Keanekaragaman Hayati Sekitar Kita: Enceng Gondok (Eichhornia Crassipes)

Abstract

This article introduces species that exist around us and their potential or actual utilisation by humans. One type of plant that can be utilised is Enceng gondok (Eichhornia crassipes). It is a native plant of the Amazon, one of the aquatics, free-floating, monocotyledonous, and perennial species of the Pontederiaceae family. It has the potential for pharmaceutical activities of microbes, antioxidants, wound healing, antitumor, anticancer, and larvicides. Enceng gondok (Eichhornia crassipes) plants have abundant potential to be utilised, both for the economy, environment and health. Benefits to the environment, for example, are antibacterial against the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis bacteria, absorbing nitrogen and phosphorus compounds from polluted water, wastewater decomposers, as organic fertilisers, etc. The use of Enceng gondok (Eichhornia crassipes) for health includes treating swelling, hives, sore throat, toothache, laxative, cough, diarrhea, sore throat, toothache, inhibiting Streptococcus mutans and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, treating sore eyes, etc.