Literature Review on the Bioactivity and Iron-Chelating Potential of Compounds Isolated from Indigenous Indonesian Herbal Plants

Abstract

Plants in Indonesia hold significant potential in the field of pharmaceuticals. The country possesses various environmental factors that support the robust growth of plants, such as soil quality, rainfall, temperature, and other geographical conditions. Indonesian communities have long utilized and explored the medicinal potential of plants in traditional herbal treatments. The abundance of plant species and ease of access contribute to the affordability of herbal medicine compared to conventional treatments. One of the health conditions that can be addressed through herbal therapy is iron overload in the body. Plant-derived compounds capable of binding excess iron in the human body primarily belong to the flavonoid group, which is widely present in many Indonesian plants. The objective of this article is to discuss the potential and activity of several compounds with iron-chelating properties, particularly those found in indigenous Indonesian plants. This literature review focuses on research articles written in both Indonesian and English that address this topic. The stages involved in article selection include identification, screening, eligibility assessment, and data categorization. Articles were retrieved online using search engines such as Google Scholar and journal databases including PubMed and SINTA, using keywords such as “Secondary Metabolite Compounds,” “Indonesian Plants,” “Iron Chelation Activity,” and “Iron-Chelating Herbal Remedies”. The literature review indicates that certain plant-derived compounds found in Indonesian flora exhibit iron-chelating activity. These compounds belong to the group of secondary metabolites, specifically flavonoids, which are also known to possess various other pharmacological activities in addition to their role as iron-chelating agents.