Medicinal Plants

Leucas lavandulifolia Sm.

Daun Lenglengan

Lamiaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Leucas lavandulifolia (Daun Lenglengan) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Leucas lavandulifolia (Daun Lenglengan) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Leucas lavandulifolia (Daun Lenglengan)

Summary

Daun lenglengan (Leucas lavandulifolia) is an annual herb 20-80 cm tall of the Lamiaceae family, an Indonesian medicinal plant distributed from India to China and Malaysia, with local distribution in Java, Ternate, and Tidore. This plant is widely known as a herbal remedy for addressing insomnia. Daun lenglengan is also believed to relieve headaches, vertigo, and febrile seizures in children.

Agroecology

The lenglengan plant widely grows wild on dry soil along roadsides, waste ground and is sometimes planted in yards as a medicinal plant. This plant is commonly found in mountain slope areas at elevations of 1,500 m above sea level.

Morphology

  • Roots taproot.
  • Stem woody, green, plant height 42.6 cm, jointed and square-shaped, branching, finely hairy.
  • Leaves single, opposite, light green in color, leaf blade lance-shaped, tapering leaf base, serrated edges, pinnate venation, leaf length 1.5-10 cm, and leaf width 2.0-4.5 cm.
  • Flowers compound, round shaped, lip-shaped white petals.
  • Fruit a drupe, brown in color.
  • Seeds round, small in size, black in color.

Cultivation

This plant can be propagated using seeds and stem cuttings.

Chemical Content

Alkaloids, saponins, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, glycosides, acacetin, chrysoeriol, linifoliside, linifoliol, lupeol, taraxerone.

Benefits

Remedy for insomnia, epilepsy, febrile seizures in children, headache, vertigo, whooping cough, diphtheria, stomach ache remedy, rheumatism, skin diseases (psoriasis, scabies), wound healing, heart palpitations, digestive disorders, and worm infections.

Local Names

Also known by the local name, Plengan (Java), Sarap nornor (Madura).

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 Whooping Cough from Daun Lenglengan

1. Whooping Cough

  • Take 1 lenglengan plant stem with its roots then wash thoroughly. Boil with 3 glasses of water until it boils and 1½ glasses of water remain, cool and strain.
  • Drink the concoction and add sugar to taste, 3 times a day, 1/2 glass each time.
Traditional recipe Epilepsy from Daun Lenglengan

2. Epilepsy

  • Take 3/4 handful of fresh leaves, wash thoroughly and boil with 3 glasses of clean water until 1½ glasses of water remain.
  • Once cool, strain, drink and add sugar to taste.
  • Drink 3 times a day, 1/2 glass each time. 

Reference Sources

  1. Remaja Kerokhanian Sapta Darma Sragen. 2014. Daftar Tanaman Obat Indonesia batuk rejan, Epilepsi.
  2.  Elis ddk, 2019. Jenis tumbuhan liar famili Lamiaceae berkhasiat obat di hutan kota Unhas. Diterbitkan pada Jurnal Biologi Makassar (BIOMA). www.jurnal.unhas.ac.id 12-06-2020.
  3. Asfar.go.id. Khasiat Obat dan Manfaat Tanaman Lenglengan. https://asgar.or.id/health/makanan-dan-minuman-sehat/khasiat-obat-dan-manfaat-dari-tanaman-lenglengan/ 12-06-2020.