Medicinal Plants

Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.f.) Lindau

Dandang Gendis

Acanthaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Clinacanthus nutans (Dandang Gendis) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Clinacanthus nutans (Dandang Gendis) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Clinacanthus nutans (Dandang Gendis)

Summary

Dandang gendis (Clinacanthus nutans) is a herb up to 2.5 meters tall of the Acanthaceae family, native to Asia and spreading to China, Malaysia, and Thailand. In Indonesia, especially among the Javanese, this plant, also known as sambung nyawa ("life extender"), has long been used to address dysentery and diabetes, as well as being grown as a living hedge. Its leaves have also been studied for antiviral activity against herpes simplex.

Agroecology

Dandang gendis is commonly found in terrestrial areas (grassland/savanna/shrubland). Grows in lowlands at elevations of 5-400 m above sea level. Requires full sun.

Morphology

  • Stem woody, erect, jointed, and green.
  • Leaves simple, opposite, lanceolate, 8-15 mm long, 4-6 cm wide, pinnate venation, green.
  • Flowers compound, panicle-shaped, in the leaf axils and at the stem tip, corolla tube-shaped, 2-3 cm long, pink.
  • Fruit a box-shaped capsule, round and elongated, brown.

Cultivation

Propagated generatively (by seed) and vegetatively (by stem cuttings). Seedlings come from a healthy, disease-free, normal parent plant.

Chemical Content

Alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, triterpenoids/steroids, glycosides, tannins, saponins, phytosterols, sitosterol, C-glycosyl flavone, polyphenols, orientin, belutin, lupeol, isoorientin.

Benefits

Boosts immunity; treats snake and insect bites, diabetes, dysentery, kidney disorders, gout, skin rashes; addresses herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster (VZV); has anticancer, antiviral, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Simplisia

  • Pick mature, fresh leaves, wash thoroughly with water, then drain.
  • Dry the leaves by air-drying away from direct sunlight, or use an oven at 40 °C until reaching a moisture content of 10%.
  • Grind into a powder.
  • Store in a clean container.

Local Names

Belalai gajah, Ki tajam (Sunda), Gendis (Central Java), Sambung nyawa (North Sumatra).
 

Traditional Recipes

The following recipes reflect traditional knowledge passed down through generations, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

Traditional recipe Diabetes from Dandang Gendis

1. Diabetes

  • Prepare 7 g fresh dandang gendis leaves, 110 ml water.
  • Make an infusion or steep by cleaning the dandang gendis leaves, then steeping in hot water or boiling in water for 15 minutes until reduced to 100 ml.
  • Drink 100 ml once a day.  
Traditional recipe Dysentery from Dandang Gendis

2. Dysentery

  • Take 1 handful of fresh leaves and boil in 5 cups of water until reduced to 3 cups.
  • Drink 1 cup, 3 times a day.

Reference Sources

  1. Agustina S. 2011. Isolasi senyawa golongan flavonoid sebagai antioksidan dari daun Dandang gendis (Clinacanthus nutans). Skripsi. Institut Pertanian Bogor. Bogor
  2. Akbar HR. 2010. Isolasi dan identifikasi golongan flavonoid daun Dandang gendis (Clinacanthus nutans) berpotensi sebagai antioksidan. Skripsi. Institut Pertanian Bogor. Bogor.
  3. Alam A, Ferdosh S, Ghafoor K, Hakim A, Juraimi AS, Khatib A, Sarker ZI. 2016. Clinacanthus nutans: A review of the medicinal uses, pharmacology and phytochemistry. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine: 1–8.
  4. Aslam MS, Ahmad MS, Mamat AS. 2015. A review on phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Clinacanthus nutans. Int. J. Pharm. Pharm. Sci. 7(2): 30-33.
  5. Hartanto G. 2009. Isolasi ekstrak fraksi aktif daun Dandang gendis (Clinacanthus nutans) berpotensi sebagai anti bakteri. Skripsi. Institut Pertanian Bogor. Bogor
  6. Kamarudin MNA, Sarkera MdMR, Kadir HA, Ming LC. 2017. Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and therapeutic applications of Clinacanthus nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau: A comprehensive review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 206: 245–266.
  7. Organisasi Asgar. 2018. Khasiat obat dan manfaat tanaman dandang gendis. https://asgar.or.id/health/makanan-dan-minuman-sehat/khasiat-obat-dan-manfaat-dari-tanaman-dandang-gendis/ 10-02- 2020.
  8. Puspitasari A. 2014. Perbanyakan Tanaman dengan Stek dan Produksi Tanaman Dandang Gendis (Clinacanthus nutans) dengan Penggunaan Pupuk Organik. Skripsi. Fakultas Pertanian. Institut Pertanian Bogor. Bogor.
  9. Sakdarat S, Shuyprom A, Pientong C, Ekalaksananan T, Thongchai S. 2009. Bioactive constituents from the leaves of Clinacanthus nutans Lindau. Bioorganic & medicinal chemistry 17(5): 1857-1860.
  10. Sofyan D. 2008. Inhibisi fraksi aktif daun Dandang gendis (Clinacanthus nutans) pada petumbuhan Saccharomyces cerevesiae sebagai uji potensi anti kanker. Skripsi. Institut Pertanian Bogor. Bogor
  11. Remaja Kerokhanian Sapta Darma Sragen. 2014. Daftar Tanaman Obat Indonesia. Sragen 97
  12. National Parks. Flora & Fauna Web. Clinacanthus nutans (Burm. f.) Lindau. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/5/6/5655 15-01-2021
  13. Ifrj.upm.edu. Antidiabetic and antioxidants activities of Clinacanthus nutans (Burm F.) Lindau leaves extracts. http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/26%20(01)%202019/(36).pdf 05-03-2021