Abstract
In Southeast Asia, ulam herbs are consumed raw as a condiment. It is believed that these herbs have medicinal benefits and their regular intake can prevent degenerative diseases, delay aging and improve overall health. In this review, the current knowledge on the phytochemistry and pharmacology of <em>Oenanthe javanica</em> (water dropwort) and <em>Cosmos caudatus</em> (wild cosmos) is updated with some descriptions of their botany and uses. Water dropwort has constituents of phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and phenolic acids, notably, persicarin and isorhamnetin. Antioxidant, anti-quorum sensing, melanogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-arrhythmic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, neurogenesis, alcohol detoxification, antitoxic, anti-coagulant, hepatoprotective, anti-hepatitis B virus and memory improvement are pharmacological properties of water dropwort. Wild cosmos, with flavonoids, phenolic acids and diterpenoids as major metabolites, possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-quorum sensing, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, hepatoprotective, detoxification, anti-osteoporosis and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. There are several patents on some of the pharmacological properties of water dropwort while a clinical trial has been conducted on the anti-diabetic effects of wild cosmos. Both these ulam herbs possess a wide array of pharmacological properties, which confer their traditional uses as food and medicine.
Highlights
In Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, ulam herbs are consumed raw as condiments, and they form an important component of the traditional diet
The methanol plant extract and persicarin enhanced the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase, microsomal ethanol oxidizing system and aldehyde dehydrogenase in the liver of rats intoxicated with ethanol[34]
An acute toxicity study on C. caudatus extract was conducted in male rats with single doses of 50, 500 and 2000 mg/kg given to the respective groups[86]
Summary
In Southeast Asian countries, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, ulam herbs are consumed raw as condiments, and they form an important component of the traditional diet. Herbs commonly consumed as ulam include young leaves of Anacardium occidentale (cashew), Barringtonia racemosa (common putat), Centella asiatica (pennywort), Cosmos caudatus (wild cosmos), Oenanthe javanica (water dropwort), Piper sarmentosum (wild pepper) and Persicaria hydropiper (water pepper). Two ulam herbs of O. javanica (water dropwort) and C. caudatus (wild cosmos) are updated with descriptions of their botany and ethnopharmacological uses. The focus is on their leaves and aerial parts To date, this is the first review on O. javanica as its information has not been documented. There are two reviews on C. caudatus i.e. Cosmos caudatus Kunth: A traditional medicinal herb[2] and Potential medicinal benefits of Cosmos caudatus (ulam raja): A scoping review[3]
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