Phytochemical Screening of Selected Ethnomedicinal Plants of Bolinao, Pangasinan, Northern Philippines

Abstract

Ethnomedicinal plants are recognized as potential sources for the discovery and development of
effective yet inexpensive pharmaceutical drugs. The study was conducted to detect the presence of different
phytochemicals in the selected medicinal plants used by the Bolinao-Sambal managtambal for treating and curing various
diseases. Healthy plant samples were collected from Bolinao, Pangasinan between December 2016 and January 2017.
Phytochemical screening was done for the plants chosen from the list of plant used by herbalists of Bolinao, Pangasinan.
The families of plants included Boraginaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Astereaceae, Piperacea, Compositacea. The phytoactive
constituents of the plants were screened. Results showed that there were detection of alkaloids, unsaturated fats, sterols
and terpenes, flavonoids, steroid (cardio-active glycosides), saponins and tannins. Furthermore, it was observed that a
strong culture retention was manifested on the use of plants in the folkloric illness pasma.