Anti-infective resources among the Philippine Melastomataceae: A scoping review of field studies with an integrated evolutionary and ethnobiological approach

Abstract

Background: Despite the mounting studies on the practical use of species of the pantropical family
Melastomataceae, especially their medicinal utility, no attempt at compiling the diverse findings has been
made to date. Moreover, most reviews of medicinal flora tend to focus more on the biomedical properties of the plants than their equally meaningful evolutionary and ethnobiological aspects.

Objectives: This review aimed to describe and synthesize the current knowledge from and trends in medicinal studies of locally relevant members of the Melastomataceae. Specifically, it sought to gather, select, assess, and analyze digitally available field studies about the anti-infective potential of the genera of the Melastomataceae that occur in the Philippines using a combined evolutionary and ethnobiological lens.

Methodology: Web-based search was conducted in EBSCO, Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and local databases of medicinal ethnobotany for full and original research papers in Filipino or English. Studies were screened and assessed independently based on taxonomic reliability and ethnobiological methodology. Data were analyzed qualitatively using an integrated evolutionary and ethnobiological framework.

Results: Thirty-four ethnobiological studies comprising journal articles and theses that surveyed 41 localities and cultural groups from 12 countries were reviewed. Three Philippine native melastome species are used in treating potentially infectious conditions: Dissochaeta divaricata, Melastoma malabathricum, and M. sanguineum. Other genera native to the Philippines with congeneric species used for anti-infective purposes elsewhere are Medinilla, Memecylon, Osbeckia, and Sonerila. Indications with the most cross-regional consensus include cuts, wounds, and skin infections, diarrhea and dysentery, and buccal, respiratory, and urogenital infections.

Conclusion: This review revealed that Philippine native melastome genera and species are available for infectious disease mitigation and exhibit high use convergence across geographically and culturally divergent communities but remain untapped. Documenting medicinal flora in an area or community based on their evolutionary relationships and ethnomedicinal usage is significant not only in bioprospecting but more importantly, in preserving indigenous knowledge and natural patrimony, especially amid collapsing socioecological systems and emerging diseases.