Volkameria inermis L.

Gambir laut (Volkameria inermis) is an upright or climbing shrub 1-4 meters tall, even reaching 13 meters when climbing, from the Lamiaceae family spread from India to Australia and the Pacific. This plant is often planted on beaches to control erosion, while its fragrant aroma is used as a perfume ingredient. In Ayurvedic medicine, gambir laut is traditionally used to address urinary and heart disorders.

Gambir laut grows mainly in open coastal areas, along beaches, in mangrove forests, along tidal rivers, but also along rivers and in swamps further inland up to an elevation of 100 m. Usually grows easily in sandy soil, but also in clay, dry/drought soil, moist soil, waterlogged soil (drainage sites), well-drained soil, saline soil, fertile loamy soil. Requires full sun or partial shade.

• Stem upright or climbing/liana that can reach 13 m in length. Its branches are slender while the nodes are not annulated.
• Leaves ovate, oblong-ovate or oblong ovate, 4 to 8 cm long, 2 to 5 cm wide, glossy, smooth, entire and pointed at the tip.
• Flowers inflorescence (cyme) usually consisting of three flowers, located in the leaf axils. Calyx green, narrowly funnel-shaped, and equipped with 5 very short teeth. Corolla about 3 cm long and consists of a thin, spreading white tube, purple lobes about 7 millimeters long. Stamens elongated, and purple in color.
• Fruit ovate, about 1.5 cm long, and splits into 4 pyrenes. The calyx within the fruit is about 1 cm in diameter.

Gambir laut can be propagated by seed and stem cuttings.

Phytochemical studies reveal the presence of flavonoids, sterols, flavones, triterpenes, diterpenes, quinones, neolignans, a fragrant stearoptin with an apple-like smell, pentadecanoic acid-β-D-glucoside, acetin and apigenin, new clerodane diterpenoids, cleroindermin, apigenin, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, phenolic saponins, tannins, iridoids, steroids, carbohydrates, fixed oil, essential oil, and lignin.

Fever-reducing remedy, liniment for rheumatism, intermittent fever, swelling to prevent pus formation, scrofulous and venereal diseases, elephantiasis, asthma, topical treatment for burns, buboes, mania and itching, increases appetite, dysentery remedy, treats hypertension, coughs, skin rashes, boils, treats umbilical cord infections and cleanses the uterus, treatment of urinary and heart disorders, edema, muscle pain, skin diseases, beriberi, antidote for fish/seafood poisoning, crab poisoning, for clear vision.

• Prepare fresh gambir laut leaves as needed, wash clean with running water then drain.
• Dry under sunlight or with an oven at 40 °C until moisture content reaches 10%.
• Blend into powder.
• Store in a clean, airtight container.

Akar kerujo, Temporapang (Kalimantan).