Orok-Orok (Crotalaria pallida Aiton): Botany, Use and Toxicity

Abstract

Crotalaria pallida (Fabaceae) is a plant introduced in Indonesia and has been long used as a traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to explain the botany, bioactivity and toxicity of C. pallida. The research method is through reviewing literature published online, using the keywords C. pallida and bioactivities of C. pallida. Data were analyzed qualitatively to explain botanical information, bioactivity and toxicity of C. pallida. The characteristic C. pallida is trifoliolatus leaves, yellow compound flowers and green young pods. The bioactivity C. pallida is anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, antioxidant, estrogenic, inhibits tyrosinase, anti-diabetes mellitus, and anti-cancer. The seeds and flowers of C. pallida has dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids which are hepatotoxic and genotoxic and cause acute poisoning to animals and humans. The bioactivity of C. pallida to inhibit the tyrosinase enzyme has great potential to be developed as a natural skin whitener, but further research needs to be done