Morph-physiology, Sterol and Chlorophyll Content of

Bangun-Bangun (Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng) Accessions

Luthfi Aziz Mahmud Siregar, Eva Sartini Bayu, Nuraminah Nasution

Department of Agro-Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sumatera Utara,

Padang Bulan, 20155, Medan, Indonesia

Keywords: Plectranthus Amboinicus, Morfofisiologi, Sterol, Chlorofil

Abstract: Research was purposed to know the morph-physiology characteristic, sterols and chlorophyll content of bangun-

bangun (Indian borage) accessions. This research was held at home screen Agriculture Faculty, University

of Sumatera Utara, Medan. The study used Medan (Krakatau), Medan (Tuntungan), Sibolangit, Simalungun

and Brastagi accession. The results showed that morphology character of accession plants Medan

(Tuntungan), Sibolangit, Simalungun and Brastagi not significantly different, but significantly different with

accession Medan (Krakatau) for stem color, leaf surface color, leaf size, petiole length and space interleaf.

Accession did not significantly for sterols and total chlorophyll content. Accession Brastagi have the highest

average root length parameter (31 cm) and shoot dry weight (12.2 grams), and for number of leaves (6 week

after culture) contained in accessions Medan (Krakatau) (68 leaves).

1 INTRODUCTION

Bangun-bangun is a tropical plant whose leaves have

a certain aroma so known as aromatic plants. These

plants is widely found in India and Ceylon and South

Africa, has a sharp flower and contain essential oils

so-called C. aromaticus. In India, this plant has also

long been known as medicine for malarial fever,

hepatopati, kidney and bladder stones, cough, chronic

asthma, gibbing, bronchitis, intestinal worms, colic

and seizures. This plant contains various types of

flavonoids i.e.; quercetin, apigenin, luteolin,

salvigenin, genkwanin. This plant leaf has also been

proven as anti-inflammatory because it inhibits the

inflammatory response induced by cyclooxygenase,

also proven as anti-cancer and anti-tumor (Kaliappan

and Viswanathan, 2008).

This plant is found almost in all regions of Indonesia

with different names. In Central Java called cumin

leaves, the Sundanese call it ajeran leaves, in Madura

called goat leaves, and in Bali called iwak leaf. In

North Sumatra Batak region it is referred to as leaves

bangun-bangun or torbangun (Priyatno, 2013).

Bangun-bangun has three important components

namely; the first component is lactagogue

compounds, which are components that can stimulate

the production of mammary glands in the induction

process lactation. The second component is the

nutrient component and the third component is the

pharmacoseutics component of buffer, antibacterial,

anti oxidant, lubricant, plasticizer, colorant and

stabilizer. High milk production can be characterized

by high nutrient absorption due to high nutrient

absorption. High milk production can increase the

growth of child weight and increase weaning weight

(Khajarern and Khajarern, 2002). Scientifically, the

efficacy of Bangun-bangun leaves has been raised by

several researchers. Silitonga (1993) reported that

bangun-bangun leaf use may increase lactation

production of lactating white lactate milk by up to

30%.

Natural materials, including terpenoids, have

previously been used in pharmaceuticals, agriculture,

and other commercial uses, such as cancer treatments.

Terpene as small molecular weight are always used

for perfumes and tasters. Steroids are thought to be

derived from terpenoids, because in their biosynthetic

pathways, steroids are derived from squalene, which

is also a triterpene-forming compound. Over the last

three decades β-sitosterol has been known to reduce

cholesterol levels. Although β-sitosterol is not well

absorbed by the body (5-10%), when taken with

cholesterol effectively blocks the absorption of

cholesterol, resulting in lower serum cholesterol

(Tisnadjaja et al., 2006). Three kinds of compounds

240

Mahmud Siregar, L., Bayu, E. and Nasution, N.

Morph-physiology, Sterol and Chlorophyll Content of Bangun-Bangun (Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng) Accessions.

DOI: 10.5220/0010041102400244

In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference of Computer, Environment, Agriculture, Social Science, Health Science, Engineering and Technology (ICEST 2018), pages 240-244

ISBN: 978-989-758-496-1

commonly referred to as "phytosterol" ie sitosterol

(better known as beta-sitosterol), stigmasterol and

campesterol proved to be found in some high plant

species. Some research results show that phytosterol

can reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in

the blood. Certain types of sterol compounds such as

ergosterol, can be found in low level plants such as

yeasts and fungi (Harborne, 1998).

Bangun-BAngun contains phenolic, terpenoids,

chlorophyll, nitrogen, vitamins, and secondary

metabolites that function as antioxidants,

antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory, antitumor,

antimutagen, anticancer, and diuretics (Sahay et al.,

2011). Chlorophyll or pigment main plant is widely

used as a food supplement that is useful to help

optimize metabolic functions, immune system,

detoxification, relieve inflammation (inflamatorik)

and balance the hormonal system. Chlorophyll also

stimulates blood formation because it provides the

basic ingredients of the hemoglobin-forming agent.

This is due to the chlorophyll structure resembling

blood hemoglobin with a difference in the nucleating

atoms of the core of its porphyrin ring (Setiari and

Nurchayati, 2009).

Efforts to assemble superior varieties can be done

through plant breeding activities and one of the

determinants of the success of the superior variety

assembly program is the availability of genetic

diversity. Efforts to generate genetic diversity can be

done through domestication, exploration,

hybridization, polyploidization, mutation, or other

techniques and to support breeding activities requires

an attempt to assess genetic diversity. There are

several methods that can be used to assess genetic

diversity, one with morphology and cytology

analysis, so that the genetic and phenetic information

of an individual can be known (Suntoro, 1983).

Based on the above description the authors are

interested to know the differences of vegetative

growth characteristics, sterol content and chlorophyll

from some plant wake accession.

2 MATERIAL AND METHODS

This research was conducted at the screen house of

Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sumatera Utara,

Medan with height of place ± 25 meter above sea

level. The plant material was collected from 5

locations namely Medan (Krakatau) which is a wild

plant, and the garden yard of the people of Medan

(Tuntungan), Sibolangit, Brastagi and Simalungun.

Part of the plant taken is a whole plant, namely the

roots and canopy plants or branches of plants that

have touched the ground and have roots. After

collection of plant material next the plant is planted in

polybag, where this plant will be used as plant source

for propagation. The plant material used in this

research is cuttings of shoots of Bangun-Bangun

plants from Medan (Krakatau), Medan (Tuntungan),

Sibolangit, Simalungun and Brastagi. Plant parts used

for propagation are plant shoots, where in the shoot

cuttings for all accessions are uniformed as 5 leaves

open, and stem diameter uniformed for each

accession. The cuttings to be used are removed all the

leaves and the base of the cuttings are cut near the

leaf's armpits.

Other materials used are compost, water, top soil,

polybag, scissors, label, methanol, chloroform, acetic

anhydride, concentrated sulfuric acid, and standard β-

sitosterol. Tools used include analytical scales, ovens,

and water baths. The instrument used was UV-Vis

Spectrophotometer 25 Lambda.

The research used non factorial Randomized Block

Design (RBD) with 5 treatments and 6 replications.

Factor of treatments was accession plant (A) which

consists of 5 types, namely: A1 : plant origin Medan

(Krakatau); A2 : plants from Medan (Tuntungan);

A3: plant origin Sibolangit; A4: plant origin

Simalungun; and A5 : plant origin Brastagi.

2.1 Implementation of Research

Planting medium used is a mixture of soil and cow

manure with a ratio of 1: 1 and stirred evenly and then

put into polybags. Planting media is then arranged on

the experimental grounds. Planting is done by

planting shoots cuttings into the planting medium that

has been perforated then pressed to become more

dense then watered with clean water. Watering is

done every day or if needed by looking at the

condition of planting media in the field. Harvesting

was done after the plant aged 8 week after culture.

The harvested crop has a minimum of two branches

and the leaves of the lower plants begin to turn

yellow. Parameter observation was number of leaves

(strands), root length (cm), fresh weight of shoot per

plant (g), dry weight of shoot per plant (g), shoot/root

ratio (g). Determination of dry weight was done by

drying ovenkan top of the plant that has been

calculated the weight of fresh crown at 70ºC for 48

hours to obtain a constant dry weight

2.2 Sterol Content

Determination of sterol levels is done by Liebermann-

Burchard test used to determine the presence of

triterpenoid and sterol compounds in the material.

Morph-physiology, Sterol and Chlorophyll Content of Bangun-Bangun (Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng) Accessions

241

Leaves weighed as much as 2 grams and then crushed

by using mortal until smooth. The extraction was

done by adding methanol two times where the first

extraction was added 10 ml of methanol then the

residue was extracted again by adding 5 ml of

methanol. Two ml of methanol extract evaporated to

dry using a water bath. The residue was extracted two

times using chloroform of 2.5 ml each time the

extraction. Then as many as 3 test tubes prepared.

Tube 1 (Sample) contains 5 ml of chloroform extract;

2 ml acetic acid anhydride and 0.1 ml of concentrated

sulfuric acid. Tube 2 (Standard) contains 5 ml of

standard β-sitosterol (0.1 mg / ml); 2 ml acetic acid

anhydride and 0.1 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid.

Tube 3 (blank) contains 5 ml of chloroform; 2 ml

acetic acid anhydride and 0.1 ml of concentrated

sulfuric acid. Each tube is shaken, then stored in a

dark room for 15 minutes. After that the absorbance

is measured at a wavelength of 254 nm.

2.3 Chlorophyl Content

The fresh leaves of the plant are washed and then

dried with a paper tissue. Leaves weighed as much as

1 gram then crushed by using mortal until smooth

(Harborne, 1998). Then extracted by adding 10 ml of

methanol and let stand for 3 days. The extract was

filtered and then measured its absorbance at 645 and

663 nm wavelengths. Calculation of chlorophyll

content is done by the formula:

Total chlorophyll (mg / L) = 20.2 A645 nm + 8.02 A

663 nm

Chlorophyll a (mg / L) = 12.7 A663 nm - 2.69 A 645

Chlorophyll b (mg / L) = 22.9 A645 nm - 4.68 A 663

3 RESULT AND DISCUSION

Based on observation data and the variance it is

known that the accession of plants has a significant

effect on the number of leaf, root length, and dry

weight of shoot at 6 weeks after planting. While plant

accession has no significant effect on wet weight of

plant canopy and shoot/root ratio (Table 1).

The accession of plant origin Medan (Krakatau) has

the highest average number of leaves (68 pieces) and

significantly different from the accession of the plant

from Medan Tuntungan, Sibolangit, Simalungun and

Brastagi. The accession of plant origin Brastagi has

the highest average root length that is (31 cm) and is

different with accession of plant origin Medan

(Krakatau), Medan (Tuntungan), Sibolangit and

Simalungun. Accession of plant origin Brastagi has

the highest dry weight of crown (12,12 g) not

significantly different from accession of plant origin

Sibolangit and Simalungun, and different from

accession of plant origin Medan (Tuntungan) and

origin of Medan (Krakatau) which have average dry

weight lowest (8.92 g) (Table 1).

Based on the statistical analysis data, it was found

that on the leaf number (6 weeks after planting), the

highest was on the accession of plant origin of Medan

(Krakatau) that is (68 pieces), it could be seen that the

size of the accession leaf from Medan (Krakatau)

(length was 48.33 mm and width 47.50 mm) was the

smallest compared to the accession of plants from

Brastagi (58.7 mm; 62.6 mm), Medan (Tuntungan)

(68.90 mm; 63.00 mm), Sibolangit (72.60 mm; 67.60

mm), and Simalungun (66,10 mm; 65,90 mm). It was

known that Medan (Krakatau) is a lowland area, and

in soil surface area sampling is quite shallow so that

the plants adapt to survive in the environment with

decreasing the nature of the number of leaves many

small and thin to the next generation that can benefit

plants in the process of transpiration. The number of

leaves of Bangun-bangun plants was more influenced

by genetics, it was seen from high heritability, so it

was known that this number of leaves nature will be

inherited in the next generation, this is in accordance

with Rahayu (2011) which states that the adaptation

of plants to the environment causes the inherited

properties useful for the survival and reproduction of

organisms become more common in a population and

vice versa, the detrimental properties become

lessened, so that more individuals in the next

generation inherit these favorable traits.

In the root length and dry weight of the canopy, the

accession of plants from Brastagi has the highest

average (31 cm) and (12.2 gram). Root crop deep

enough to allow plants to absorb water and more

nutrients so that the mass of plant canopy produced

higher. The root length and dry weight of the canopy

has a high heritability value (Table 3), so the

probability of this trait will be inherited to a larger

offspring due to greater genetic influence than its

environment, in accordance with Poespadorsono

(1988) which states heritability can be used to

measure the ability of a genotype in plant populations

to bequeath characteristics possessed. The higher the

heritability values of a trait the greater the genetic

influence of the environment.

Based on the Liebermann-Burchard test it is known

that all accessions show positive results on sterol and

triterpenoid contents (Harborne, 1998). The color

changes that occur after the addition of sulfuric acid

and acetic acid anhydride are blue to green and then

ICEST 2018 - 3rd International Conference of Computer, Environment, Agriculture, Social Science, Health Science, Engineering and

Technology

242

become dark green. Based on observation data and

analysis of variance known that accessions of plant

have no significant effect on β-sitosterol and

chlorophyll content (Table 2). The highest sterol

content was found in the accession of the plant

originating from Medan (Krakatau), namely (47.44

mg/L) and the lowest in accession from Medan

(Tuntungan) (45,21 mg/L). Based on observation data

and the variance known that the accession of plants

has no significant effect on the content of plant

chlorophyll. However, the highest content of

chlorophyll was found in the accession of plant origin

Medan (Tuntungan) that is (37,18 mg/L) and the

lowest in accession of plant origin of Brastagi (35,32

mg/L). The total content character of β-sitosterol and

chlorophyll in all plant accessions shows a low

heritability value which means that the environmental

influence is greater than the genetic effect (Table 3).

Table 1. Number of leaves, root length, fresh weight of

shoot, dry weight of shoot per plant and shoot/root ratio of

Bangun-bangun plant accessions at 6 weeks after planting.

Accession Number

of leaves

(strands)

Root

length

(cm)

Fresh

weight

of shoot

per

lan

(g)

Dry

weight of

shoot per

plant (g)

Shoot/

Root

ratio

Krakata

68,00a 19,50b 90,97 8,92b 6,84

Tuntunga

34,00b 20,75b 88,00 9,75b 5,81

Sibolangi

34,00b 20,92b 81,38 11,43a 5,50

Simalungun 33,33b 21,58b 93,15 11,32a 7,25

Brastagi 36,67b 31,00a 102,87 12,12a 5,79

The numbers followed by different notations in the same

column show significant differences based on the Duncan

Multiple Range Test (DMRT) test at 5%

Table 2. β-sitosterol and chlorophyll content of Bangun-

bangun plant accessions at 6 weeks after planting.

Accession β-sitosterol (mg/L) Chlorophyll

(

)

Krakatau 47,44 35,39

Tuntun

an 45,21 37,18

Sibolangit 46,30 35,43

Simalun

un 46,32 36,05

Brastagi 47,06 35,32

The numbers followed by different notations in the same

column show significant differences based on the Duncan

Multiple Range Test (DMRT) test at 5%

Table 3. Heritability of observation parameters

Observation

Parameters

(heritability)

Note

Number of leaves (6

weeks after planting)

Distance between

leaves

The length of the

petiole

Leaf width

Leaf length

Root length

The wet weight of the

canopy

Dry crown weight

Shoot / root ratio

The content of sterols

Total chlorophyll

content

0.97

0.98

0.94

0.96

0.89

0.71

0.06

0.19

high

low

high

low

4 CONCLUSION

The accession of Bangun-Bangun plants has a

significant effect on the number of leaf, root length,

and dry weight of shoot at 6 weeks after planting.

Brastagi accession has the highest average of root

length and dry weight of shoot, while the highest

number of leaf (6 weeks after planting) is found in the

accession of plant origin Medan (Krakatau).

Accession of plants has no significant effect on sterol

content and total chlorophyll.

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