God's Crown1
Phaleria macrocarpa Fruit (Mahkota Dewa) is a fruit and medicinal plant native to Papua that thrives in tropical regions. This plant is one of the most commonly used medicinal plants in Indonesia. Traditionally, a decoction of Phaleria macrocarpa fruit is used to treat or alleviate the symptoms of various conditions, such as migraines, joint pain, and gout.2
Morphology of Mahkota Dewa
Tanaman Mahkota Dewa berupa semak atau pohon kecil bergetah (laticiferous) yang dapat tumbuh hingga 18 m dengan diameter batang sekitar 15 cm. Buahnya berupa buah batu (drupaceous), berbentuk bulat hingga lonjong, dan berwarna merah marun mengilap saat matang. Bijinya berbentuk hampir bulat atau sedikit lonjong dengan ukuran sekitar 1,5 cm.6
Mahkota Dewa Active Compounds
Mahkota Dewa fruit has activity as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent due to its high phenolic and flavonoid compound content.2
Health Benefits of Mahkota Dewa
- Pain and Aches
Muscle aches and joint pain are generally symptoms of inflammation in the body, which can cause pain in the muscles and joints. The active compounds in mahkota dewa are known to reduce inflammatory markers that contribute to pain and swelling.2
Literature Study:
- Subjects: 42 patients with osteoarthritis (Joint pain)
- Research dose: Mahkota Dewa extract 300 mg/day
- Duration: 14 days
- Results: Mahkota Dewa extract 300 mg is as effective as meloxicam 7.5 mg in reducing joint pain. No significant adverse effects on liver or kidney function or hematological parameters were observed during the study.3
- Uric Acid
Uric acid is formed when the body breaks down purines, which are substances naturally produced by the body and also obtained from food. The flavonoid compounds in Mahkota Dewa fruit are known to inhibit the activity of the xanthine oxidase enzyme, which breaks down purine bases, thereby reducing uric acid production.4
Literature Study:
- Subject: 24 postmenopausal women aged 48–65 years with high uric acid levels
- Dosage: 1 x daily decoction of Mahkota Dewa fruit (decoction)
- Duration: 7 days
- Results: 87.5% of respondents experienced a decrease in uric acid levels.4
Safety
Based on the literature review, Mahkota Dewa fruit is considered safe, does not cause toxicity, and is well-tolerated by all subjects, with a No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) of 5000 mg/kg body weight in rats over 14 days.5
Keywords: Mahkota Dewa; Phaleria macrocarpa; Joint Pain; Uric Acid; Migraine.
Footer References
- References
- Image: shutterstock.com
- Hendra R, Ahmad S, Oskoueian E, Sukari A, Shukor MY. Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity ofPhaleria macrocarpa(Boerl.) Scheff Fruit.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011;11:110. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-11-110.
- Rahmadi AR, Dewi S, Nawawi A, Adnyana IK, Gunadi R. Effectiveness and safety of mahkota dewa fruit extract compared to meloxicam (Phaleria macrocarpaFruit) on osteoarthritis. Indonesian Journal of Rheumatology. 2016; 8(1): 231057.
- Kusmiwiyati A. The effect of giving boiled water of god's crown (Phaleria macrocarpa(Scheff) Boerl) on blood uric acid levels in menopausal women.Health Journal. 2017; 5(1): 40-4.
- Ahmad R, Khairul Nizam Mazlan M, Firdaus Abdul Aziz A, Mohd Gazzali A, Amir Rawa MS, Wahab HA.Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl.: An updated review of pharmacological effects, toxicity studies, and separation techniques. Saudi Pharm J. 2023; 31(6)874-888. doi:10.1016/j.js s.2023.04.006.
- Makkiyah F, Puji Rahmi E, Setyaningsih Y. Phytochemical test and acute safety evaluation of oral purple leaves (Graptophyllum pictum L. Griff) extract in rats. Pharmacognosy Journal. 2022; 14: 649-654. doi: 10.5530/pj.2022.14.148.
