Trop BRC of IPB develops the Potential of Plants for Herbal Medicine through IST4
The Center for Tropical Biopharmaceutical Studies, Institute of Research and Community Services, Bogor Agricultural University (Trop BRC, LPPM, IPB), again, held "the Fourth International Symposium on Temulawak and Potential Plants for Herbs" (IST4) at Santika Hotel, Bogor, on Tuesday (28/8). The symposium which carried the theme "From Temulawak and Potential Plants for Herbs to their Modern Drugs and Cosmetics Advancements" was a continuation of three previous International Symposia on Temulawak activities.
This activity was attended by 58 domestic nd foreign participants who were representatives from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Gifu University (Japan), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Universiti Putra Malaysia, and SOHO Centre of Excellence in Herbal Research (SCEHR).
Secretary of LPPM of IPB, Prof. Dr. Ir. M. Faiz Syuaib, M.Agr, hoped that this event could support the advancement of research and development of medicinal plants, especially temulawak. "It is expected that it can improve herbal medicine technology which is inferior to modern medicine," he said, just before opening the event.
The development of herbal medicine itself got the attention of the Indonesian government. Sigit Priyo Utama, from the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Cultural Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, said that plants from Indonesia have good potential, especially when being processed into herbs. The problem is that Indonesians are now starting to leave herbs. "People often forget herbs," he said. He hoped that through this symposium, researchers can explore plants that thrive in Indonesia.
Ir. Musdhalifah Machmud, MT, Deputy for Food and Agriculture Coordination, Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, said that medicinal plants, through herbal products, still become the main national income. Temulawak, for example, has become one of the plants with an important position in the national economy. The use of Indonesian medicinal plants spreads throughout Asia, even to Europe. "As many as 70 percent of doctors in Germany recommend the use of around 600-700 medicinal plants," said Raphael Aswin Susilowidodo from SCEHR.
Temulawak itself, according to Suwijiyo Pramono from UGM, is noted to have been used as traditional medicine since 50 years ago. Plants that become an icon for IST4 can be consumed as an appetite enhancer and pain reliever during menstruation. Mixing with other ingredients can be done to make a medicine for various diseases in which one of them is hemorrhoids.
Research conducted over the past few years showed that the use of medicinal plants is not only limited to cough reliever or appetite enhancer. The results of the research done by Tohru Mitsunaga and his colleagues from Gifu University showed that black turmeric (Kaempferia parviflora) can reduce the effects of dementia. Black turmeric and Chinese ginger (Boesenbergia rotunda), according to Warinthorn Chavasiri from Chulalongkorn University, can be used as antibiotic compounds. Tailed pepper extract (Piper cubeba L.) can also prevent the work of cancer causes according to the research conducted by Yaya Rukayadi and his colleagues from Universiti Putra Malaysia. (RP/ZSP/ris)
