Melastoma malabathricum L.

Senggani (Melastoma malabathricum) is a shrub up to 1-5 meters tall of the Melastomataceae family, a medicinal plant native to Indonesia and China widely used by communities in West Kalimantan and Central Sulawesi as a fever remedy. Its leaves are also used in cooking to remove the bitter taste from papaya flowers. Senggani is traditionally believed to stop bleeding and neutralize cassava poisoning.

Senggani can be found in tropical and subtropical climates, from lowlands up to elevations of 1,650 m above sea level. Grows wild at forest edges, disturbed land, thickets, and mountain slopes. Prefers ample sunlight and low (acidic) soil pH.

• Stem reddish in color, covered with hairy scales and small hairs.
• Leaves thick, stiff, green to yellowish-green in color.
• Flowers reddish-purple, with a greenish-brown raceme and stalk.
• Fruit a round, capsule-shaped berry, which splits open into several segments when ripe, dark reddish-purple in color.
• Seeds small, brown-speckled.

• Propagated using seed.
• Fast-growing, usually able to flower within 3 months.

Flavonoid, tannin, saponin, castalagin compound, procyanidin B-2, helichrysoside, ellagic acid, anthocyanin, melastomic acid, sterol, ursolic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid.

Relieves pain, reduces fever, stops bleeding, improves blood circulation, addresses swelling, vaginal discharge, as a diuretic, antiseptic, diarrhea, canker sores, neutralizes cassava poisoning.

• Collect senggani leaves. Clean off dirt attached to the leaves.
• Dry the leaves in the sun for approximately 5-7 days on a mat.
• Grind into powder.
• Pack the simplisia in vacuum plastic then store.

Known locally as Senduduk (Malay), Cengkodok (West Kalimantan), Harendong (Sunda), Kluruk (Java), Kemanden (Madura), Kedebik (Bangka).