The Antioxidant Potency of Jeruju Leaves (Acanthus ilicifolius)

Abstract

Jeruju leaves are known as Acanthus ilicifolius. It is commonly found in the mangrove in Indonesia. It has many usages such as antibacterial and anti-inflammatory.  However, less is known about its antioxidant potency. This paper aims to describe the antioxidant potency of jeruju leaves. Method:  It is a narrative literature review. Literature was taken from PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria are research and review. Exclusion criteria are unavailable in full-text journals. Results revealed that due to antioxidant properties, jeruju leaves can be used as anti-acne creams. It showed the best result at 15% extract concentration for anti-acne. Besides that, jeruju leaves can be used as antiatherosclerotic and lipid-lowering agents. The leaves and stems parts have antioxidant contents as well, such as terpenoid, flavonoid, saponin, and tannin. However, a toxicity test has to be done before administering for long period. In conclusion, the antioxidant properties of jeruju leaves are related to anti-atherosclerotic, lipid-lowering agents, and anti-acne as well. Further studies are needed to explore the functions and toxicities of jeruju leaves before routinely administered.

Keywords: Acanthus ilicifolius, antioxidant, jeruju