In Indonesia, Curculigo latifolia, popularly known as lemba, is used as traditional medicine for antihypertension, antidiabetic, and as a food and drink additive. Despite the high benefits, this plant is difficult to propagate due to its low seed viability. Tissue culture offers an alternative for plant propagation, thus providing a continuous source of bioactive substances. The study aimed to establish efficient methods of explant sterilisation, callus induction and its regeneration from leaf tissues for plant multiplication. The study also investigated histochemically secondary metabolites produced by the callus. Our results showed that sterilising agents in the lowest concentrations and the shortest duration was the most suitable for getting aseptic cultures. BAP (3 mg L−1) and IBA (5 mg L−1) were the highest callus initiation, shoots, and roots regeneration. The histological sections of fresh callus showed secretory structure in the form of secretory cavities surrounded by a layer of epithelial cells and idioblasts around the secretory cavities. The histochemical tests identified phenolic compounds and essential oils in organogenic callus. Idioblasts were detected containing essential oils too. The results will contribute to C. latifolia propagation and the development of callus as a producing source of secondary metabolites.

Several types of aquatic plants have a potential role in reducing pollutants from contaminated water through phytoremediation processes. The purpose of this study was to analyze the capacity of aquatic plants in phytoremediation process of cyanide and heavy metals from gold mine liquid waste, based on the growth and heavy metal deposition in the root and shoot. The study was conducted using a completely randomized design with two factors, i.e., the concentration of gold-mine wastewater (0%, 50%, and 100%) and the combination of two aquatic plants from 4 species (Eichhornia crassipes, Neomarica longifolia, Hydrilla verticillata, and Pistia stratiotes). The results showed that gold mine wastewater generally reduced the growth rate of all the plants, especially at 100% wastewater concentration. The treatment with gold mine wastewater caused an increase in lipid peroxidation specified by the increase of root and leaf MDA content, while it decreases leaf chlorophyll content significantly. The best combination of aquatic plants for gold mine phytoremediation was shown by N. longifolia – P. Stratiotes based on the smallest dry weight reduction and the greatest reduction of cyanide, Pb and Hg from the media.