Jasminum multiflorum (Burm.f.) Andrews

Melati bintang (Jasminum multiflorum) is a climbing shrub up to 2-5 meters long of the Oleaceae family, originating from Central America and distributed to India, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Its clean white, fragrant flowers make it a favorite ornamental plant in many yards. Traditionally, melati bintang is also believed to relieve headaches, canker sores, and rheumatic pain.

Grows at elevations up to 3,500 m above sea level with an optimum temperature of 14-28 °C annually. This plant is generally found in humid areas such as riverbanks, as well as open land, abandoned land and roadsides.

• Roots taproot and branching.
• Stem branching and slender.
• Leaves covered with short hairs on the leaf surface, single, arranged opposite, has a stalk 5-10 mm long, heart-like oval shaped 3-8 cm x 1.5-5 cm in size. There are 3-4 vascular bundles on both sides of the leaf.
• Flowers abundant, growing at the stem tip and several at shoot axils, has 6-9 white petals, 7-9 sepals, does not release a fragrant aroma.

• Propagated vegetatively (stem cuttings).
• Cuttings are made by cutting a branch right below a node about 15 cm long.
• The remaining leaves are cleaned then dipped in rooting hormone. The cutting material is then planted in sandy soil in a plastic bag to maintain moisture.

• Alkaloids, coumarin, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, glycosides, emodin, leucoanthocyanin, steroids, anthocyanin, phlobatin, saponins.

• Treats headaches, intestinal inflammation, external wounds, addresses toothache and canker sores, poisoning, reduces fever, treats rheumatic pain, allergic itching.

• Take fresh melati bintang leaves.
• Wash the jasmine leaves thoroughly.
• Air-dry the leaves for several days under shade.
• Store in an airtight container.

Melati gambir, Gambir utan.