Nutrigenomics and Jamu: Integrating Nutritional Genomics with Indonesian Traditional Medicine for Precision, Preventive, and Systems-Oriented Health

Fajar Prasetya; Linawati Hananta

doi:10.30872/jtpc.v9i3.320

Authors

Fajar Prasetya Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Mulawarman, Samarinda, Indonesia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1020-0423
Linawati Hananta Atma Jaya Research & Teaching Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30872/jtpc.v9i3.320

Keywords:

nutrigenomics; nutrigenetics; precision nutrition; Indonesian jamu; phytochemicals; multi-omics; gene expression; epigenetics; microbiome; systems pharmacology

Abstract

Nutrigenomics and nutrigenetics often grouped under nutritional genomics investigate how nutrients and bioactive food compounds modulate gene expression and related molecular phenotypes, and how genetic variation modifies individual responses to diet. These approaches are increasingly operationalized through multi‑omics (transcriptomics, epigenomics, metabolomics, proteomics, microbiomics) and data-driven dietary interventions, including randomized controlled trials in personalized nutrition. In parallel, Indonesian jamu an ancestral system of multi‑herb preparations used for health maintenance and symptom management represents a rich, under‑modeled source of phytochemical diversity and culturally embedded dietary practices. This review synthesizes evidence at the intersection of nutrigenomics and jamu by (1) outlining core concepts and methodological standards in nutritional genomics; (2) summarizing translational frameworks for connecting botanical complexity to molecular mechanisms using systems biology, network pharmacology, and multi‑omics; and (3) appraising representative jamu‑relevant botanicals (e.g., Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Andrographis paniculata, Centella asiatica) for nutrigenomic effects on inflammatory, antioxidant, metabolic, and mitochondrial pathways. We propose an implementation pathway for “precision jamu nutrition” that aligns cultural acceptability with clinical governance, quality systems, and evidence hierarchies, emphasizing standardized extracts, rigorous phenotyping, genotype‑aware subgroup analyses, and safety monitoring. Key challenges include botanical variability, confounding from complex diets, population genetic diversity, limited prospective trials, and regulatory harmonization. Future research should prioritize pragmatic trials embedded in health services, mechanistic sub-studies leveraging omics, and equitable governance to prevent widening health disparities in precision nutrition.

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