Physalis angulata L.

Ciplukan (Physalis angulata) is an annual herb up to 1 meter tall of the Solanaceae family, originating from tropical America and now widely spread around the world. Its fruit, wrapped in a lantern-like husk, can be eaten fresh, while its leaves are made into a vegetable. Traditionally, ciplukan is used in various countries to treat diabetes, bronchitis, and hepatitis.

Grows in lowlands up to elevations of around 1,500 m above sea level, air temperature 18-35 °C. In Java, it is found growing wild in gardens, fields, roadsides, shrubland, light forest, and forest edges. This plant prefers soil rich in organic matter, moist, and well-drained.

• Roots taproot which then grows branch roots and then fibrous roots.
• Stem ribbed, sharply angled, hollow, the mature ciplukan stem becomes woody.
• Leaves egg-shaped, tapering tip, leaf length between 5-15 cm and width 2-10 cm.
• Flowers located at leaf axils, calyx divided into five, three-cornered and tapering lobes, green with purplish ribs.
• Fruit a berry contained in a bulging husk shaped like an egg with a pointed tip, pale yellowish-green.

Propagated generatively (by seed) and vegetatively (layering cuttings). Layering is done by bending a branch of the parent plant until it touches the soil then covering with growing medium.

Saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, physalin, alkaloids, palmitic acid and stearic acid, terpenoids, tannins, steroids, cryptoxanthin, elaidic acid.

Treats diabetes, bronchitis, malaria, hepatitis, stroke, worm remedy, fever reducer, heals broken bones, edema, boils, ulcers, sprains, stomach pain, epilepsy.

• Select fresh ciplukan leaves. Clean off any attached dirt. Wash and drain.
• Slice the leaves and place on a tray, then dry in the sun covered with a thin dark cloth.
• Once dry, put into a clean, tightly sealed, airtight plastic bag.

Yoryoran (Madura), Cecendet (Sunda), Kopok-kopokan (Bali), Lelutup (Pontianak), Leletokan (Minahasa).