Misai Kucing - 55g

Misai Kuching is a herbaceous shrub, which grows to a height of 1.5m. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs. There are simple, green,and glabrous with a lanceolate leaf blade and a serrate margin. The leaf apice is acuminate with an acute leaf base. The petiole is relatively short, about 0.3cm in length and reddish purple in color. The stem is quadrangle, reddish in color, erect and branches profusely.

Weight: 55g

Classification of Misai kucing Plant

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliophyta

Oder: Lamiales

Family: Labiatae@ Lamiaceae@ Lippenblutengewachse

Genus: Orthosiphon

Species: O. Stamineu

Binomial Name: Orthosiphon stamineus, Benth

INTRODUCTION

Misai Kuching is a herbaceous shrub, which grows to a height of 1.5m. The leaves are arranged in opposite pairs. There are simple, green,and glabrous with a lanceolate leaf blade and a serrate margin. The leaf apice is acuminate with an acute leaf base. The petiole is relatively short, about 0.3cm in length and reddish purple in color. The stem is quadrangle, reddish in color, erect and branches profusely. 

The flowers are borne on verticils about 16cm in length. The terminal inflorescence is borne on a maroon pubescent. Bracts are green minute (1-2mm), caudiform in shape and two bracts normally holds a cluster of 5 flowers. The flowers are campanulate in shape, white bluish in color with long farexerted filaments, making the flowers look like cat's whiskers.

The flowers are hermaphrodite in nature, about 6.2m in length (including the stamens) with a very irregular flower symmetry. There are two calyx lobes, which are greenish red in color, measuring about 6mm in length and partially gamosepalous. One of the calyx margin is toothed and the other one entire, both covered with minute white hairs.

There are two corolla lobes, which are partially gamopetalous and covered with minute hairs. The corollas are light violet in color with lobes much shorter than the corolla tube. The corollas are bilablade in shape with fringed margins.

The labellum is light violet in color, hairy and pinkish on the under surface. There are 4 stamens which are inserted near the base of the corolla tube. The stamens are unequal in length, measuring from 4.7cm to 5.2cm. There is a single, central, terete style with a clavate stigma. Locally Misai Kucing is used for joint aches and pains due to arthritis, gout and rheumatism. This is due to its ability to promote the excretion of uric acid and metabolic wastes from within the muscles and joints. 

Misai Kucing Plant

Local Name: Misai kucing

Scientific Name: Orthosiphon aristatus /stamineus benth 

Others Name: Kumis kucing, cat whisker, kabling gubat, remujung, Javatee,Lamiaceae, Orthosiphon Aristatus, Orthosiphonblaetter,Indisher Nierentee, Feuilles de Barbiflore, Java Tea, Kidney Tea, KoemisKoetjing and Yaa Nuat Maeo. 

Latin name:  Orthosiphon spicatus 

Famili:  Lamiaceae

Article: 

The tropical Orthosiphon aristatus or Misai Kucing is often grown in local gardens for its ornamental flower. Its popularity is due to its diuretic effects without harming the kidneys. It contains ample potassiums to replace those lost from the body in the diuretic process, a problem encountered by many diuretic drugs. Java tea or misai kuching began to interest researchers as early as the beginning of the 20th century when this plant was introduced to europe where it became a popular herbal health tea.

Uses 

Almost all parts of the plant can be used. The healing power of misai kucing plant is because of its great chemical contents for instance cirsimaritin, myoinositol, orthosiphon, pillion, rhamnasin, bmlt oioioldsalvigenin, kerotin, kerotinoid, minyak pati, flavanoid, glukosid, glikoprotein, saponin dan terpenoid. Misai kucing is well-known over the years because its capabalities to Flush the kidneys and urinary tract as it has mild diuretic property,act as a filteration in order to remove the commonest waste products such as urea, or stone in the kidney,replace the potassium lost from the body during urination as it has enough potassium contents,act as the remedy for other diseases such as diabetes, gout, arthritis, rheumatic and kidney stone disease, besides can prevent the formation of kidney stone and infection in urinary tract, arteriosclerosis (capillary and circulatory disorders),reduces the cholesterol level in blood, lower the high blood pressure and relieves spasms of the smooth muscle in the walls of the internal organs, makes it valuable for gallbladder problem.

Explanation 

Traditional bomohs and sinsehs often use Misai Kucing in formulas for diabetes and hypertension. While little research has been done on the herb's purported benefits in diabetes, the Pharmacy Faculty, Fukuyama University, Japan, has conducted scientific research on its effects on high blood pressure.  The School of Pharmaceutical Sciences,Universiti Sains Malaysia contributes to the scientific research and development of Misai Kucing by conducting the extraction, quality control, standardization, pharmacological and formulation research. 

It was found that some of the herb's compounds promoted a continuous decrease in systolic blood pressure by virtue of a vasidolating action, a decrease in cardiac output and diuretic action. In Europe, Misai Kucing is appearing in products where safe diuretic action is required such as in detoxification, water retention, hypertension, weight loss and for kidney stones. Misai Kucing is one of the few herbs approved by the German government for increasing urine volume to help prevent kidney stones. 

It is considered specifically in the prevention of uric acid stone formation. Recommended dosage of dried herb in 300-500mg daily which is about 1.5 to 4 grams of fresh leaves. Misai Kucing should not be taken simulteneously with medicines intended to acidify urine as it may netralize this effect.

In summary, the importance of Misai Kucing leaves are as follows :- 

* It is believed to have antiallergic, antihypertensive, antiinflammatory and diuretic properties. 

* It is used as a remedy for arteriosclerosis (capillary and circulatory disorders),ghout,rheumatism, kidney stones, diabetes and nephritis. 

* It has mild diuretic action, so it is very useful for flushing the kidneys and urinary tract. 

* It contains ample potassiums to replace those lost from the body in the diuretic process, a problem encountered by many diuretic drugs. 

* It is believed to have antiallergic, antihypertensive, antiinflammatory and diuretic properties.