Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.

Sri gading (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis) is a shrub up to 10 meters tall of the Oleaceae family, distributed from India to Thailand and Indonesia. In Central and East Java, this plant is planted in cemeteries alongside frangipani as an environmental fragrance, while its flowers produce a yellow fabric dye. Sri gading is traditionally believed to relieve malarial fever and lower back pain.

The habitat of this plant is in rocky soil, hillsides and forests. Grows in tropical and subtropical regions at elevations up to 1,500 m above sea level. This plant is tolerant of moderate shade.

• Stem woody, round, rough, gray in color, branched.
• Leaves single, green, ovate, flat edges, opposite leaf position.
• Flowers compound, panicle-shaped, funnel-shaped sepals, white corolla, axillary or terminal flower position, blooms at night and begins to wilt or fall in the morning.
• Fruit ovate, flat brown in color, 1 fruit consists of 2 seeds.
• Seeds hard, brown in color.

• Propagated generatively (seed) and vegetatively (stem cuttings).
• Seeds come from fruit that has turned brown.

Flavonoid, alkaloid, terpenoid, phytosterol, phenolic, glycoside, essential oil (1-octanol, hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, benzoic acid).

Treats lower back and hip pain, postpartum fever, malarial fever, skin rash, leprosy, hip and lower back pain, irregular menstruation, rheumatism, worm infections, cough, bronchitis, constipation and dandruff, has antidiabetic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory activity.

• Pick fresh, mature sri gading leaves, wash thoroughly.
• Drain then dry in the sun for 6 days, dry-sort. Pack in clean, airtight plastic.

Sirih gading (Sunda, Java).