Ageratina riparia (Regel) R.M.King & H.Rob.

Tekelan (Ageratina riparia) is an annual upright herb 50-150 cm tall of the Asteraceae family, a medicinal plant native to Mexico and the West Indies that entered Java since 1800. This plant has a long history as traditional medicine as well as an ornamental plant. Tekelan is believed to help lower diabetes, be diuretic, and antimalarial.

Tekelan naturally grows along waterways, riverbanks, ravine slopes, roadsides, and elevated, shaded, moist areas. This plant grows in subtropical climates at elevations of 975-1,706 m above sea level.

• Roots taproot, light brown in color.
• Stem round, square-shaped when young, heavily branched, jointed, reddish-purple in color.
• Leaves single, elliptical-lance shaped, growing opposite, tapering tip and base, serrated edges, finely hairy surface, pinnate venation, 4-5 cm long, 1-1.5 cm wide, green in color.
• Flowers compound, panicle-shaped, growing at the stem tip, white in color.
• Seeds needle-shaped, small, black in color.

Propagated by stem cuttings and seed.

Sesquiterpene lactones, methylripariochromene A (6-acetyl-7,8-dimethoxy-2,2-dimethylchromene), diterpene lactones, flavonoids, terpenoids, sterols, saponins, tannins, quinones, steroids.

Hypertension remedy, heart failure, promotes urination, remedy for skin wounds, anticancer, antifungal, improves blood circulation, lowers blood pressure, cures diseases caused by bacteria.

• Wash tekelan leaves thoroughly with running water.
• Air-dry until completely dry or a moisture content of 10%.
• Grind with a blender into powder.
• Store in an airtight container

Teklan, Marenggo, Randha lenguk, Randha semaya (Java).