13/07/2025

ON SUNDAY JULY 13, 2025 theSunday Special VIII

The brainy leaf Malaysians forgot Used for generations in village kitchens and healing remedies, pegaga is gaining new relevance as researchers uncover its powerful properties

BY THESUNDAY TEAM TEAM

W HEN we hear the word “superfood”, our minds tend to drift toward im ported trends – like kale, quinoa and chia seeds. These are rare or exotic foods in our part of the world, often imported and expensive. At the same time, the global wellness market has also glamorised everyday items we’ve long taken for granted – like coconut water. Once just a humble refreshment sold at roadside stalls or night markets in Malaysia, it’s now rebranded as a miracle elixir in Western media. This tells us something: When a food becomes scarce or trendy in the West, it suddenly becomes valuable, while equally nutritious local options, like pegaga, remain overlooked unless they receive international approval. This isn’t to discredit the nutritional value of those foods peddled by the West.

But it points to how superfood narratives are often shaped by Western perspectives, leaving local herbs and ingredients out of the spotlight – until someone abroad approves of them. Also known as Indian Pennywort or Centella asiatica , it is one of those over looked gems. While it has been a part of traditional Asian diets for generations, it is only now regaining its rightful status, thanks to modern research and a renewed cultural interest. Perhaps, it’s time we start viewing our backyard with the same awe the world shows us, instead of waiting for validation to come from outside. It’s a humble plant, often overlooked in the urban diet, but your grandmother probably swore by it. With its coin-shaped leaves and slightly bitter taste, this herb is now being rediscovered by nutritionists, wellness advocates and busy Malaysians seeking a natural edge in their daily lives.

All these properties make pegaga and other ulams widely researched for their medicinal and therapeutic properties.”

Suzana

From village gardens to lab reports M RGHUQ VFLHQFH LV VWDUWLQJ WR FRQ¿UP ZKDW our elders knew intuitively – pegaga is packed with medicinal value. It contains powerful antioxidants, vitamins B and C and compounds like asiaticoside and madecassoside , which support cognitive KHDOWK UHGXFH LQÀDPPDWLRQ DQG SURPRWH

wound healing. It’s even gaining popular ity in the skincare world for its role in promoting collagen production. Studies published in journals such as Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Journal of Ethnopharmacology have shown that it can help improve memory and focus, lower anxiety and aid circulation. In other words, the same leafy green once chewed absentmindedly at village lunches is your high-pressure lifestyle craving brain food. “ Pegaga is a rich source of nutrients, particularly beta carotene, vitamin A, YLWDPLQ & DQG DOVR ¿EUH ´ VDLG 3URIHVVRU Dr Suzana Shahar, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).

With its coin-shaped leaves and slightly bitter taste, this herb is now being rediscovered by nutritionists, wellness advocates and busy Malaysians seeking a natural edge in their daily lives.