Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon)

Melinjo or belinjo or tangkil (Gnetum gnemon) is a species of gymnosperms in Gnetaceae, dioecious, tree-shaped, living wild but also widely planted in the yard as a shade or barrier where seeds, seed coat and young leaves are processed into food.

G. gnemon is a tree and has a straight trunk, this is different from other Gnetum which is usually a liana. Annual plants with open seeds, do not produce true flowers and fruit. Fake fruit is basically a seed wrapped in a layer of aryl fleshy. Single leaf oval and blunt tip.

Melinjo live for more than 100 years, 25 m tall and produce 80-100 kg of seeds per harvest. They adapt to a wide temperature range and are very easy to find in various areas except the coast. Grows in forests, plantations and home gardens. Plants are propagated by generative and vegetative methods.

Belinjo can be found in arid, tropical regions and does not require highly nutritious soils or special climates. Grow on clay, sandy and calcareous soil at an altitude of 0-1,200 m, but cannot withstand waterlogged, acidic and saline soils. Trees grow well on open land, lots of sun and tree spacing 6-8 m.

Wood can be used as a material for boards and simple household appliances. Young leaves, seed shoots and seed coat are used as vegetable ingredients for sayur asem or soups. The seeds are forged into raw materials for emping or chips and seed coat for shredded.

G. gnemon is an ancient plant that is evolutionarily close to Ginkgo biloba. Seeds produce antioxidant compounds by high protein concentrations (9-10 percent). The main protein is 30 kilos Dalton which is very effective for destroying free radicals. Antioxidant activity is equivalent to butylated hydroxytolune.

Melinjo is also a natural antimicrobial in which protein is used as a natural preservative of food and medicine for diseases caused by bacteria. Peptides isolated from seeds have active potential to inhibit certain types of positive and negative gram bacteria.

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Gnetophyta
Class: Gnetopsida
Order: Gnetales
Family: Gnetaceae
Genus: Gnetum
Species: G. gnemon

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