Asam jawa (Tamarindus indica L.) merupakan salah satu tanaman obat yang daunnya memiliki khasiat sebagai kholagogik dan laksatif. Ekstrak daunnya digunakan untuk mengobati batuk, demam, reumatik, icteric jaundice, infeksi cacing, ulkus, dan insomnia. Daun yang masih muda dan bunganya digunakan untuk mengobati konstipasi, dispepsia, flatulensi, dan infeksi saluran urin. Daun asam jawa juga memiliki aktifitas antibakteri spektrum luas dan dapat digunakan pada terapi diabetes tipe-2. Dalam upaya mengembangkan obat tradisional, pada penelitian ini dilakukan penetapan beberapa parameter spesifik dan non spesifik ekstrak etanol daun asam jawa, sehingga diperoleh parameter yang konstan. Daun asam jawa dikumpulkan dari daerah Depok, Tawangmangu, dan Bekasi sebagai bahan penelitian. Ekstraksi dilakukan dengan cara maserasi menggunakan etanol 50%. Dari penelitian ini diperoleh ekstrak kental berwarna coklat-kehitaman, berbau khas dan rasanya asam. Rendemen ekstrak berkisar antara 25,27-39,12%, kadar senyawa terlarut dalam air berkisar antara 58,68-69,55%, dan kadar senyawa terlarut dalam etanol berkisar antara 51,20-52,92%. Susut pengeringan berkisar antara 16,00-25,80% dan kadar air berkisar antara 10,15-18,03%. Kadar abu total berkisar antara 4,40-4,84%, sedangkan kadar abu yang tidak larut asam berkisar antara 1,52-2,18%, dan sisa pelarut etanol tidak lebih dari 1%. Cemaran logam berat Pb dan Cd tidak lebih dari 0,01%, sedangkan cemaran logam berat Hg tidak lebih dari 0,001%. Identifikasi kimia menunjukkan bahwa ekstrak mengandung flavonoid, tanin, glikosida,dan saponin. Pola kromatogram ekstrak etanol secara kromatografi lapis tipis dan kromatografi lapis tipis densitometer dengan fase gerak kloroform-metanol-air (80:12:2) memperlihatkan 4 bercak biru tua setelah disemprot dengan besi (III) klorida 10% dalam air. Kadar fenol total dalam ekstrak ditetapkan secara spektrofotometri menggunakan reagen Folin Ciocalteu pada panjang gelombang 642 nm berkisar antara 0,35-8,24% dihitung sebagai asam galat.
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) is one of medicinal plants which the leaves were known having advantages as cholagogic agent and laxative. Leaves of tamarind are used to cure cough, pyretic, rheumatism, icteric jaundice, worm infection, ulcer, and insomnia. Leaves and flowers are used to cure constipation, dyspepsia, flatulence, and urinary tract infection. They also have broad spectrum antibacterial activity and able to be used in diabetes type-2 therapy. In order to develop traditional medicine and guarantee the quality and safety, determination of some specific and non specific parameters has been done to gain constant parameters. The sample materials were collected from Depok, Tawangmangu, and Bekasi. The samples were macerated by using ethanol 50%. The result of research was a thick brown to blackish extract, with specific smell and sour taste. The yield of extract was 25.27-39.12%, the water soluble extractive substances were 58.68-69.55%, while ethanol soluble extractive substances were 51.20-52.92%. Loss on drying was 16.00-25.80% and the water content was 10.15-18.03%. The total ash content was 4.40-4.84%, the acid-insoluble ash content was 1.52-2.18%, and the solvent residue was not more than 1%. Heavy metals contamination of Pb and Cd were less than 0.01% while heavy metal contamination of Hg was less than 0.001%. The chemistry identification showed that the extract contains flavonoid, tannin, glycosides, and saponin. The chromatograms profile used thin layer chromatography and densitometer thin layer chromatography in chloroform-methanol-water (80:12:2) mobile phase, gave 4 dark blue spots after sprayed with iron (III) chloride 10% in water. Total phenol content was between 0.35-8.24% determined by spectrophotometry using Folin Ciocalteu reagent at 642 nm, counted as gallic acid equivalent.
