Ethnobotanical study of sikkam (Bischofia javanica) in Simalungun District, North Sumatra, Indonesia

RIDAHATI RAMBEY (Jl. Lingkar USU, Durin Tunggal, Simalingkar A, Pancur Batu, Deli Serdang 20353, North Sumatra, Indonesia)
BINTANG PANDAPOTAN PANJAITAN (Jl. Lingkar USU, Durin Tunggal, Simalingkar A, Pancur Batu, Deli Serdang 20353, North Sumatra, Indonesia)
SUKENDRA PURBA (Department of Forestry and Environmental Affairs. Jl. Sisingamangaraja KM. 5.5, Medan Amplas, Medan 20217, North Sumatra, Indonesia)
ANITA ZAITUNAH (Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara. Jl. Lingkar USU, Durin Tunggal, Simalingkar A, Pancur Batu, Deli Serdang 20353, North Sumatra, Indonesia)
RAHMAWATY RAHMAWATY (Department of Forestry, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara. Jl. Lingkar USU, Durin Tunggal, Simalingkar A, Pancur Batu, Deli Serdang 20353, North Sumatra, Indonesia)
SUTOMO SUTOMO (Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency. Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor KM. 46 Cibinong, Bogor 16911, West Java, Indonesia)
MUHAMMAD HADI SAPUTRA (Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency. Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor KM. 46 Cibinong, Bogor 16911, West Java, Indonesia)
PENIWIDIYANTI PENIWIDIYANTI (Research Center for Ecology and Ethnobiology, National Research and Innovation Agency. Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor KM. 46 Cibinong, Bogor 16911, West Java, Indonesia)
FAEZAH PARDI (Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia)
MOHD NAZIP SURATMAN (Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia)
MOHD HASMADI ISMAIL (Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia. 43400 UPM, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia)

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 26 No. 5 (2025)

Abstract. Rambey R, Panjaitan BP, Purba S, Zaitunah A, Rahmawaty, Sutomo, Saputra MH, Peniwidiyanti, Pardi F, Suratman MN, Ismail MH. 2025. Ethnobotanical study of sikkam (Bischofia javanica) in Simalungun District, North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 26: 2393-2401. Sikkam (Bischofia javanica) is a culturally significant plant traditionally utilized as both a medicinal resource and a culinary seasoning by the Simalungun community in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The ethnobotanical use of B. javanica was documented in this study by evaluating the utilized plant parts, associated disease treatments, methods of application and processing, traditional culinary uses, and descriptive insights into conservation knowledge and harvesting techniques of B. javanica. Quantitative ethnobotanical parameters, including Reported Use (RU) and Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), were also assessed based on information obtained from the Simalungun community in three villages: Pondok Buluh, Sipolha Harison, and Sirube Rube. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with local knowledge holders, identified using a snowball sampling technique. The study recorded 14 traditional medicinal uses and 10 culinary applications for B. javanica. The highest ICS value for medicinal use was attributed to its role in treating diarrhea (30%), while its most significant culinary application was as a key ingredient in Dayok Nabinatur seasoning (50%). Processing methods were predominantly characterized by squeezing, with 75.13% of medicinal preparations and 100% of culinary uses relying on this technique. The presence of B. javanica in mixed agroforestry systems and community-managed landscapes, reflecting local conservation practices. These findings emphasize the cultural and practical importance of B. javanica in Simalungun communities, reflecting its role in sustaining traditional knowledge and supporting livelihoods. Promoting sustainable use and conservation of B. javanica can contribute to biodiversity preservation and the protection of intangible cultural heritage, offering pathways for its utilization beyond local communities.