ZÖFÖ-SÖFÖ (AGERATUM CONYZOIDES) AS AN UNDEREXPLORED ETHNOMEDICINAL PLANT: A STUDY OF NIAS INDIGENOUS HERBAL HERITAGE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57094/Keywords:
Zöfö-Söfö, Ageratum Conyzoides, Ethnomedicine, Ethnobotany, Nias Indigenous KnowledgeAbstract
Zöfö-söfö (Ageratum conyzoides) is a widely distributed medicinal plant with significant ethnomedicinal value in various traditional healing systems, including the indigenous knowledge of the Nias community in Indonesia. This study aims to explore Zöfö-söfö as an underexplored ethnomedicinal plant through a qualitative literature review focusing on its traditional uses, phytochemical composition, pharmacological potential, and cultural significance. Data were collected from scientific journals, ethnobotanical studies, and ethnopharmacological reports obtained through academic databases such as Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink. The findings indicate that Zöfö-söfö is traditionally used to treat fever, cough, malaria, digestive disorders, wounds, and inflammatory conditions. These applications are supported by phytochemical evidence identifying bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, and essential oils, which contribute to antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. Although the plant is well documented in global ethnopharmacological literature, its specific role in the Nias indigenous medical system remains insufficiently studied, revealing a significant research gap. This study emphasizes the importance of preserving indigenous ethnomedicinal knowledge, which is increasingly threatened by modernization and cultural transformation. Furthermore, Zöfö-söfö has potential educational value as a contextual learning resource in biology education, particularly in teaching biodiversity, plant physiology, and ethnobotany. In conclusion, Zöfö-söfö represents a meaningful link between traditional knowledge and modern scientific validation, highlighting the need for further interdisciplinary research.
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