Antioxidant Activity and Flavonoid Contents of Daun Dewa (Gynura pseudochina) in Various Substrates with Humic Acid Treatment

Abstract

Daun dewa (Gynura pseudochina) is a potential producer of a medicinally active compound. Several active compounds contained were steroid, saponin, flavonoid, tannin, and essential oils. The benefit of G. pseudochina as medicine includes anticoagulant (prevent blood clot) and blood liquefaction. The use of zeolite and sand as substrates in this study shall give information about the active compound in the plant. Thus, the objectives of this study were to know the effect of substrate towards the active compound and flavonoid contents, also to determine the effective substrate that leads to the higher activity of antioxidant and flavonoid contents in G. pseudochina. This study used an experimental method with a two-factor factorial, completely randomized design. The first factor was substrates, consist of zeolite and sand substrates. The second factor was the treatment of humic acid concentrations, 0 g/kg; 4g/kg; 8 g/kg; 12g/kg. There were a total of 24 units of experiment, which consist of 8 combinations of treatments with three replications each. The result showed that both zeolite and sand substrates affected the growth and antioxidant activity of G. pseudochina. Zeolite substrate enhanced the antioxidant activity, yet it did not increase the growth. Meanwhile, the sand substrate increased growth. The treatment of 8 g/kg humic acid in a zeolite substrate enhanced the antioxidant activity. The treatment of humic acid in both zeolite and sand substrates could be used to improve the growth and antioxidant activity in G. pseudochina.