IPB University Researchers Reveal Various Benefits of Beluntas Plants

Beluntas plants (Pluchea indica), which have long been known as traditional salad ingredients in various regions of Indonesia, actually have many health benefits. This was revealed by Prof Sandra Arifin Aziz, an herbal plant expert at IPB University.

According to Prof Sandra, beluntas has long been used by the Sundanese, Javanese, and Madurese communities as a vegetable that also helps reduce body odor due to the distinctive aroma of its leaves. However, this plant also holds potential as a herbal remedy for various health complaints.

“Beluntas is a very promising herbal plant. Some of its benefits include helping to treat diabetes, alleviating rheumatic symptoms, improving the digestive system, maintaining healthy skin, enhancing heart function, accelerating wound healing, and serving as a source of antioxidants,” she explained.

This plant is widely found in the tropical regions of Southeast Asia and India. The bioactive compounds in beluntas include flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, steroids, saponins, and essential oils.

In Indonesia, beluntas is widely used in traditional medicine, including for treating fever and digestive disorders. “As a vegetable or side dish, beluntas has no specific consumption limit. Generally, a healthy body will regulate its own intake,” said Prof Sandra.

This shrub is known by various local names such as luntas (Javanese), baluntas or baruntas (Sundanese), lamutasa (Makassar), and lenabou (Timor). Beluntas is also known as a drought-resistant plant that can grow in rocky soil, so it is widely cultivated in areas such as Sulawesi and Nusa Tenggara.

Morphologically, beluntas is a shrub that can grow up to two meters tall. Its stem is covered with fine hairs, its leaves are oval-shaped and light green in color, and it has white-yellowish compound flowers. This plant can be propagated through seeds or cuttings. (dh) (IAAS/HRD)