Sappan wood (secang) is often processed into sang wang drinks by Javanese people. In addition to warming the body, wedang secang turned out to save a myriad of other healthy properties that are pity if passed. Indeed, what are the benefits of sappan wood? Find out the answer in the following review.
The sappan plant is a thorny tree with small leaves. Sappan fruit at a glance is similar to greenish Chinese banana, but discarding the secang will turn brown when ripe. In addition, there are yellow or orange flowers at the top.
This plant has the Latin name Caesalpinia Sappan or Biancaea Sappan and thrives in Indonesia, India and Malaysia. The part of the sapan plant that is most commonly used is the pith, which is the inside of a log.
The content of active ingredients in secang wood is believed to treat various diseases, such as diabetes, skin diseases, diarrhea, and dysentery. Here are the potential benefits of secang wood for physical health, as quoted from an article written by Shrishailappa Badami and colleagues from J.S.S Collage of Pharmacy.
Antitumor
One of the benefits of secang wood that has been widely studied is its anti-tumor properties. Water extracts from sappan wood with an additional 50% ethanol were reported to inhibit tumor cell development in lab rats.
Tumors are abnormal cell tissue development. Some tumors are benign, but there are also malignant and cancerous.
Antibacterial
Bacterial infections are one of the most common causes of infectious diseases. Well, one of the benefits of sappan wood according to some studies is to increase the work of the body’s immune system to fight various types of bacteria. For example Basil subtilis (causes of vomiting / gastroenteritis), Staphylococcus aureus (a cause of bacteremia, endocarditis, osteomyelitis and skin diseases), Salmonella typhi (the cause of typhus), and E. coli (a cause of diarrhea and general digestive disorders).
The potential benefits of sappan wood against bacteria are known to emerge when sapphire water is added with 95% ethanol as a solvent for essential oils.
Anti-inflammatory and stimulates the immune system
Based on research, secang wood can be anti-inflammatory. Among the 130 herbal medicines tested, sappan wood is an herbal medicine that can prevent the inhibition of hyaluronidase activity, a protein that is genetically designed to cause inflammation.
In addition, the brazilin antioxidant content in secang can improve immune function in mice.
Lowering blood sugar and maintaining liver health
In one study, secang wood extract can increase glucose metabolism in rats with hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia is a condition when the level of sugar in the body is below normal. In addition, the brazilin compound is also believed to protect and maintain healthy liver function.
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