Mary Sintoh ,Research Associate of Institute for Development Studies (IDS),Sabah highlighted this during a press conference at the seminar on Developing the Natural Herbal Industry in Sabah,yesterday.

Currently,there seems to be a sudden surge in the number of herb farm in Peninsular Malaysia,but there is none yet in Sabah.

Nevertheless,there State Government’s Commitment in developing the herbal industry is increasingly visible through a series of seminars it has jointly-conducted with the relevant from time to time.

Pegaga,which is also commonly know as Pagagoh among the Kadazan-Dusun community is one of the many medicinal plants that is ubiquitous in Sabah but its potential has not been tapped.

" it is easily planted in places with good moisture and it can be harvested in three months," she conceded.

Studies have revealed that tablet made from this herb can increase handicapped children’s intelligence.

It also has natural memory-enhancing and body-slimming effect and a lot of active ingredient that can be used for the pharmaceutical industry.

Among other,amygdalin,madasiatic acid and brahmic can be extracted from this herb.

The part used are the leaves and roots.

It is commonly consumed raw by certain ethnic group as salad or ulam (a type of Malay dish)

According to the book traditional Malay Medicinal Plants,it is also used for treating dizziness,rheumatism and in the preparation of tonic.

The leaves can also be used to treat sore eyes.

To treat typhoid,pound the leaves finely and apply to the forehead.

Water soaked with the roots,is used for bathing by mother after giving birth.

Its juice has been a favourite thirst quencher among the Penangites and is sold at every nook and corner of Penang.

Mary meanwhile noted that a former chief Minister is planting Pegaga on a commercial basis.

It is currently being sold here at RM5 a kilo.

Source: The New Sabah Times, 19 May 1999, By Michael Teh