Standardization of Some Indonesian Medicinal Plants Used in “Scientific Jamu”

Abstract

Jamu is Indonesian indigenous herbal medicine that has been used empirically to prevent and treat various diseases. To provide evidence on its safety and efficacy, Indonesian government has developed Jamu into Standardized Herbal Medicine and Phytopharmaca. Another strategy is development of Jamu into Scientific Jamu. This herbal medicine has assurance on safety and efficacy through health service-based research. Its raw material is various crude drugs. The problem of this type of raw material is that, depending on the environmental conditions, the quality can vary significantly. This study aimed to standardize crude drug of four medicinal plants included in the composition of Scientific Jamu. They are Orthosiphonis Staminei Folium, Centellae Asiaticae Herba, Curcumae Domesticae Rhizomae, and Curcumae Xanthorrhizae Rhizomae which were collected from three different origins in Indonesia, i.e.: Batu, Bogor, and Tawangmangu Districts. Standardization was conducted by determination of specific parameters (macroscopic, microscopic, total phenolics or flavonoids content, water and ethanol soluble extract) and non specific parameters (loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash). The results were then compared to Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia to conclude wether the crude drugs have a good quality. Orthosiphonis Staminei Folium, Centellae Asiaticae Herba, Curcumae Domesticae Rhizomae, and Curcumae Xanthorrizae Rhizomae from Batu, Tawangmangu, and from Bogor met specific parameters (macroscopic, microscopic, water and ethanol soluble extracts) as required by Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopoeia. However, they failed to comply some non specific parameters especially ash content. All the results represented important information origin of the plant material and the crude drugs should be checked for their specific and non specific parameters before used to ensure their quality.