Medicinal Plants

Senna surattensis (Burm.f.) H.S.Irwin & Barneby

Kembang Kuning

Fabaceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Senna surattensis (Kembang Kuning) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Senna surattensis (Kembang Kuning) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Senna surattensis (Kembang Kuning)

Summary

Kembang kuning (Senna surattensis) is a shrub up to 7 meters tall of the Fabaceae family, widely distributed from India and Thailand to Australia and Africa. This plant is popular as a garden ornamental in Hawaii, Taiwan, and Hong Kong thanks to its resistance to air pollution. Its young leaves can be prepared as a vegetable, while traditionally kembang kuning is believed to be laxative and help address gonorrhea and dysentery.

Agroecology

This plant is suited to tropical and subtropical climates requiring full sunlight or at least a little shade, and grows well in moist soil. Generally grows in teak forests and swampy soil up to elevations of 300 m above sea level.

Morphology

  • Stem has young branches without hair or with short hair.
  • Leaves consist of 4-9 pairs of leaflets, stalk length 1.5-5 cm. Egg-shaped to elongated egg-shaped, leaf size 3-10 cm x 1-5 cm, upper leaf surface smooth or thinly hairy.
  • Flowers axillary, yellow, inner sepal rounded, elongated egg-shaped petals. 
  • Fruit a flat pod, hairy, containing 20-35 seeds.
  • Seeds black in color, glossy, 1 cm long.

Cultivation

  • Propagated generatively (by seed).
  • The seed coat is quite hard, requiring scarification treatment.

Chemical Content

Flavonoids, quercetin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside 7-O-rhamnoside, rutin, alkaloids, polyphenols, beta-sitosterol, saponins, tannins, steroids, triterpenoids.

Benefits

Hepatoprotective, laxative remedy, treats gonorrhea, dysentery, antifungal, diabetes remedy, sore throat, snake bites.

Local Names

Kembang koning, Kemoning, Kuning (Nusa Tenggara).

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 Cough and Sore Throat from Kembang Kuning

1. Cough and Sore Throat

  • Prepare 5-15 g leaves washed thoroughly with running water.
  • Steep with 1 glass of hot water.
  • Strain and drink while warm.
Traditional recipe Gonorrhea from Kembang Kuning

2. Gonorrhea

  • Prepare 10 g kembang kuning root, washed and cut into pieces.
  • Boil with 1 glass of water for 15 minutes then cool and strain.
  • Drink twice a day, equal amounts in the morning and evening.

Reference Sources

  1. National Parks. Flora & Fauna Web. Senna surattensis (Burm. f.) H. S. Irwin & Barneby https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/1/7/1789   21-01-2021
  2. Widiyaningrum Herlina. 2019. Kitab Tanaman Obat Nusantara. Media Pressindo. Jakarta.
  3. School of Chinese Medicine. Medicinal Plant Images Database. https://libproject.hkbu.edu.hk/was40/detail?lang=en&channelid=1288&searchword=herb_id=D00338 15-08-2020.