TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia needs to learn from China and India in terms of producing raw materials for herbal medicine through the application of agricultural biochemistry. The knowledge of agricultural biochemistry is still relatively new and underutilized in Indonesia for enhancing the quality and efficacy of medicinal plants.
"The agricultural biochemistry approach is strategic in selecting superior genotypes based on bioactive compound content, through genetic exploration and induced mutation techniques," said Professor at IPB University, Waras Nurcholis, in a statement on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
Waras explained that agricultural biochemistry is the study of chemical processes in plant organisms, especially related to the formation of secondary metabolites with medicinal properties. This approach, he added, provides a deep understanding of active compound biosynthesis, interactions between bioactive components, and the influence of the environment on the genetic expression that produces these compounds.
In his research on medicinal plants such as turmeric, cardamom, and cat's whiskers, biochemistry selection has been proven effective in consistently producing plants with high pharmacological potential. Unfortunately, he noted that similar research is minimal in Indonesia. Waras cited that curcuminoid extract in Indonesia has been imported from India.
From a cultivation perspective, he added, agricultural biochemistry also allows for the optimization of agronomic factors that affect active compound biosynthesis. The use of shading and fertilizers such as NPK, for example, is known to increase the active compound content.
"Our research on turmeric has shown that this treatment increases the content of polyphenols and curcuminoids, which function as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulators," explained the Biochemistry Department lecturer.
Furthermore, Waras mentioned that mutation approaches such as gamma ray irradiation and polyploidy induction have successfully increased the content of secondary metabolites in plants such as saffron and cockscomb. This technique produces new mutant genotypes with higher phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant activity, which are essential for the development of phytopharmaceuticals, herbal cosmetics, and functional horticulture.
The benefits of agricultural biochemistry are not only in improving the quality of raw materials, but also in maintaining product consistency and standardization. Faced with the high global demand for nature-based health products, Indonesia is required to provide raw materials that meet international standards.
"There needs to be integration between agricultural biochemistry and omics technologies such as metabolomics, transcriptomics, and genomics to support the selection, validation, and formulation of plant-based medicinal products," he said.
With its wealth of genetic resources and knowledge of ethnopharmacology, he said, Indonesia has a great opportunity to become a leading center for the production and export of natural medicinal raw materials. Agricultural biochemistry-based innovation is believed to be the main driver of national self-sufficiency and resilience in the field of nature-based health.
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