Gynura japonica (Thunb.) Juel

Daun dewa (Gynura japonica) is a herb 20-60 cm tall of the Asteraceae family, native to Myanmar and mainland China, believed to have entered Indonesia via Sri Lanka during the VOC era, brought by Chinese traders. This plant has long been used for generations as a family remedy in Indonesia. Its preparations are believed to help address breast tumors and burns, and to reduce fever and high blood pressure.

• This plant grows well from lowlands up to an elevation of 1,200 m above sea level, in temperate to wet climates with annual rainfall of 1,500–3,500 mm/year, in moderately moist to fertile soil.

• Roots fibrous, pale yellow.
• Stem soft, finely hairy, purplish-green.
• Leaves simple, ovate, narrow at the base and widening toward the tip, wavy margins, rough surface, green and hairy.
• Flowers compound, rod-shaped, hairy, green calyx, yellow corolla.
• Fruit small and brown.
• Seeds needle-shaped, about 0.5 cm long, brown.

• Propagated by seed, stem cuttings, and tuber shoots.

• Flavonoids (quercetin 3,7-O-diglycoside), alkaloids (senecionine, seneciphylline, seneciphyllinine, and (E)-seneciphylline), tannins, polyphenols, essential oil, phenolic acids, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid.

• Anticoagulant (blood clotting), anticancer, antimutagenic, diuretic; treats breast tumors, burns; reduces fever; treats diabetes, high blood pressure, and skin conditions (calluses/corns).

• Prepare and wash daun dewa leaves thoroughly under running water.
• Place the leaves on a tray and sun-dry until dry (the leaves crumble easily).
• Grind the dried leaves into a powder.
• Store the dried material in an airtight plastic bag.

• Also known locally as Tigel kio (Central Java), Beluntas cina, Samsit, Sangkobak.