is a shrub (shrub) and belongs to the Acanthaceae family. This plant has two-lipped white flowers. This plant comes from Asia, can be found in Indonesia, one on Mount Prau.
Manukan leaves have the active substance rinacanthin and secondary metabolite active substances such as flavonoids, benzenoids, coumarins, anthraquinones, quinones, glycosids, carbohydrates, triterpenes, steroids, anthraquinones, napthoquinones, saponins, tannins, phenolics and alkaloids. Alkaloids and rinacanthin isolated from R. nasutus have antibacterial activity. Local people use this plant as an antidote to external bites.
It seems that the population in its wild habitat is gone, or it is rare to find it. Whereas in disturbed habitats, such as residential areas, it is also not easy to find them. BPG doesn't know why. Maybe people throw it away because they don't know what it's used for, or maybe not many people plant it. Even though this plant has been studied for its herbal benefits in various countries, such as:
*Japan
*India
*Thailand
*China
*USA
From research and scientific studies, it turns out that its efficacy is not inferior to the more popular plant Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata). Traditionally, it has been tested in medicine:
Taiwan: hepatitis, diabetes, hypertension and skin diseases. Decoction of the roots to fight some types of cancer.
Thailand: several diseases such as itching, rashes, ringworm, boils/swelling with pus, skin diseases, mumps, leprosy. Some parts of the plant are used for eczema, tuberculosis, and herpes. The leaves and stems are used for hepatitis, diabetes, high blood pressure, and skin diseases. The leaf/essential oil is able to repel mosquitoes. Also has anti-fungal, anti-proliferative, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, ambein, and anti-cancer properties.
Locals use the herb for a variety of minor ailments, from snake bites to skin diseases and ringworm.
In Java besides being used as a medicinal plant, it is also planted as a hedge plant and to prevent soil erosion.
India: a mixture of fresh roots and leaves, plus a squeeze of lime for ringworm and skin ailments. The seeds are also for ringworm. Roots as a remedy for itching. The roots are also used as an antidote to snake bites.
Also has potential in the treatment of various neurological diseases (such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and depression), viral and bacterial infections (such as hepatitis and herpes virus), skin disorders, and controlling sugar levels in diabetic patients.
It seems that from the list of traditional treatments, it is sufficient, how powerful is it. And this is also reinforced by scientific studies/research conducted in several countries above.
In addition, this plant is also reported to be useful as an acaricide (killer of mites and lice on plants).
Here are the names:
Taxonomy: Rhinacanthus nasutus (Linn.) Lindau
Synonyms : Justicia nasuta; Rhinacanthus communis; Rhinacanthus nasuta
International: Snake Jasmine, Leaf Powder, Rhinacanthus Communis Leaf Powder
Indonesia : Manukan, Snake Jasmine, Tarebak, Manukan, Bird Leaf, Japanese Tereba, Celenge, Tereba, Bungo Dara
Family: Acanthaceae
Native: India, with distribution areas: China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Madagascar. Elevation above 750 masl. But in the lowland BPG gardens, these plants thrive and flower.
Habitat
Bush areas, forest edges, abandoned areas and disturbed areas such as settlements. It thrives in areas where its water needs are adequate, but can survive in poor water-poor soils such as rock crevices, also grows well in open or semi-protected areas.
Habitus
Including annual plants that are bushy or semi-shrub, rectangular slender stems, 1-2 m high, grows upright to fall, branched, slightly hairy.
Leaves: single, 4-10 cm long, narrow and pointed at the base and tip or elliptical to oval, rarely lanceolate/lanceolate or resembling a javelin's eye, leaf margins are flat but slightly wavy, petiole/petiole 0.5-1, 5 cm. Young leaves are covered with fine hairs.
Flower
Shape like a bird in flight (zygomorph). The number of crowns 5 strands white.
The fruit is shaped like a stick with 4 seeds. There are also those who say its shape is like a long brown cylinder with a capsule type fruit (drupa).
Cultivars
In some places it has been cultivated and can be used as an ornamental or medicinal plant, and some are still growing wild. When not used, this snake jasmine is also beautiful as an ornamental plant garden decoration. The white flowers look beautiful, moreover the shape is also unique.
Propagation
Seeds as generative reproduction.
Cutting stems / cuttings of about 10 cm in length which contains 2-3 buds.
