IPB University Professor Highlights the Role of Agricultural Biochemistry in Improving the Quality of Medicinal Plants
IPB University Professor Waras Nurcholis emphasised the importance of agricultural biochemistry in improving the quality and efficacy of medicinal plants. He made this statement during a press conference prior to his scientific lecture at IPB University, which was held on Thursday (6/12) via Zoom Meeting.
“To ensure medicinal plants can be widely used in the healthcare industry, there must be guarantees regarding their quality, efficacy, and safety. A standardised and sustainable scientific approach through agricultural biochemistry is therefore crucial,” he stated.
Prof Waras explained that agricultural biochemistry is the science that studies chemical processes in plant organisms, particularly those related to the formation of secondary metabolites with medicinal properties.
This approach he noted, provides a deep understanding of the biosynthesis of active compounds, interactions between bioactive components, and the influence of the environment on genetic expression that produces these compounds.
“Agricultural biochemistry is a new field of study and is still rarely used in Indonesia. We need to learn from China and India, which are more advanced in the production of herbal medicine raw materials through the application of agricultural biochemistry,” said Prof Waras.
As a lecturer at the Department of Bio-chemistry at IPB University, he revealed that currently, many domestic industries still import from several countries. For example, curcuminoid extracts are still imported from India.
According to him, this agricultural biochemistry approach is strategic in selecting superior genotypes based on bioactive compound content, whether through genetic exploration or induced mutation techniques.
In his research on medicinal plants such as temulawak, kapulaga, and kumis kucing, biochemical selection has proven effective in consistently producing plants with high pharmacological potential.
From a cultivation perspective, agricultural biochemistry also enables the optimisation of agronomic factors that influence the biosynthesis of active compounds. The use of shade and fertilisers such as NPK is known to increase the levels of active compounds.
“Our research on temulawak shows that these treatments increase the content of polyphenols and curcuminoids, which function as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and immunomodulators. The application of organic fertilisers and compost from plant waste also contributes to improving production efficiency and sustainability,” he explained.
Furthermore, Prof Waras mentioned that mutation approaches such as gamma ray irradiation and polyploidy induction have successfully increased the content of secondary metabolites in plants like krokot and jengger ayam. This technique produces new mutant genotypes with higher phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant activity, which are important for the development of phytopharmaceuticals, herbal cosmetics, and functional horticulture.
He also emphasised that the benefits of agricultural biochemistry extend beyond improving raw material quality to maintaining product consistency and standardisation. In response to the growing global demand for natural health products, Indonesia is required to supply raw materials that meet international standards.
“There needs to be integration between agricultural biochemistry and omics technologies such as metabolomics, transcriptomics, and genomics to support the selection, validation, and formulation of plant-based medicinal products,” he said.
Prof Waras concluded by stating that the development of the national natural medicine industry requires synergy between scientific research, the industrial sector, and government policies. He emphasised the importance of supportive regulations, research investment, and the empowerment of farmers and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as part of this industrial ecosystem.
With its wealth of genetic resources and ethnopharmacological knowledge, Indonesia has a great opportunity to become a leading centre for the production and export of natural medicinal raw materials. Agricultural biochemistry-based innovation is believed to be the main driver of national independence and resilience in the field of natural health. (dh)(IAAS/KDP)
