Status Penelitian Purwoceng (Pimpinella alpina Molk.) di Indonesia

Abstract

<p>Purwoceng was a commercial medicinal plant that could be used as aphrodisiac, diuretic, and body fit enhancer. The plant was indigenous of Indonesia that grew endemically at Dieng Plateau in Central Java, Pangrango Mountain in West Java, and mountaineos area in East Java. Recently the population was getting rare because of high genetic erosion. Based on the erosion level, the purwoceng was categorized as endangered species. In order to prevent from extinction, the conservation has to be done. The efforts of conservation could be conducted together with the efforts of its utilization optimally and sustainably. So far there were not many researches on purwoceng. Several aspects that had been reported were on agronomy, in vitro culture, phytochemistry, and pharmacology. However, the results of those researches had not been optimal and satisfying. Breeding research had not even been reported. This condition opened large opportunities for researchers to develop the researches that had been conducted to obtain the new technology. The supported technologies and the completed information would enhance the development of this commodity especially at industrial scale.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstrak</strong></p><p><strong></strong>digunakan sebagai afrodisiak, diuretic, dan tonik. Tanaman tersebut adalah tumbuhan asli Indonesia yang tumbuh secara endemik di dataran tinggi Dieng Jawa Tengah, Gunung Pangrango Jawa Barat, dan area pegunungan di Jawa Timur. Dewasa ini, populasinya sangat jarang yang disebabkan oleh erosi genetik secara besar-besaran. Berdasarkan tingkat erosinya, purwoceng dikategorikan sebagai spesies yang hampir punah. Untuk menghindari kepunahan, tindakan konservasi harus dikelola dengan baik. Upaya pelestarian sebaiknya dilakukan secara bersama dengan upaya pemanfaatannya secara optimal dan berkelanjutan. Hingga saat ini tidak banyak laporan penelitian tentang purwoceng. Beberapa aspek yang sudah dilaporkan adalah aspek agronomi, kultur in vitro, fitokimia, dan farmakologi. Namun demikian, hasil penelitian tersebut belum memuaskan. Penelitian pemuliaan bahkan belum pernah dilaporkan. Kondisi demikian membuka peluang bagi pengembangan penelitian yang sudah pernah dilakukan hingga diperoleh teknologi yang mantap. Teknologi yang mendukung dan informasi yang lengkap diharapkan akan meningkatkan pengembangan komoditas tersebut, terutama dalam skala industri.</p>