ABSTRACT: This initial study was done to identify consumers’ inclinations and perspectives on issues regarding health and natural resources in using herbs and herbal products. Questionnaires were distributed at three different locations around Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia to respondents of different ethnic and working groups. The respondents were required to respond to questions which probed factors such as consumers’ habits and behaviours, awareness and perceptions, preferences and choices as well as influences of the mass media. The study found that factors impinging on consumers’ inclinations such as product commercialisation, preferences, media influences, and job opportunities have positive impacts. The identification and property of these factors contribute to enhancement of a model for consumers development towards healthier lifestyle through increased consumption of natural and herbal products. The future application of an enhanced model which acknowledge these contributing factors would benefit planning and implementation of consumer development strategies.

Key words: natural, herbal, model, consumer development, healthy lifestyle, and healing practices.

About the Authors: Noraini Abdullah is a Lecturer at the Mathematics and Finance Program in the School of Science & Technology UMS (Malaysia University of Sabah). She is contactable via noraini@ums.edu.my; and Suhaimi Sallehis a Senior Lecturer at the Communication Program of the School of Social Sciences UMS (Malaysia University of Sabah). His e-mail contact is suhaimi.binsalleh@gmail.com

How to cite this article? Abdullah, Noraini & Suhaimi Salleh. (2010). “Factors Related to the Use of Herbal Products and Derivatives from Consumers’ Perspective in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah: An Initial Study” in SOSIOHUMANIKA: Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Vol.3, No.1 [Mei], pp.143-154. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press, UNIPA Surabaya, and UMS Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, ISSN 1979-0112.

Chronicle of article: Accepted (February 7, 2010); Revised (March 9, 2010); and Published (May 20, 2010).

Artz, M.B. et al. (2006). “Use of Nonprescription Medications for Perceived Cardiovascular Health” in American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 30(1), pp.78-81.

Bergner, P. (1996). The Healing Power of Garlic: The Enlightened Person’s Guide to Nature’s Most Versatile Medicinal Plant. United States: Prima Publishing.

Bordia, A., S.K. Verma & K.C. Srivastava. (1998). “Effect of Garlic (Allium Sativum) on Blood Lipids, Blood Sugar, Fibrinogen, and Fibrinolystic Activity in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease” in Prostaglandins, Leucocytienes, and Essential Fatty Acids, 58(4), pp.257-263.

Chen, M.F. (2007). “Consumer Attitudes and Purchase Intentions in Relation to Organic Foods in Taiwan: Moderating Effects of Food-Related Personality Traits” in Food Quality and Preference, 18, pp.1008–1021.

Farid Alakbarov. (2003). “Aromatic Herbal Baths of the Ancients” in The Journal of the American Botanical Council, 57, pp.40-49.

Field, A. (2000). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS for Windows. New Delhi: SAGE Publications.

Gilani, A.H. & A. Rahman. (2005). “Trends in Ethno Pharmacology” in Journal of Ethno Pharmacology, 100, pp.43-49.

Goh, S.H. et al. (1995). Malaysian Medicinal Plant for the Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease. Selangor: Pelanduk Publicaton Sdn. Bhd.

Heinerman, J. (1998). Miracle Healing Herbs. New York: Prentice Hall.

Izzo, A.A. et al. (2004). “Cardiovascular Pharmatherapy, and Herbal Medicine: The Risk of Drug Interaction” in International Journal of Cardiology, 98, pp.1-14.

Khanum, F., K.R. Anilakumar & K.R. Viswanathan. (2004). “Anti-Carcinogenic Properties of Garlic: A Review” in Crit. Review of Food Science and Nutrition, 44, pp.479-488.

Lemmens, R.H.M.J., I. Soerianegara & W.C. Wong. (1995). Plant Resources of South-East Asia. Jakarta: Prosea Foundation.

Lin, K.H. et al. (2007). “Major Chemotypes and Antioxidative Activity of Leaf Essential Oils of Cinnamomum Osmophloeum Kaneh from a Clonal Orchard” in Food Chemistry, 105, pp.133-139.

Lohse, B., J.L. Stotts & J.R. Priebe (2006). “Survey of Herbal Use by Kansas and Wisconsin WIC Participants Reveals Moderate: Appropriate Use and Identifies Herbal Education Needs” in Journal of American Dietetic Association, 106, pp.227-237.

Lopez-Malo, A. et al. (2007). ”Aspergillus Flavos Growth Response to Cinnamon Extract and Sodium Benzoate Mixtures” in Food Control, 18, pp.1358-1362.

Mansoor, G.A. (2001). “Herbs and Alternative Therapies for Hypertension Clinic” in American Journal of Hypertension Ltd., 14, pp.971-975.

Matan, N. et al. (2006). “Antimicrobial Activity of Cinnamon and Clove Oil Under Modified Atmosphere Conditions” in International Journal of Food Microbiology, 107, pp.180-185.

Migdalas, A. et al. (2004). “Sector Modeling for the Prediction and Evaluation of Cretan Olive Oil” in European Journal of Operational Research, 152, pp.454-464.

Pamplona-Roger, G.D. (2001). Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants and Healthy Library, 1. Spain: Editorial Safeliz.

Qi, R. et al. (2000). “Inhibition by Dialysis Trisulfide, a Garlic Component, of Intracellular Ca2+ Mobilization without Affecting Inositol-1,4,5-Triphosphate (IP3) Formation in Activated Platelets” in Biochemical Pharmacology, 60, pp.1475-1483.

Qin, B. et al. (2003). “Cinnamon Extract (Traditional Herb) Potentiates in Vivo Insulin Regulated Glucose Utilization Via Enhancing Insulin Signaling in Rats” in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 62, pp.139-148.

Radimer, K.L., A.F. Subar & F.E. Thomson. (2000). “Non-Vitamin, Non-Mineral Dietary Supplement: Issues and Findings from NHANES III” in Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 100, pp.447-454.

Rawsthorne, P. et al. (1999). “An International Survey of the Use and Attitudes Regarding Alternative Medicine by Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease” in The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 94, pp.1298-1303.

Reynertson, K.A. et al. (2005). “A Traditonal Method of a Cinnamomum Carolinense Preparation Eliminates Safrole from a Therapeutic Pohnpean Tea” in Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 102, pp.269-274.

Rozian Mohd Sharif. (2007). Majalah Rapi, Bil. 67. Kuala Lumpur : Karangkraf Sdn. Bhd.

Russel Mojiol, A. & Maznah Mahali. (2000). Penyelenggaraan Pokok-pokok Bandar. Kota Kinabalu: Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

Samy, J., M. Sugumaran & K.L.W. Lee. (2005). Herbs of Malaysia: An Introduction to the Medicinal, Culinary, Aromatic, and Cosmetic Use of Herb. Selangor: Federal Publication Sdn. Bhd.

Saw, J.T. et al. (2006). “Potential Drug-Herb with Anti-Platelet/Anticoagulant Drugs” in Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 12, pp.236-241.

Singh, G. et al. (2007). “A Comparison of Chemical, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Studies of Cinnamon Leaf and Bark Volatile Oils, Oleoresins and Their Constituents” in Food and Chemical Toxiclogy, 45, pp.1650-1661.

Shukla, Y. & N. Kalra. (2006). “Cancer Chemoprevention with Garlic and its Constituents” in Cancer Letters, 247 [Mini-Review], pp.167-181.

Tesch, B.J. (2002). “Herbs Commonly Used by Woman” in DM, 48, ms.671-696.

Wiart, C. (2002). Medicinal Plants of South Asia. Kuala Lumpur: Prentice Hall, second edition.

Yuste, J. & D.Y.C. Fung. (2003). “Evaluation of Salmonella Typhimurium, Yersinia Enterocolitica, and Staphylococcus Aureus Counts in Apple Juice with Cinnamon, by Conventional Media and Thin Agar Layer Method” in Food Microbiology, 20, pp.365-370.