Utilization and bioactivity of Blumea balsaminifera (L.) DC.

Sembung or Blumea balsaminifera a species belonging of Asteraceae has been long used as a traditional medicine. The using of plants as traditional medicine, directly or indirectly related to their bioactive compounds. The writing of this article is based on literature review of the published online and offline such as journals, books, and other research to obtained comprehensive information of the benefits, secondary metabolites, bioactivity, and prospects for the use of B. balsaminifera. The ethnobotany of B. balsaminifera uses as an ingredient of loloh (Bali Aga ethnic health drink), treat of wounds, diarrhea, malnutrition, kidney stone, and traditional sauna ingredients, headaches, gastric disorders, and rheumatism. Blumea balsaminifera has bioactivity such as: anti-wound, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, gastroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-kidney stones. Blumea balsaminifera leaves contains volatile oil and falvonoid compounds. The volatile oil in B. balsaminifera is borneol, 1,8-cineole, limonene, kampor, β-eudesmol, β-champene, myrcene, dimethoxydurene, β-caryophyllene, and α-caryophyllene. The Dimethoxydurene, β-caryophyllene, and α-caryophyllene of B. balsaminifera have activities as antioxidant. The flavonoid glycosides of B. balsaminifera has a therapeutic effect on wound healing while anti-microbial activity has associated with borneol.