Medicinal Plants

Exallage auricularia (L.) Bremek.

Remek Watu

Rubiaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Exallage auricularia (Remek Watu) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Exallage auricularia (Remek Watu) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Exallage auricularia (Remek Watu)

Summary

Remek watu (Exallage auricularia) is an upright and climbing herb up to 20-40 cm tall of the Rubiaceae family, distributed across warm subtropical regions from the Himalayas to Australia and Malaysia. Its leaves can be eaten fresh as a side dish or dried. Remek watu is traditionally believed to reduce fever and purify the blood.

Agroecology

Grows wild along roadsides, gardens, riverbanks, thickets or rice field edges. Widely found from lowlands to mountains, at elevations of 100-1,700 m above sea level.

Morphology

  • Root fibrous, yellowish-brown in color.
  • Stem purplish-green in color, jointed, rough surface, ridged, and hairy.
  • Leaves single, crosswise opposite, widening petiole, clasping the stem, oblong to lance-shaped, 3-5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, tapering tip and base, flat edges, pinnate venation, rough surface, hairy, purplish-green to green in color.
  • Flowers white in color, compound, in leaf axils, cup-shaped. Sepals needle-shaped, purplish-green in color, complete floral parts. Corolla free, divided into 4, lance-shaped, pointed tip, 2-3 mm long
  • Seeds kidney-shaped, small, hard, black in color.

Cultivation

  • Its development is done generatively through seed.
  • Flowers year-round and can be harvested at any time.

Chemical Content

Saponin, cardenolin, flavonoid, polyphenol, hedyotine alkaloid, auricularis alkaloid, ursolic acid, and oleanolic acid.

Benefits

Reduces fever, treats influenza, cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, colon inflammation, has anti-inflammatory activity and blood purifier.

Simplisia

Information not yet available.

Local Names

Limoan baka, Karekah batu (Malay).

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 Influenza remedy from Remek Watu

1. Influenza remedy

  • Wash 15 g of the whole fresh remek watu plant thoroughly.
  • Boil with 200 ml water until boiling for 10 minutes.
  • Strain and once cool drink all at once, do this twice a day, morning and evening.
Traditional recipe Remedy for impure blood from Remek Watu

2. Remedy for impure blood

  • Wash 20 g of the whole fresh remek watu plant thoroughly.
  • Boil with 200 ml water until boiling for 15 minutes.
  • Strain and once cool drink twice a day morning and evening.
Traditional recipe Reducing body pain from Remek Watu

3. Reducing body pain

  • Prepare fresh leaves as needed.
  • Boil for several minutes until boiling. Remove the leaves and cool.
  • Rub on the painful part of the body.

Reference Sources

  1. The Plat List. A Working List of All Plant Species. Hedyotis auricularia L. http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/record/kew-96979 03-02-2021
  2. Vietnam Journal of Chemistry. Contribution to the study on chemical constituents of Hedyotis auricularia L. (Rubiaceae). https://vjs.ac.vn/index.php/vjchem/article/view/4743 03-02-2021
  3. Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. Exallage auricularia.http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Exallage+auricularia&redir=Hedyotis+auricularia 30-10-2020
  4. Widyaningrum  Herlina. 2019. Kitab Tanaman Obat Nusantara. Media Pressindo, Jakarta.