Identifying the Utilization of Medicinal Plants by the Community in Huta Raja Village, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra Province

This study aims to identify and document the types of medicinal plants utilized by the community of Huta Raja Village, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, North Sumatra. The background of this research lies in Indonesia’s rich biodiversity and the persistence of local herbal medicine traditions that have not been sufficiently documented in scientific literature. The method applied was descriptive-exploratory through direct observation and semi-structured interviews. A total of 20 informants were purposively selected, consisting of individuals considered to possess extensive knowledge or who frequently use medicinal plants. The data collected included local names, scientific names, plant parts used, methods of preparation, therapeutic functions, and frequency of use. The analysis was carried out both qualitatively and quantitatively using the Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) index. The results revealed 21 species of medicinal plants from various families, including Cinnamomum burmannii, Piper betle, Phyllanthus niruri, Physalis angulata, Centella asiatica, Vernonia amygdalina, and Solanum nigrum. In terms of families, Lauraceae, Piperaceae, and Solanaceae were the most frequently utilized groups. Quantitative analysis showed that plants with high utilization levels (RFC = 0.75) included Piper betle, Cinnamomum burmannii, Centella asiatica, Vernonia amygdalina, and Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. The medium group (RFC = 0.50) consisted of nine species, while the low utilization group (RFC ≤ 0.25) was represented by six species.