Indonesian Medicinal Plants with Anti-inflammatory Properties and Potency as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Herbal Medicine

Abstract

Indonesia is a tropical country with mega-biodiversity. Several medicinal plants locally have been recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties and are traditionally used to help treat respiratory diseases. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the diseases known as the high cause of death globally, and one of the treatment efforts is by using anti-inflammatory drugs. In developing alternative remedies for COPD, this review summarizes the potential of Indonesian medicinal plants and their ingredients known to have an anti-inflammatory activity to develop alternative remedies for COPD. Primarily, we focus on the medicinal plants that have been scientifically proven to pose some biological activities, such as legetan warak (Adenostemma lavenia), celery (Apium graveolens), pegagan (Centella asiatica), kenikir (Cosmos caudatus), and kersen (Muntingia calabura). This review is expected to provide more information about Indonesian medicinal plants and their potencies to be developed as COPD herbal medicine and, further, as a treatment to help patients suffering from coronavirus disease (COVID-19).