There are several types of meniran, but the ones better known to the general public and commonly used for treatment are only two species, namely Phyllanthus niruri, L., and Phyllanthus urinaria, L. Both have almost the same morphology and efficacy for treatment.
Ethnophytomedically, quoted from usu.ac.id, meniran has long
been used by people in various parts of the world. In Indonesia, which is rich
in tropical forest flora, meniran singly or mixed with other medicinal plants
are traditionally used to treat various diseases, such as diarrhea, malaria,
thrush, kidney stones, jaundice, epilepsy, toothache, gonorrhea, and
anti-inflammatory. (Kardinan and Kusuma, 2004).
In Vietnam and Cambodia, meniran is used to ward off
tuberculosis. In Thailand, this herb is traditionally used to ward off fever
and laxative urine. In Malaysia, meniran is used to prevent skin diseases,
syphilis, and gonorrhea.
Meanwhile, in India, based on Ayurvedic medicine, since
2,000 years ago, meniran has been widely used to treat menstrual disorders,
diarrhea, skin disorders, diabetes, gonorrhea, and can overcome hepatitis B.
In Peru, meniran mixed with lime juice, drunk as a tonic for
people with diabetes mellitus and hepatitis sufferers. In Suriname, meniran is
used to ward off colic, kidney disorders, and various acute or chronic liver
diseases.
Meniran plants, according to Wikipedia, have chemical
compounds such as philanthine, potassium, resin, and tanning substances. This
plant can be used to cure jaundice, dysentery, cough, fever, epilepsy,
excessive menstruation, and malaria. Meniran, quoted from unsrat.ac.id, also
contains antifungal compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, and saponins.
The research team from the Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Section of the Faculty of Medicine, Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, tested
the antipyretic effect of meniran extract on male Wistar rats induced by the
DPT HB vaccine. Induction of fever in test animals was carried out using 0.2ml
DPT-HB vaccine intramuscularly.
The results showed that administration of meniran extract at
a dose of 300 mg/200 g BW showed a more significant decrease in rectal
temperature than doses of 100 and 200 mg/200 g BW for 180 minutes of
measurement. The results showed that meniran extract had an antipyretic effect
on Wistar rats.
The research team from the Dentistry Education Study
Program, Faculty of Medicine, Sam Ratulangi University, examined the inhibition
test of meniran extract on the growth of Candida albicans isolated from acrylic
removable denture plates.
Candida albicans is a normal flora in the mouth, but Candida
albicans acrylic denture users can overgrow if not kept clean. The overgrowth
of Candida albicans fungus can cause infection in the oral cavity of acrylic
denture wearers.
Meniran is an alternative to overcome the fungus Candida
albicans. The conclusion of their study stated that meniran extract could
inhibit the growth of the fungus Candida albicans isolated from acrylic removable
denture wearers.
The research team of the Postgraduate Program in Anti-Aging
Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University,
Denpasar, examined the meniran leaf extract gel to increase the
epithelialization of wound healing in the skin of white male rats of Wistar
strain. Meniran leaves contain bioactive molecules that have an effect on wound
healing and are antimicrobial. The results showed that the administration of
meniran leaf extract gel could increase the epithelialization of wound tissue
on the skin of male Wistar rats.
The research team of UGM students, quoted from ugm.ac.id,
examined immer and meniran, which are known to treat inflammation or swelling.
Imer leaves contain high levels of securinine compounds that can reduce
inflammation. While meniran leaves contain phyllantin compounds and are proven
to have the anti-inflammatory activity to strengthen immunity.
The research was conducted by extracting the two leaves.
Furthermore, the extract was tested on rats previously induced with
inflammatory compounds in the legs. In addition to conducting in vivo tests on
mice, in a study conducted in January-August 2016, an in silico test was also shown
to determine the mechanism of immer and meniran leaves inhibiting inflammation.
The results showed that securinine and philanthine compounds
were able to inhibit the cox-2 enzyme that causes inflammation. Research
related to meniran leaves and imer simultaneously for this
inflammatory drug was first conducted worldwide. So far, new research has only
been conducted on meniran or immers, not a combination of the two.
The anti-inflammatory drug Nutrasetikal Imer Meniran
or Nu Imran is expected to be an alternative for the community in treating
inflammation.
Research by Tita Bariah Siddiq from the Faculty of Medicine,
Maranatha Christian University, Bandung, regarding the effect of meniran herbs
as antihepatotoxic, said that the active substances contained in meniran which
have the most substantial effect as antihepatotoxic are philanthine and
hypophilanthine. Both compounds belong to the lignan group, which has a free
hydrogen group. The free hydrogen works as an antioxidant, which will bind to
free radicals contained in toxic substances that often cause liver damage.
Through this research, Tita Siddiq wanted to know whether
meniran can be used as an alternative hepatotoxic treatment so that people can
use this plant as an antihepatotoxic drug. The results showed that meniran has
an antihepatotoxic effect, with its mechanism of action as an antioxidant.