Community Empowerment Through Android-Based Herbal Plant Education Application Training for Traditional Medicine Information Access

Marsyah Marsyah; Vivek Sharma; Shadi Kedah

doi:10.56134/jaci.v3i2.169

Authors

Marsyah Marsyah Universitas Hasanuddin
Vivek Sharma Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology
Shadi Kedah Hannover Medical School

Keywords:

Android Application, Herbal Plant Education, Community Service, Traditional Medicine, Information Access

https://doi.org/10.56134/jaci.v3i2.169

Abstract

Limited public access to accurate information about herbal plants remains a barrier to the proper use of traditional medicine. Some communities still rely on inherited knowledge that is not always accompanied by scientific information regarding the benefits, processing methods, dosages, and potential side effects of medicinal plants. This community service activity aims to improve access to information on traditional medicine by training and mentoring participants in using an Android-based herbal plant education application. The activity partners are communities in Makassar City, around herbal cultivation sites, who still use medicinal plants in their daily lives. The implementation method includes identifying partner needs, compiling educational content, developing an Android-based application using an Agile approach, providing application training, mentoring, and evaluating through functional testing and user questionnaires. The introduced application has key features, including a list of herbal plants, information on benefits and processing methods, an image-based plant scanner, educational videos, and details on cultivation locations. Black Box testing results indicate that all application features operate as designed. An evaluation of 15 respondents showed a feasibility level of 88.2%, categorized as very feasible. The results of the activity indicate that this application can serve as a digital educational tool, helping the public access information about herbal plants in an easier, more engaging, and more structured way. Furthermore, training and mentoring help the public use the application's features more effectively. Therefore, this application has the potential to support public access to more structured, easily understood information about herbal plants.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adi, A. C., Lestari, D. P., Elsa, E., & Saputri, F. S. (2022). Design of information system of traditional ethnomedicine Dayak Tribe in West Borneo. BIO-INOVED: Jurnal Biologi-Inovasi Pendidikan, 4(2), 126–133. https://doi.org/10.20527/bino.v4i2.12366

Al-Saqqa, S., Sawalha, S., & AbdelNabi, H. (2020). Agile software development: Methodologies and trends. International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies, 14(11).

Al-Zewairi, M., Biltawi, M., Etaiwi, W., & Shaout, A. (2017). Agile software development methodologies: survey of surveys. Journal of Computer and Communications, 5(05), 74–97. https://doi.org/10.4236/jcc.2017.55007

Alang, H., Rosalia, S., & Ainulia, A. D. R. (2022). Inventarisasi Tumbuhan Obat Sebagai Upaya Swamedikasi Oleh Masyarakat Suku Mamasa Di Sulawesi Barat. Quagga: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Biologi, 14(1), 77–87. https://doi.org/10.25134/quagga.v14i1.4852

Arini, D. I. D. (2017). The Local Knowledge of Community in North Sulawesi on Forest Tress Used as A Traditional Medicine. Jurnal Masyarakat & Budaya, 19(2), 161–174.

Atarodi, A., & Atarodi, H. (2025). Exploring The Knowledge Acquisition Sources Of Indigenous Peoples In The Utilization Of Medicinal Plants. Quantum Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 4(3), 40–47. https://doi.org/10.55197/qjmhs.v4i3.149

Aubin, M. J., Urbina Moscol, A. M., Rodriguez, M. N., Ríos, D. M., Leiva, C. N., Florentin, M., Condori, L. S. C., Chirinos, C. N. S., Becerra, L. N. C., & Urunaga, L. J. (2023). Alternative and complementary medicine: A look at the general culture. SAP Community and Interculturality in Dialogue, 3, 119. https://doi.org/10.56294/cid2023119

Awoke, A., & Cosendey, B. N. (2025). Investigate the ethnomedical practices of different indigenous communities: A literature Review. International Journal of Ethnoscience and Technology in Education, 2(1), 64–89. https://doi.org/10.33394/ijete.v2i1.13903

Chatzigeorgiou, N. G., Theocharides, S., Makrides, G., & Georghiou, G. E. (2025). Assessment of the economic feasibility of hybrid Photovoltaic--Battery Energy Storage Systems in public buildings with flexible load demand: Examination study in Southern Europe. Renewable Energy, 124089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.124089

Dashti, M. T., & Basin, D. (2020). A Theory of Black-Box Tests. ArXiv Preprint ArXiv:2006.10387.

Dewi, T. K., & Zaliluddin, D. (2021). Perancangan aplikasi pengenalan tanaman obat keluarga (toga) dan khasiatnya menggunakan augmented reality berbasis android. Seminar Nasional Ilmu Komputer (SNASIKOM), 1(1).

Eff, A. R. Y., Hurit, H. E., Rahayu, S. T., Januarko, M. U., & Wm, P. G. M. (2020). Antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Indonesian traditional medicine. Pharmacognosy Journal, 12(6), 1623–1629. https://doi.org/10.5530/pj.2020.12.222

Febriyanti, R. M., Ramadhania, Z. M., Tjitraresmi, A., Indradi, R. B., Maisyarah, I. T., Maundu, P. M., Muhaimin, M., & Sujarwo, W. (2026). A systematic review of ethnobotanical study in Indonesia: diversity and cultural patterns of medicinal plant use. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.

Fernandarisky, O. N., Mahmudi, A., & Zahro, H. Z. (2020). Pengenalan Tanaman Obat Family Zingiberaceae Dan Manfaatnya Menggunakan Augmented Reality Berbasis Android. JATI (Jurnal Mahasiswa Teknik Informatika), 4(1), 364–372. https://doi.org/10.36040/jati.v4i1.2322

Hajesmaeel-Gohari, S., Khordastan, F., Fatehi, F., Samzadeh, H., & Bahaadinbeigy, K. (2022). The most used questionnaires for evaluating satisfaction, usability, acceptance, and quality outcomes of mobile health. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making, 22(1), 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-022-01764-2

Hossain, M. J., Mamun, A. Al, & Khan, M. S. S. (2020). Traditional Ethnobotanical Practice in Indigenous Communities of Australia, Asia, and South Asia, and Modern Medicinal Prospects. Australian Herbal Insight, 3(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.25163/ahi.3121062

Hussain, S., Debreli, E., & Farman, M. (2025). Sustainable professional growth through digital mentorship: evidence from language teachers in low-resource settings. Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-29242-5

Khan, N. A., & Rashid, A. Z. M. M. (2006). A study on the indigenous medicinal plants and healing practices in Chittagong Hill Tracts (Bangladesh). African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines, 3(3), 37–47. https://doi.org/10.4314/ajtcam.v3i3.31165

Lee, D.-O., Choo, J., Noh, S., & Shin, Y. (2026). Effectiveness of a nurse-led, community-based frailty prevention program for prefrail older adults: a pragmatic quasi-experimental trial. BMC Nursing, 25(1), 62. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-04131-4

Liu, W. J. (2011). Introduction to traditional herbal medicines and their study. In Traditional Herbal Medicine Research Methods. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470921340.ch1

Long, Y., Zhang, X., & Zeng, X. (2025). Application and effect analysis of virtual reality technology in vocational education practical training. Education and Information Technologies, 30(7), 9755–9786. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-024-13197-7

Maftuh, B., Nurdin, E. S., Mansur, H., & others. (2025). Quantitative Descriptive Analysis of the Potential for Implementing Open and Distance Learning in Senior and Vocational High Schools. JTP-Jurnal Teknologi Pendidikan, 27(3), 1054–1072. https://doi.org/10.21009/jtp.v27i3.62617

Mala, R., Surya, P., Soswanto, D. H., & others. (2025). Managing character education for students with special needs: A framework of planning, organizing, implementation and evaluation. ITQAN: Jurnal Ilmu-Ilmu Kependidikan, 16(1), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.47766/itqan.v16i1.5998

Manisha, Babu, R., Begam, A. M., Chahal, K. S., & Ashok, A. (2025). Medicinal plants and traditional uses and modern applications. Journal of Neonatal Surgery, 14(3), 162–175. https://doi.org/10.52783/jns.v14.2210

Maspupah, A. (2024). Literature review: Advantages and disadvantages of black box and white box testing methods. Jurnal Techno Nusa Mandiri, 21(2), 151–162. https://doi.org/10.33480/techno.v21i2.5776

Monib, P. N. A. W., & Monib, A. W. (2024). The role of plants in traditional and modern medicine. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, 13(2), 643–647. https://doi.org/10.22271/phyto.2024.v13.i2d.14905

Mukti, Y., & others. (2024). Edukasi Penggunaan Tanaman Herbal Terhadap Pengetahuan pada Masyarakat. Sciences and Clinical Pharmacy Research Journal, 1(3), 6. https://doi.org/10.47134/scpr.v1i3.3291

Navia, Z. I., Silvia, M., Antika, M., Suwardi, A. B., & Yakob, M. (2022). Diversity of herbs and spices plants and their importance in traditional medicine in the South Aceh District, Indonesia. Biodiversitas: Journal of Biological Diversity, 23(7). https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d230761

Nazara, B. T., Mendrofa, D. R. C., Harefa, E. C., & Halawa, D. M. E. (2024). Local Wisdom in Naming the Traditional Herbal Plants: A Semantic Analysis in Nias Language. EDUJ: English Education Journal, 2(1), 57–63.

Nikmatullah, M., Renjana, E., Rachmawan, D., Siburian, R., Sundary, L. V., Hidayat, H., & Rahayu, M. (2024). Use of medicinal plants among the customary law forest communities in Jambi, Indonesia. Acta Botanica Brasilica, 38, e20230250. https://doi.org/10.1590/1677-941x-abb-2023-0250

Novaryatiin, S., & Indah, I. (2019). The Medicinal Plants Used in Anjir Pulang Pisau, Central Kalimantan-Indonesia. Pharmacognosy Journal, 11(6), 1572–1579. https://doi.org/10.5530/pj.2019.11.240

Pokharel, S., Acharya, C., & Dahal, S. R. (2026). Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Medicinal Plant Practices among the Amppipal Community of Gorkha, Nepal. Journal of Tikapur Multiple Campus, 9, 241–252. https://doi.org/10.3126/jotmc.v9i9.90466

Rahayu, Y. Y. S., Araki, T., & Rosleine, D. (2020). Factors affecting the use of herbal medicines in the universal health coverage system in Indonesia. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 260, 112974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2020.112974

Rankoana, S. A. (2024). A Review on the Use of Indigenous Knowledge for Medicinal Plants Conservation. Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, 14(1), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.31924/nrsd.v14i1.156

Salman Ikrar Musyaffa, M., Yudistira, N., Arif Rahman, M., & Batoro, J. (2023). IndoHerb: Indonesia Medicinal Plants Recognition using Transfer Learning and Deep Learning. In arXiv e-prints. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4576705

Soimin, M., & Marilyna, R. (2024). Ethnopharmacological Study On The Potential Herbal Plants In The Traditional Markets Of Kupang East Nusa Tenggara. Wana Lestari, 6(1), 130–141. https://doi.org/10.35508/wanalestari.v6i01.16466

Sousa Basto, P., & Ferreira, P. (2025). Mobile applications, physical activity, and health promotion. BMC Health Services Research, 25(1), 359. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12489-z

South, L., Saffo, D., Vitek, O., Dunne, C., & Borkin, M. A. (2022). Effective use of Likert scales in visualization evaluations: A systematic review. Computer Graphics Forum, 41(3), 43–55. https://doi.org/10.1111/cgf.14521

Suputra, I. G. B., Nata, G. N. M., & Hendayanti, N. P. N. (2024). Perancangan Aplikasi Multimedia Interaktif Pengenalan Tanaman Obat Keluarga. Seminar Hasil Penelitian Informatika Dan Komputer (SPINTER).

Tripon, C. (2025). Integrating Service-Learning in STEM Workshops to Promote Digital Skills, Problem-Solving, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Education. Social Sciences, 14(11), 671. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci14110671

Tsamiroh, M. (2021). Rancang bangun aplikasi web tanaman obat keluarga (toga) menggunakan metode agile pada laravel.

Twala, M., & Sokani, A. (2025). Exploring the importance of traditional medicine in society. International Journal of Research in Business & Social Science, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.20525/ijrbs.v14i9.4450

Wanjohi, B. K., Sudoi, V., Njenga, E. W., & Kipkore, W. K. (2020). An ethnobotanical study of traditional knowledge and uses of medicinal wild plants among the Marakwet Community in Kenya. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2020(1), 3208634. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3208634

Wicaksono, S. R. (2022). Black Box Testing Teori Dan Studi Kasus. February, 1–163.

Williams, L. (2010). Agile software development methodologies and practices. In Advances in Computers (Vol. 80, pp. 1–44). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2458(10)80001-4