Meniran (Phyllanthus niruri)

Meniran (Phyllanthus niruri) is primarily valued as a medicinal herb rather than a macronutrient source, so nutritional profiling focuses heavily on bioactive compounds rather than caloric content. Macronutrients (per 100 g dried herb, approximate): Protein: 8–12 g; Crude fiber: 15–22 g; Fat: 2–4 g; Carbohydrates: 45–55 g; Ash/mineral content: 8–12 g. Key Bioactive Compounds: • Lignans: Phyllanthin (0.5–1.5% w/w of dried leaf) and hypophyllanthin (0.3–0.8% w/w) — primary hepatoprotective agents; lipophilic, with moderate oral bioavailability enhanced by co-occurring tannins. • Tannins: Ellagitannins including corilagin (up to 0.4% w/w), geraniin (0.2–0.7% w/w), and phyllanthusiin D — responsible for antiviral and antioxidant activity; bioavailability is limited due to high molecular weight but gut microbial metabolism yields bioactive urolithins. • Flavonoids: Quercetin (0.1–0.3% w/w), rutin (0.05–0.2% w/w), astragalin, and kaempferol glycosides — contribute to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects; glycosylated forms have improved water solubility but require intestinal hydrolysis for absorption. • Alkaloids: Securinine and norsecurinine (trace amounts, <0.05% w/w); 4-methoxy-securinine reported in some accessions. • Terpenoids: Lupeol (~0.1% w/w) and phyllanthenol — anti-inflammatory and mild analgesic properties. • Organic acids: Gallic acid (0.2–0.5% w/w), ellagic acid (0.1–0.3% w/w), and amariinic acid — good oral bioavailability for gallic acid (~30–40%); ellagic acid is poorly absorbed but microbially converted. Minerals (per 100 g dried herb, approximate): Calcium: 800–1,500 mg; Potassium: 1,200–2,000 mg; Iron: 15–30 mg; Magnesium: 200–400 mg; Phosphorus: 150–300 mg; Zinc: 3–6 mg. Vitamins: Vitamin C: 10–25 mg/100 g fresh herb; modest amounts of B-complex vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin). Bioavailability Notes: Phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin are lipophilic lignans with enhanced absorption when consumed with dietary fats or formulated with lipid-based carriers. Geraniin and corilagin undergo extensive first-pass metabolism; traditional aqueous decoction extraction yields moderate tannin recovery (~40–60%). Overall phenolic bioavailability is improved by traditional boiling preparation, which increases extraction efficiency of polar compounds by 30–50% compared to cold infusion. Standardized extracts are typically normalized to phyllanthin content (≥2%) for therapeutic consistency.