Jatinangor, 16 Juni 2026 – Padjadjaran Center for Sweet Potato Research and Innovation Excellence (PRAISE) Universitas Padjadjaran melaksanakan kegiatan pemanenan komoditas temu ireng (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.) di Kebun Percobaan Ciparanje, Kampus Unpad Jatinangor. Kegiatan ini merupakan bagian dari penelitian dasar yang berfokus pada kajian variabilitas morfologi, hubungan kekerabatan, serta uji daya hasil tanaman temu ireng yang berasal dari berbagai daerah di Indonesia.

Penelitian tersebut melibatkan sebanyak 19 aksesi temu ireng yang merupakan koleksi plasma nutfah hasil eksplorasi dari berbagai wilayah di Indonesia. Melalui penelitian ini, tim peneliti berupaya mengidentifikasi keragaman karakter morfologi antaraksesi, menganalisis hubungan kekerabatan genetik berdasarkan karakter fenotipik, serta mengevaluasi potensi hasil masing-masing aksesi sebagai dasar pemuliaan dan pengembangan komoditas tanaman obat di masa mendatang.

Ketua tim peneliti menjelaskan bahwa penelitian yang dilaksanakan di Kebun Percobaan Ciparanje ini masih berada pada tahap dasar karakterisasi. Tahapan tersebut menjadi fondasi penting dalam pengembangan riset lanjutan, termasuk upaya konservasi plasma nutfah, seleksi aksesi unggul, hingga pengembangan varietas yang memiliki produktivitas dan kandungan senyawa bioaktif yang lebih baik.

Selain menghasilkan data ilmiah yang penting, penelitian ini juga menjadi sarana pembelajaran dan penguatan kapasitas sumber daya manusia. Kegiatan penelitian melibatkan mahasiswa program sarjana (S1) Universitas Padjadjaran yang berpartisipasi dalam proses pengamatan karakter tanaman, pengumpulan data lapangan, hingga analisis hasil penelitian. Keterlibatan mahasiswa diharapkan dapat memperkuat pengalaman riset sejak dini sekaligus mendukung regenerasi peneliti di bidang sumber daya genetik tanaman.

Temu ireng (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.) merupakan tanaman herba anggota famili Zingiberaceae yang telah lama dimanfaatkan dalam pengobatan tradisional di kawasan Asia Tenggara. Tanaman ini diketahui kaya akan berbagai senyawa bioaktif, antara lain kurkuminoid, minyak atsiri, senyawa fenolik, glukan, serta berbagai metabolit sekunder lainnya. Sejumlah penelitian menunjukkan bahwa temu ireng memiliki aktivitas biologis yang berpotensi sebagai antiinflamasi, antioksidan, antibakteri, antikanker, antidiabetes, antimikroba, hingga antiandrogen.

Dalam praktik pengobatan tradisional, rimpang temu ireng telah digunakan secara turun-temurun untuk membantu mengatasi berbagai keluhan kesehatan, seperti sakit perut, batuk, asma, kudis, rematik, kecacingan, gangguan mental, hingga membantu mempercepat pengeluaran lokia pada masa nifas. Berbagai kajian ilmiah juga melaporkan bahwa rimpang temu ireng mengandung alkaloid, flavonoid, tanin, saponin, dan terpenoid, dengan dominasi senyawa turunan terpenoid yang berkontribusi terhadap berbagai aktivitas farmakologisnya.

Sebagai pusat unggulan riset dan inovasi, PRAISE tidak hanya berfokus pada penelitian dan pengembangan ubi jalar sebagai komoditas utama. PRAISE juga aktif melakukan konservasi, koleksi, karakterisasi, serta pengembangan berbagai komoditas potensial lainnya, termasuk kelompok tanaman empon-empon yang memiliki manfaat kesehatan, nilai fungsional, serta potensi ekonomi yang tinggi bagi masyarakat dan industri berbasis bahan alam.

Melalui penelitian dan pemanenan temu ireng ini, PRAISE Unpad turut mendukung pencapaian beberapa Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan (Sustainable Development Goals/SDGs), khususnya SDG 3 (Kehidupan Sehat dan Sejahtera) melalui pengembangan sumber daya tanaman obat yang berpotensi mendukung kesehatan masyarakat; SDG 4 (Pendidikan Berkualitas) melalui keterlibatan mahasiswa dalam kegiatan penelitian dan pengembangan kompetensi akademik; SDG 9 (Industri, Inovasi, dan Infrastruktur) melalui penguatan riset serta inovasi berbasis sumber daya hayati lokal; SDG 12 (Konsumsi dan Produksi yang Bertanggung Jawab) melalui pemanfaatan dan konservasi plasma nutfah secara berkelanjutan; serta SDG 15 (Ekosistem Daratan) melalui upaya pelestarian keanekaragaman hayati dan sumber daya genetik tanaman Indonesia sebagai aset penting bagi pembangunan masa depan.

PRAISE Unpad Harvests 19 Accessions of Black Turmeric to Support Germplasm Research and the Development of Indonesia’s Medicinal Plants

Jatinangor, 16 June 2026 – The Padjadjaran Center for Sweet Potato Research and Innovation Excellence (PRAISE), Universitas Padjadjaran, recently conducted the harvesting of black turmeric (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.) at the Ciparanje Experimental Field, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor. The activity forms part of an ongoing research project focusing on morphological variability, genetic relationships, and yield performance evaluation of black turmeric accessions collected from various regions across Indonesia.

The study involves 19 accessions of black turmeric representing valuable germplasm resources collected from different geographical areas of the country. Through this research, the team aims to characterize morphological diversity among accessions, analyze their genetic relatedness based on phenotypic traits, and assess yield potential as a foundation for future breeding programs and the development of medicinal plant commodities.

According to the research team, the project is currently at the fundamental characterization stage, which serves as an essential basis for subsequent studies. The findings are expected to support germplasm conservation efforts, the identification of superior accessions, and the development of improved planting materials with enhanced productivity and bioactive compound content.

The research also serves as a learning platform for undergraduate students of Universitas Padjadjaran. Students are actively involved in field observations, data collection, and research analysis, providing valuable hands-on experience in plant genetic resource studies and strengthening the next generation of researchers in agricultural and biological sciences.

Curcuma aeruginosa, commonly known as black turmeric, is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Zingiberaceae family and has long been utilized in traditional medicine throughout Southeast Asia. The species is rich in bioactive compounds, including curcuminoids, essential oils, phenolic compounds, glucans, and other secondary metabolites. Numerous studies have reported that black turmeric possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and antiandrogenic properties.

In traditional herbal medicine, black turmeric rhizomes have been used for generations to help alleviate various health conditions, including stomach disorders, coughs, asthma, skin diseases, rheumatism, helminth infections, and mental health-related ailments. The rhizome has also traditionally been used to support postpartum recovery by facilitating lochia discharge. Scientific studies have identified the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and terpenoids in black turmeric, with terpenoid derivatives recognized as the major compounds responsible for many of its pharmacological activities.

As a center of excellence for research and innovation, PRAISE is not limited to sweet potato research and development. The center also actively conserves, collects, and characterizes other promising plant commodities, including various medicinal rhizomatous crops commonly known as empon-empon. These plants offer significant health benefits, functional properties, and economic potential for communities and industries based on natural products.

Through this black turmeric research and harvesting activity, PRAISE contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through the development of medicinal plant resources with potential health applications; SDG 4 (Quality Education) through the active involvement of undergraduate students in research activities; SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) by strengthening scientific research and innovation based on local biological resources; SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) through the sustainable utilization and conservation of plant genetic resources; and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through efforts to preserve biodiversity and Indonesia’s valuable plant germplasm for future generations.