Kalimantan plant shows promise as potent diabetes treatment

 Researchers at the University of Jember (UNEJ) have found that Ampelocissus rubiginosa Lauterb, a wild plant endemic to Kalimantan Island, shows strong potential as an anti-diabetic agent and may be more effective at lowering blood sugar levels than a commonly used diabetes medication.

The research team from UNEJ's Faculty of Pharmacy scientifically validated the anti-diabetic properties of the plant, known locally among the Dayak people as "Tawas ut" or "Panamar peri," after years of laboratory and animal studies.

"Ampelocissus rubiginosa Lauterb is a climbing plant that grows wild in Kalimantan's forests and has long been used by Dayak communities to treat both internal and external wounds, but its anti-diabetic properties had never been studied," the Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, Professor Ari Satia Nugraha, said in Jember, East Java on Wednesday (3/6).

According to Nugraha, diabetes is a chronic disease that requires long-term treatment. The disease increasingly affects people of productive age, including those in their 30s. Indonesia is facing a growing diabetes burden. An estimated 19.5 million people in the country are living with diabetes, making Indonesia the fifth largest contributor to global diabetes cases. Meanwhile, the government spends around Rp95 trillion annually on diabetes treatment.

About 90 percent of pharmaceutical raw materials used in Indonesia are still imported, says Nugraha, making medicines less affordable for many patients, particularly those requiring lifelong treatment such as people with diabetes.

"That situation encouraged our team to explore the potential of Indonesia's biodiversity," Nugraha said.

Indonesia, says Nugraha, has around 6,000 medical plant species that remain largely unexplored.

Tawas ut root resembles cassava, but once dried, it becomes as hard as teak wood, requiring processing while still fresh.

Researchers first obtained samples from Borneo in 2015 and spent nearly a decade conducting studies, including the isolation of active compounds, laboratory testing (in vitro), and animal trials (in vivo).

"I have been researching medical plants for nearly 20 years. This plant extract is unique and contains exceptionally high levels of polyphenols," Nugraha said.

He added the study found that ethanol extract from the plant's roots inhibited enzymes responsible for breaking down carbohydrates into sugar with an effectiveness approximately five times greater than a widely used anti-diabetic drug.

The plant works by slowing the activity of enzymes that convert carbohydrates into sugar in the digestive system. Its phenolic compounds and antioxidants help reduce blood sugar levels by limiting the amount of sugar released into the bloodstream.

Laboratory tests showed that Tawas ut root extract was significantly more efficient than the widely used anti-diabetic drug in inhibiting carbohydrate-digesting enzymes.

To achieve a similar effect, the plant extract required a dose nearly five times smaller than the standard drug, indicating a stronger biological activity.

However, the findings remain limited to laboratory and animal studies. Further clinical trials will be needed before the plant can be considered for broader use in humans.

Researchers also identified three major active compounds in the root, all belonging to the flavonoid family, natural compounds found in green tea, red grapes, and various berries that are known for their antioxidant activities. Notably, the three compounds were first identified in Tawas ut.

The study was conducted in collaboration with Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), James Cook University Australia, and University of Wollongong Australia. The findings were published in the Journal of Biologically Active Products from Nature in December 2025.

"We have screened dozens of Indonesian plants and found none as effective as the plant. The in vitro results were better than those of the standard compound, and the animal studies positively confirmed the findings," Nugraha said.

The findings support what Dayak people have known for centuries: that the plant has real medicinal value.

The research aligns with the government's efforts to develop herbal-based medicines and strengthen Indonesia's pharmaceutical independence.

By scientifically validating traditional Dayak knowledge, the study contributes to transforming indigenous wisdom into scientifically evidence-based health products.

"The collaborative research shows that Indonesia's biodiversity, if studied seriously, can become the foundation of the country's pharmaceutical self-reliance. The opportunity lies in forests that have been preserved by local communities for generations," Nugraha said.