Green Leaves Cincau

Overview

Green leaves cincau originated in Indonesia, it spread gradually through Sumatra, Jawa and Kalimantan. Green cincau is an Indonesian food plant with high dietary fibre content. It is a traditional food source in Indonesia

Vernacular Names

Jukut jelly (West Java), Sukat lele (Central Java).

Agroecology

The green leaves cincau is a woody shrub plant mainly found in the forest. It is grows at low altitute 50-1000 m above sea level. Prefers a deep, well-drained fertile soil. It requires a sunny position.

Morphology

• Stems - a cylindrical trunk, growing upward with branches pointing vertically, a square trunk shape, woody and green.
• Leaves - smooth, oval, thin, opposite with 15-20 cm long, large leaves.
• Flowers - group at the end o branches, hermaphrodite flower, corolla 4-5 with white color.
• Fruits - stone fruits, thin. Fruit is not fleshy.
• Seeds - small, slimy seeds.

Cultivation

• It is propagated by seeds.I
• t is easily propagated by cuttings .

Chemical Constituents

Carotenoids, flavonoid, alkaloid, phenol hydroquinones, saponnin, molisch, benedict, tannin, pectin, bisbenzilisoquinoline and S, S-tetandrin

Traditional Medicinal Uses

• Cincau is normally used as medicine by Indonesian for a lowering heat loss, fever, abdominal pain (stomach nausea), diarrhea, mouth sores, dysentery, cough, digestive disorders and the prevention of high blood pressure.
• Studi have suggest anticancer, increasing the number of lymphocytes (free radicals, increase the antioxidant capacity of lymphocytes and is not toxic to the body.
• As a dietary fibre, cincau extracts have laxative properties and can effectively induce the growth of lactic acid producing bacteria in the colon.
• It is known for its benefit to human health especially in supporting body’s immune system and wellness.
• In Indonesian, traditional source of dietary fibre may be protective against colorectal cancer.
• Lack of fiber Green cincau in the daily menu are positively correlated with incidence of diseases such as obesity (obesity), constipation, atherosclerosis (hardening of the fat accumulation and blood vessels), coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, gallstones, hypertension (high blood pressure), hemorrhoid, hernia, appendix and colon cancer.