Indonesian medicinal plants as sources of secondary metabolites for pharmaceutical industry
Abstract: Medicinal plants are
widely used in traditional medicine in both underdeveloped and developing
countries in the word until now. Some secondary metabolites isolated frommedicinal
plants have been developed as modern drugs. New antimalarial artemisinin is an
example of modern medicine that developed from Artemisia annua L, a plant used in
China since 4,000 years ago. Indonesia is endowed with a rich natural resource.The
biodiversity comprises thousands plant species. Therefore, Indonesian flora andfauna
are a remarkable opportunity for the development of secondary metabolites for pharmaceutical
industry. The Indonesian National Agency for Drug and Food Control, Republic of
Indonesia (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan, Republik Indonesia = BPOM RI) classifies
traditional medicine into three classes, namely jamu (Indonesian indigenous traditional
medicine), standardized herbal medicine and phytopharmaca based on itsscientific
evidences. The BPOM also determined 9 medicinal plants for focusing research for
drug development. This paper discusses some secondary metabolites and their pharmacological
activities of the following 9 selected Indonesian medicinal plants namely Piper
retrofractum Vahl, Andrographis paniculata Ness, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, Psidium guajava
L, Syzigium polyanthi, Morinda citrifolia, Guazuma ulmifolia Lamk, Zingiber officinale,
and Curcuma domestica collected from various publications. Furthermore, several
modern drugs derived from medicinal plants are also discussed.
Keywords: medicinal plants -
pharmacological activities - pharmaceutical industry -secondary metabolite -
traditional medicine
Author: Eti Nurwening
Sholikhah
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg160346
