resilience, and the safeguarding of cultural heritage. North Sumatra Province, Indonesia, with its rich ethnic and cultural diversity, represents an important setting for ethnobotanical research. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge among the younger generation regarding the use of medicinal plants in traditional medicine, cultural practices, and traditional ceremonies. A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted involving 61 respondents, predominantly university students. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed descriptively through frequency and percentage distributions. Most respondents were female (68.85%), aged 17–20 years (63.93%), and belonged to the Toba Batak ethnic group (45.90%). The findings revealed that 41% of respondents had a moderate level of ethnobotanical knowledge, indicating that while most participants possessed basic knowledge of medicinal plants, only 10% were familiar with more than 15 medicinal plant species. Overall, the younger generation demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge; however, the limited recognition of medicinal plant diversity and the low understanding of their cultural and symbolic functions suggest a gradual erosion of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge. These findings provide baseline information for developing educational and cultural preservation programs aimed at strengthening ethnobotanical knowledge among younger generations and supporting the conservation of Indonesia's traditional biocultural heritage.
Keywords:
Ethnobotanical knowledge Medicinal plants North Sumatra Traditional knowledge Younger generationReferences
Arnett, J. J. (2015). Emerging adulthood: The winding road from the late teens through the twenties (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Cohen ED. Gendered styles of student-faculty interaction among college students. Soc Sci Res. 2018 Sep;75:117-129. doi: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2018.06.004. Epub 2018 Jun 21. PMID: 30080484. DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2018.06.004
Hariyati, Y. (2020). Persepsi masyarakat Tengger terhadap pemanfaatan etnobotani sebagai obat herbal. Jurnal Ilmu Pertanian Indonesia, 25(3), 440–448.
https://doi.org/10.18343/jipi.25.3.440
Has, D. H., Marpaung, S. S. M., Jati, E. D., Hartati, B. R., Fitrianto, I., Yulianti, I., ... & Lubis, D. A. (2023). Ethnobotany of Food Plants in The Penghulu Tribe Community in Sarolangun, Jambi. Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA, 9(9), 7705-
DOI: 10.29303/jppipa.v9i9.4972
Has, D. H., Marpaung, S. S. M., Rahmila, Y. I., Setiawan, T., & Nugroho, S. P. A. (2024). Ethnographic and plant utilization: A case study of the Penguluh Tribe, Jambi Province, Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1359, 012104.
DOI 10.1088/1755-1315/1359/1/012104
Liunokas, A. B., & Uki, N. M. (2020). Ethnobotany Study through the Utilization of Medicinal Plants in Obesi Village, Mollo Utara District, South Central Timor Regency. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 20(3), 378-387. https://doi.org/10.29303/jbt.v20i3.2065
Marpaung, S. S. M., Rusadi, N., Kurniawan, H., Oktaviani, E., Syah, F., Adu, S. J., ... & Pratiwi, G. K. (2026). Penyuluhan Biodiversitas dan Digital Marketing bagi Kelompok Tani Hutan Sismeni Menuju Desa Ekowisata Berkelanjutan. Reswara: Jurnal Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 7(2), 595-604.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46576/rjpkm.v7i2.8966
Marpaung, S. S. M., Oktaviani, E., Rusadi, N., Kurniawan, H., Syah, F., Rina, T. R., ... & Pratiwi, G. K. (2025). Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and Creative Economic Ecotourism in Tesbatan, Amarasi District, Kupang Regency. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 25(4b), 746-757.
DOI: 10.29303/jbt.v25i4b.10768
Marpaung, S. S. M., Rahmila, Y. I., Has, D. H., Setiawan, T., & Nugroho, S. P. A. (2024, June). Ethnographic and plant utilization: A case study of the Penguluh Tribe, Jambi Province, Indonesia. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1359, No. 1, p. 012104). IOP Publishing.
DOI 10.1088/1755-1315/1359/1/012104
Nasution, J., Riyanto, R., & Chandra, R. H. (2020). Kajian etnobotani Zingiberaceae sebagai bahan pengobatan tradisional etnis Batak Toba di Sumatera Utara. Media Konservasi, 25(1), 98–102. https://doi.org/10.29244/medkon.25.1.98-102
Nasution, J., Riyanto, R., & Gaol, M. L. (2021). Kajian etnobotani tumbuhan obat etnis Batak Toba di Desa Sipituhuta, Kecamatan Pollung, Kabupaten Humbang Hasundutan, Sumatera Utara. Jurnal Biologi Papua, 13(2), 78–87. https://doi.org/10.31957/jbp.1646
Rinto, R., Iswari, R. S., Mindyarto, B. N., & Saptono, S. (2023). Bridging the generational gap: Exploring youth understanding on ethnobotanical knowledge and its integration in higher education curricula. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 26, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.32859/era.26.48.1-1
Santrock, J. W. (2019). Life-span development (17th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Sari, R., Has, D. H., & Ifanda, D. (2025). Kearifan Lokal Pemanfaatan Mangrove Untuk Ketahanan Pangan Masyarakat Pesisir Di Desa Jaring Halus, Sumatera Utara. Jurnal Kelautan: Indonesian Journal of Marine Science and Technology, 18(3), 309-316.
Silalahi, M. (2020). Etnobotani. UKI Press.
Silalahi, M., Nisyawati, Walujo, E. B., Supriatna, J., & Mangunwardoyo, W. (2018). The local knowledge of medicinal plants among Batak people in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas, 19(2), 510–525. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d190227
Sunarya, D., Rahayu, H. M., & Sunandar, A. (2024). Ethnobotany of Dayak Medicinal Plants in Kayu Ara Village, Landak Regency as a Learning Resource. Journal of Biological Education Indonesia, 10(3), 748-760. https://doi.org/10.22219/jpbi.v10i3.35214
Ulfa, M., Manurung, H., Ginting, C. A., & Prabuningrum, D. S. (2025). Ethnobotanical study and conservation status of medicinal plants used by local community in Desa Namo Bintang, North Sumatra. Journal of Sylva Indonesiana, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.32734/jsi.v9i01.24720
Wilson AB, Brooks WS, Edwards DN, Deaver J, Surd JA, Pirlo OJ, Byrd WA, Meyer ER, Beresheim A, Cuskey SL, Tsintolas JG, Norrell ES, Fisher HC, Skaggs CW, Mysak D, Levin SR, Escutia Rosas CE, Cale AS, Karim MN, Pollock J, Kakos NJ, O'Brien MS, Lufler RS. Survey response rates in health sciences education research: A 10-year meta-analysis. Anat Sci Educ. 17(1):11-23. doi: 10.1002/ase.2345. Epub 2023 Oct 18. PMID: 37850629. DOI: 10.1002/ase.2345
Zukmadini, A. Y., Jumiarni, D., Kasrina, K., & Mulyani, Y. (2020). Development of pocket book based on medicinal plants ethnobotany as learning media for university students. Biosfer: Jurnal Pendidikan Biologi, 13(2), 198–210.
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Dini Hardiani Has, Ratna Sari, Sahat Raja Marogo Girsang; Dela Arianda; Firman Syah, Eva Oktaviani, Sutan Sahala Muda Marpaung
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Jurnal Biologi Tropis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The copyright of the received article shall be assigned to the author as the owner of the paper. The intended copyright includes the right to publish the article in various forms (including reprints). The journal maintains the publishing rights to the published articles.
Authors are permitted to disseminate published articles by sharing the link/DOI of the article at the journal. Authors are allowed to use their articles for any legal purposes deemed necessary without written permission from the journal with an acknowledgment of initial publication to this journal.
