Medicinal Plants

Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.

Temu Ireng

Zingiberaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Curcuma aeruginosa (Temu Ireng) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Curcuma aeruginosa (Temu Ireng) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Curcuma aeruginosa (Temu Ireng)

Summary

Temu ireng (Curcuma aeruginosa) is a herb 1.5-2 meters tall of the Zingiberaceae family, a plant native to Southeast Asia including Myanmar and Indonesia. Its dark-colored, bitter-tasting rhizome is a traditional jamu ingredient that boosts appetite and acts as an antirheumatic remedy. Traditionally, temu ireng is also believed to aid postpartum recovery and address baldness in men.

Agroecology

A ginger-family plant that can be found growing wild in teak forests, or grasslands, and areas at elevations of around 400-750 m above sea level.

Morphology

  • Roots fibrous, rhizome white in color, with a somewhat dark circular center. Distinctively pungent aroma.
  • Stem pseudostem, watery, soft, green in color, composed of a cluster of leaf sheaths.
  • Leaves single, egg-shaped, dark brown main vein running lengthwise.
  • Flowers compound, purplish-pink.

Cultivation

  • Propagated through rhizome or by separating offshoots from the clump.
  • Rhizome: sow the rhizome then cover with 10-15 cm of soil in a shaded, moist location. Once shoots appear, cut the rhizome. Each rhizome piece consists of 2-3 buds. Air-dry in a shaded place for 2 days before planting.
  • Offshoots: separate the offshoot by digging the soil around it then plant it.

Chemical Content

Flavonoids, saponins, essential oils, tannins, curcumol, curcumenol, isocurcumenol, curzerenone, curdione, curcumalactone, germacrone, linderazulene, curcumin, demethyoxycurcumin, bisdemethyoxycurcumin.
 

Benefits

Treats skin diseases, productive cough, shortness of breath, aids postpartum recovery, cleanses blood after childbirth, promotes fertility, antirheumatic, antihypertensive.

Simplisia

  • Collect the mother rhizome (empu) and finger rhizomes then separate the fibrous roots.
  • Wash thoroughly then drain. Slice crosswise.
  • Dry the rhizome in the sun or by drying at 50 °C until the moisture content reaches ≤ 10%.
  • Once dry, store in an airtight container.

Local Names

Temu erang, Temu itam (Malay), Koneng hideung (Sunda), Temuireng (Java), Temo ereng (Madura), Temu leteng (Makassar), Temu lontong (Bugis).

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 Appetite Booster from Temu Ireng

1. Appetite Booster

  • Mash 2 finger-widths of temu ireng rhizome.
  • Steep with 1 cup of boiling water, let it sit then strain. Drink all at once.
  • Drink once a day, 1 cup each time for 3 days.

Reference Sources

  1. Armimi A. 2016. Aktivitas Antioksidan dan Sitotoksisitas Terkait Sink Senyawa Fenolik Tanaman Temu Hitam (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.). Skripsi. Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam. Institut Pertanian Bogor. Bogor.
  2. Djazuli M, Darwati I, Rosita SMD. 2001. Studi Pola Pertumbuhan dan Serapan Hara N P K Temu Ireng (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb) Warta Tumbuhan Obat Indonesia.
  3. Hossain CF, Al-Amin M, Sayem ASMd, Siragee IH, Tunan AM, Hassan F, Kabir MdM, Sultana GNN. 2015. Antinociceptive principle from Curcuma Aeruginosa. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 15: 191-198.
  4. Khasanah U. 2016. Optimasi Ekstraksi Fenolik Rimpang Temu Ireng (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.) sebagai Antibakteri pada Staphylococcus aureus dan Escherichia coli. Skripsi. Fakultas Matematika dan Ilmu Pengetahuan Alam. Institut Pertanian Bogor. Bogor.
  5. Reanmongkol W, Subhadhirasakul S, Khaisombat N, Fuengnawakit P, Jantasila S, Khamjun A. 2006. Investigation the antinociceptive, antipyretic and antiinflammatory activities of Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb. extracts in experimental animals. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. 28(5): 999-1008.
  6. Sari AM, Cikta EV. 2016. Ekstraksi Temu Ireng (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb) dan Aplikasinya pada sabun transparan. J. konversi 5(1): 17-23.
  7. Srivastava S, Chitranshi N, Srivastava S, Dan M, Rawat AKS, Pushpangadan P. 2006. Pharmacohnostic evaluation of Curcuma aeurigenosa Roxb. Natural Product Sciences 12(3): 162-165.
  8. Keputusan Menteri Kesehatan Nomor HK.01.07/MENKES/187/2017. 2017. Formularium Ramuan Obat Tradisional Indonesia.
  9. Sirait Midian, dkk. 1985. Cara Pembuatan Simplisia. Departemen Kesehatan Republik Indonesia. Jakarta 71.