13/07/2025

ON SUNDAY JULY 13, 2025 theSunday Special IX

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I I \RX¶UH VRXUFLQJ IUHVK pegaga , look IRU EULJKW JUHHQ ¿UP OHDYHV :DVK WKRU RXJKO\ HVSHFLDOO\ LI KDUYHVWHG IURP QRQ RUJDQLF SORWV 7R UHWDLQ LWV QXWULHQWV WU\ WR FRQVXPH LW IUHVK UDWKHU WKDQ RYHUFRRNHG Why it matters now M DOD\VLD LV LQ D ZHOOQHVV ZDYH 5HWXUQLQJ WR WKHLU URRWV KDV EHFRPH D SURPLVLQJ SDWK DV PRUH SHRSOH VHHN DOWHUQDWLYHV WR SURFHVVHG IRRGV DQG FKHPLFDO KHDY\ WUHDW PHQWV Pegaga R̆ HUV D ZD\ WR UHFRQQHFW ZLWK WUDGLWLRQDO NQRZOHGJH ZKLOH PHHW LQJ PRGHUQ QHHGV ,W¶V ORFDO D̆ RUGDEOH VXVWDLQDEOH DQG WLPH WHVWHG “ ,PSRUWHG VXSHUIRRGV OLNH NDOH DUH QRW VXSHULRU WR RXU ORFDO SODQWV RU ulam like pegaga and ulam raja LQ WHUPV RI QXWULHQW FRQWHQW VXFK DV ¿EUH DQG YLWDPLQ & ´ 6X]DQD QRWHG Pegaga FRQWDLQV PRUH FDOFLXP DQG LURQ WKDQ NDOH DQG LV IDU PRUH D̆ RUGDEOH DQG DFFHVVLEOH IRU WKH ORFDO SRSXODWLRQ “Research on local herbs and ulam has EHHQ ORQJ FRQGXFWHG IRFXVLQJ RQ QXWULHQW FRQWHQW DQG PHGLFLQDO SURSHUWLHV ´ VKH DGGHG DQG FLWHG D UHFHQW 8.0 VWXG\ ZKLFK IRXQG WKDW pegaga extract showed FRPSDUDEOH H̆ HFWV WR DQWLK\SHUWHQVLYH PHGLFDWLRQ LQ DQLPDO VWXGLHV

Nutrient composition of selected ulam /plants (per 100g)

These days, pegaga is just as likely to appear in a chic Bangsar smoothie as it grows quietly in a village backyard.

Nutrients (Unit)

Centella asiatica (pegaga)

Cosmos caudatus (Ulam raja)

Kale

Energy (kcal)

37

18

42

Protein (g)

2

2.9

2.8

Pegaga contains more calcium and iron than kale, and is far more affordable and accessible for the local population.”

Fibre (g)

1.6

1.6

1.7

Calcium (mg)

171

270

113

Iron (mg)

5.6

4.6

1.4

Potassium (mg)

391

426

375

A modern-day comeback T KHVH GD\V \RX¶UH MXVW DV OLNHO\ WR ¿QG LW LQ D VPRRWKLH EDU LQ %DQJVDU DV \RX DUH in a backyard in Kelantan. Pegaga -based KHDOWK GULQNV DUH SRSSLQJ XS LQ ORFDO KHDOWK VWRUHV 6RPH FRPH LQIXVHG ZLWK KRQH\ RU FDODPDQVL IRU WDVWH Pegaga powder is sold online for those who want WR ERRVW WKHLU ODWWHV RU PRUQLQJ RDWV I Q VNLQFDUH ORFDO EUDQGV XVH LWV H[WUDFW IRU FDOPLQJ FUHDPV DQG DQWL DJHLQJ VH UXPV ,W¶V PDUNHWHG XQGHU LWV PRUH JOREDO QDPH Centella asiatica – proof that the KHUE \RXU JUDQGPRWKHU FUXVKHG ZLWK D VWRQH PRUWDU LV QRZ JUDFLQJ LQWHUQDWLRQDO EHDXW\ VKHOYHV Not just for the health-conscious T KLV KHUE LVQ¶W MXVW IRU \RJD GRLQJ XU EDQLWHV RU FOHDQ HDWLQJ SXULVWV ,W¶V IRU DQ\RQH WU\LQJ WR UHFODLP FDOP FODULW\ and balance. Office workers drowning LQ GHDGOLQHV SDUHQWV PDQDJLQJ FUDQN\ WRGGOHUV DQG UHWLUHHV GHDOLQJ ZLWK PHPRU\ IRJ FDQ EHQH¿W IURP WKLV KHUE¶V JURXQGLQJ brain-friendly properties. A V ZLWK DQ\ WUDGLWLRQDO UHPHG\ PRG eration is key. Pegaga KDV D FRROLQJ H̆ HFW DQG VKRXOG EH FRQVXPHG LQ EDODQFHG DPRXQWV 7DNHQ LQ H[FHVV RYHU ORQJ SHUL RGV LW PD\ D̆ HFW OLYHU KHDOWK WKRXJK WKLV W\SLFDOO\ RFFXUV RQO\ ZLWK FRQFHQWUDWHG H[WUDFWV RU VXSSOHPHQWV 3UHJQDQW RU EUHDVWIHHGLQJ ZRPHQ VKRXOG FRQVXOW WKHLU GRFWRU EHIRUH XVLQJ LW IUHTXHQWO\

“It also has high total antioxidant capacity that can scavenge free radicals, responsible for increased oxidative stress DQG LQÀDPPDWLRQ WKDW FRXOG OHDG WR DF celerated ageing and increased risk of chronic disease.” She added that the herb’s total polyphe QRO FRQWHQW ZDV DOVR VLJQL¿FDQW FRPSDUHG to other local ulam – higher than petai EXW ORZHU WKDQ FXUU\ OHDI selom and ulam raja . “ $OO WKHVH SURSHUWLHV PDNH pegaga and other ulams widely researched for their PHGLFLQDO DQG WKHUDSHXWLF SURSHUWLHV ´ VKH VDLG FLWLQJ LWV DQWLGLDEHWLF ZRXQG KHDOLQJ UHSURGXFWLYH VHGDWLYH DQ[LRO\WLF GLJHV WLYH JDVWULF XOFHU FRJQLWLYH DQWLGHSUHV VDQW DQWL DJHLQJ DQG DQWL LQÀDPPDWRU\ H̆ HFWV In Malaysia, pegaga has deep roots, literally. It’s part of the traditional Malay concept of jamu ± KHUEDO UHPHGLHV WKDW DUHQ¶W MXVW DERXW FXULQJ LOOQHVV EXW DOVR DERXW PDLQWDLQLQJ ORQJ WHUP KHDOWK DQG YLWDOLW\ (OGHUO\ YLOODJHUV RIWHQ UHFRPPHQG pegaga MXLFH WR ³FRRO´ WKH ERG\ HVSHFLDOO\ LQ KRW ZHDWKHU 6RPH FODLP LW KHOSV ZLWK EORRG SUHVVXUH ZKLOH RWKHUV VD\ LW NHHSV \RXU VNLQ JORZLQJ T KH KHUE¶V SRSXODULW\ LVQ¶W OLPLWHG WR 0DOD\ &KLQHVH WUDGLWLRQDO PHGLFLQH ,Q GLDQ D\XUYHGLF SUDFWLFHV DOVR UHYHUH LW ,W¶V VRPHWLPHV PDGH LQWR FKXWQH\ RU FRRNHG ZLWK GLVKHV LQ 7DPLO KRXVHKROGV VKRZLQJ KRZ WKLV VLQJOH KHUE FURVVHV FXOWXUDO OLQHV in Malaysia.

Carotenes (ug)

2648

3568

7727

Retinol (Retinol Equivalents)

442

595

745

Vitamin C (mg)

49

65

66

Studies show that pegaga can help improve memory and focus, lower anxiety and aid circulation.