Not a few plants and traditional plants in Indonesia are believed to have health benefits. One of them is the bajakah root, which is claimed to have many health benefits, including treating cancer.
Some time ago, the benefits of pirated roots were booming. This is related to the root of pirate research conducted by three students of SMAN 2 Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. The results of their study made them win the Life Science International competition in Seoul, South Korea.
Spatholobus Littoralis Hassk or what is called 'Bajakah' in Indonesia. This is a plant that traditional Asian users say has a positive effect on health. Bajakah is traditionally used by the Dayak tribe. The tribe uses bajakah as a traditional medicine against cancer. This herb has also attracted a lot of attention in recent years. Reported by Kraatje, certain parts of the pirated plant are rich in flavonoids and other healthy phytochemical compounds.
Bajakah is a vine with a height of up to 50 meters. This plant usually propagates on woody trees of the Phaseoleae tribe. This plant was first discovered by Justus Karl Hasskarl, a German botanist in 1842. The pirate plant has 29 species, most of which grow in the tropical forests of Indonesia.
Every part of the pirated plant is believed to have health benefits. One of them is the benefits of pirated roots for health, some of which are as follows:
1. Increase Endurance
The first benefit of the root is related to endurance. This is thanks to its high antioxidant content, so the body does not get sick easily if you consume it.
The antioxidants contained in this plant are very diverse. Among them, phenolics, tannins, steroids, saponin alkaloids, terpenoids, to alkaloids. A good immune system can reduce the risk of infectious diseases, such as flu, sore throat, or other inflammation.
2. Ward Off Free Radicals
Antioxidants are the main compounds that provide the health benefits of pirated tea. Free radicals can accumulate in the body for several reasons, such as:
- Intake of non-nutritive food
- Air pollution
- Smoking habit
- Alcoholic drinks
- An unhealthy lifestyle can also make the body produce more toxic free radicals.
Bajakah roots which are processed into tea are said to be useful for counteracting free radicals and removing all toxins through a natural detoxification process.
3. Treating Dysentery
The people of Kalimantan believe that the root of bajakah can be beneficial for people suffering from dysentery. Dysentery is an infection or inflammation of the intestines, which causes diarrhea.
If not treated, dysentery will lead to dehydration which can lead to fatal conditions. The antibacterial content of the root of the bajakah is believed to help cure dysentery in the digestive tract. The health benefits of Bajakah tea can also restore an inflamed digestive tract.
4. Become A Cure For Tumors And Cancer
Bajakah roots which are processed into tea are believed to be able to treat lumps caused by tumors or cancer. The claim was booming in Indonesia, because of the findings in one of the studies by the Lambung Mangkurat University Laboratory.
The study said that the pirated wood applied to the bodies of white mice could eliminate tumor cells within 2 weeks. The content of antioxidant and phytochemical compounds in pirated wood is considered to be able to fight tumor and cancer cells.
Unfortunately, this research is limited to animals. In other words, the benefits of pirated roots to fight tumors or cancer in humans are still not known for certain.
5. High in Antioxidants
The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said Spatholobus Littoralis Hassk contains high antioxidants that can counteract free radicals. The antioxidant content of bajakah is said to be thousands of times higher than other types of plants.
According to the University of Lambung Mangkurat, the plant contains 40 substances that can kill cancer cells in the body.
These substances, including saponins, phenols, steroids, terpenoids, tannins, alkaloids, and terpenoids.
6. As Antibacterial
Based on research conducted by the ISFI Academy of Pharmacy Banjarmasin, the wood and root of bajakah can act as natural anti bacterials. In this study it was found that bajakah wood contains flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. All three are believed to be able to block and destroy bacteria, which enter the body.
7. Accelerate the External Wound Healing Process
In the culture of Kalimantan, especially the Dayak tribe, the root of the bajakah is believed to stop bleeding. The plant is also often used to help heal wounds. The content of flavonoid, tannin, and phenolic compounds in the root of bajakah is considered to be able to heal external wounds faster.
These three compounds are angiogenic, which helps the formation of new blood vessels so that wounds heal faster. The benefits of this pirated root can be obtained from ointments with herbal extracts or drops of boiled water from the plant.
Although pirated wood has been empirically used for cancer therapy, it has not been scientifically proven. This means that further research is needed. Not only about the benefits of bajakah wood, but also the side effects of pirated wood itself. Because, in determining a drug needs to be seen from two sides, namely the efficacy and side effects.
Basically not all herbal medicines are free of side effects. Likewise, traditional medicines that use bajakah wood also have the potential to produce health problems. Which could arise from the side effects of pirated wood.
Reporting from Theguardian based on a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, the side effects of pirated wood can cause kidney failure and liver damage in some users. This is presumably because some drugs contain toxic chemical compounds or heavy metals or can even react negatively with the drugs being used.
Conclusion
It's important to remember that while the root of the rhizome may have several benefits, much is still unknown about the plant and its effects. More research is needed to determine whether it can be used as an effective cancer treatment or not. Until then, patients should talk to their doctor before using pirated root.
