Dendrobium contains alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and triterpenoids, which served as medicines, including antioxidants and skin brighteners. The presented research sought to determine the conservation through morphological and phytochemical characterization and the potential of native orchids of Dendrobium in Lampung, Indonesia. This research transpired on the entire native collection of Dendrobium at the Liwa Botanical Garden, West Lampung, Indonesia, particularly, 13 samples with four Dendrobium species (D. nobile, D. purpureum, D. minutigibbum, and D. montanum) as comparative controls. Morphological characterization relied on 13 leaf and nine phytochemical characters using the spot test method. The results showed six of the 13 traits, i.e., leaf shape, width, length, shape, tip shape, and cross-section, could be beneficial in identifying orchid species. Cluster analysis on morphological traits based on the phenetic and PCA analyses enunciated positive correlation in the native Dendrobium species identification. The phytochemical characterization revealed Dendrobium contained alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and triterpenoids with potential as herbal medicines. The results indicated leaf morphology and phytochemical characterization can be applicable for identifying plant types and their potential.
herbal medicines, leaf traits, phytochemicals, morphological characterization, native Dendrobium
In morphological characterization, 13 leaf traits emerged as key characters in identifying the Dendrobium species. Phytochemical characterization of Dendrobium exhibited contents of the alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and triterpenoids, with the potential as herbal medicines.