Biodiversity, Ethnobotany, and Antioxidant Ability of Selaginella spp. from Halimun-Salak Mountain National Park (TNGHS).

Abstract

Biodiversity and ethnobotany of Selaginella were studied in Halimun-Salak Mountain National Park (TNGHS) to describe the diversity and the use of Selaginella as medicinal plant. The diversity study of Selaginella was done by exploring Selaginella at 6 sampling points. The ethnobotany study of Selaginella was done by interviewing respondents at the villagers around Bunder Mountain, Citalahab Sentral, and Kasepuhan Adat Banten Kidul. There were eight species Selaginella found in TNGHS which were S. willdenovii, S. ornata, S. plana, S. intermedia, S. involvens, S. alutacia, S. subalpina and one species that has not been identified yet. The first two species were found dominantly in this location. The community in the location of study called Selaginella as paku rane. At the villages around Bunder mountain and Citalahab Sentral, Selaginella is also called as rande. The plant was traditionally used as fresh vegetables, postnatal and wound treatment, and body fitness maintenance. Antioxidant ability of Selaginella was tested by performing hydroxyl radical scavenging activity based on Fenton reaction. Three species of Selaginella were tested their hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. S. plana was the most potential species as an antioxidant followed by S. ornata and S. willdenovii. The crude extract of S. plana showed the best antioxidant activity at concentration of 75 μg/ml. Key words: Selaginella, biodiversity, ethnobotany, antioxidant, Halimun-Salak Mountain National Park (TNGHS)