FRIM Identifies 59 Species Of Orang Asli Medicinal Plants With Commercial Potential

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has identified 59 species of medicinal plants, used by the Orang Asli community, that have the potential to be developed into commercial products through research based on traditional knowledge.

Its director-general, Datuk Dr. Ismail Parlan, said that the discovery was the result of efforts to document more than 800 species of medicinal plants used by the Orang Asli community for medical, nutritional, and health-care purposes since 2009.

He said that out of that number, approximately 125 species were brought to the laboratory for analysis, with 59 identified as having potential for development, while four species were selected to produce standard extracts and prototype products.

"Among the products that have been developed is SpectaCare, a range of self-care products based on caraway plants," he said to Bernama after the inauguration ceremony of the 2026 Seminar on the Preservation and Empowerment of Traditional Knowledge (TK) here today.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) secretary-general Datuk Anis Rizana Mohd Zainudin said that research based on biological resources with commercial potential must comply with the procedures for Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) in accordance with the Access to Biological Resources and Benefit Sharing Act 2017 (Act 795).

He said the step is important to protect the rights of the Orang Asli community as the original owners of traditional knowledge, and to ensure that the financial and non-financial benefits from research are shared fairly and equitably.

Ismail said FRIM is now awaiting the approval of the Perak state government to finalise the benefit-sharing agreement before the SpectaCare prototype is offered to the industry for commercialisation.

"When approval is obtained, we will announce it and invite interested industry parties to take this product for commercialisation purposes," he said.

FRIM Biological Resources Programme head Dr. Fadzureena Jamaludin said that the high cost of conducting scientific research necessitates that FRIM prioritise species with the greatest potential for development, while negotiations for benefit-sharing with the Perak state government are still ongoing.

SpectaCare is based on the plant Zingiber spectabile or caraway, which is traditionally used by the Orang Asli community as an herbal bath to relieve body heat, fever and headaches. The product range includes bath gel, body soap, lotion, and face and body spray.

The development of the product involved nine Orang Asli communities from eight ethnic groups in five states. FRIM also conducts scientific research to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the plant and develop a pilot farm at the FRIM Research Station in Maran, Pahang, to ensure a continuous supply of raw materials.

Ismail also said that the success of implementing the benefit-sharing mechanism in Perak is hoped to serve as an example for other states, including Pahang and Johor, while emphasising the importance of government support and allocation to ensure the efforts to document the traditional knowledge of the Orang Asli community continue to be carried out.

At the event, Anis Rizana also launched the SpectaCare prototype. The eighth edition of the seminar, organised by FRIM, brought together 150 participants, including 50 Orang Asli representatives from 25 villages across 17 ethnic subgroups, as well as representatives from government agencies, research institutions and academia.

-- BERNAMA