Know the herbs

Scientific name

Melastoma malabathricum L.

Family

Melastomataceae

Local name

Senduduk

Description

This herb consists of the dried leaves of the Melastoma malabathricum L. plant, appearing as a greenish-brown powder with a characteristic odor and an uncharacteristic taste. Based on the macroscopic characteristics of the plant, flowers, and fruit, it is a shrub or small tree up to 5 m in height. The young twigs are quadrangular and covered with scales or appressed/erect strigose hairs, while the bark is brown, and the older twigs are cylindrical (terete) and almost smooth or glabrescent. The leaves are alternate, elliptic to lanceolate, measuring 4.0–15.0 cm × 2.0–6.5 cm, with 5–7 veins, a rounded to obtuse base, and an acuminate tip. The inflorescence is a terminal cyme containing 3–12 flowers that are usually 5-merous, with a bell-shaped (campanulate) calyx or hypanthium covered with golden to red scales. The petals are obovate, measuring 15–35 mm × 10–22 mm, and are violet or rarely white. The fruit is soft, containing a dark blue pulp with orange seeds.

Usage

For digestive and internal health, a leaf decoction, either alone or mixed with Hedyotis and Ageratum species, is used to treat digestive problems, cholera, diarrhoea, and dysentery. In Fiji, the leaves are chewed to relieve oral thrush, while in Singapore it is used as a tonic, as well as to treat haemorrhoids, leucorrhoea, and relieve sore feet. For wound and skin care, senduduk is considered an antiseptic to clean wounds and cuts, prevent scarring as in smallpox cases to avoid pox marks, and crushed leaves are applied to the affected areas to treat allergic reactions caused by caterpillars, keloids, and acne. For postpartum care, the leaves are believed to refresh women immediately after childbirth. A special bath is prepared by boiling M. malabathricum leaves with mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia) leaves, serai wangi (Cymbopogon nardus), pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius), and limau purut (Citrus hystrix). During the postpartum period, juice from the shoots is consumed to treat infections, and a decoction of mature leaves with ginger, sugar, and bonglai (Zingiber cassumunar) is given to postpartum women as it is believed to heal internal injuries.