Sains Malaysiana, 2016;45:883-890.

Abstract

A total of 9 species of Indigofera have been identified on the Islands of Java and Madura. Only one species has been
utilized by batik makers and weavers as a natural dye, while the other 8 species are of unknown potential as natural
dyes. This study seeks to demonstrate the correlation between morphological characteristics and the level and quality of
indicant compound, in order to assist batik producers and weavers in determining the species that can be used as dyestuff.
The potential blue colour dyestuff yield of Indigofera was determined by leaf immersion, followed by quantitative and
qualitative examination of the indicant present. Morphological characteristics were then analysed to identify those that
correlated with the presence of indicant. The indicant differences were analysed using SPSS; the relationship between the
characteristics was analyzed by Pearson correlation and logistic regression. Four species, namely I. tinctoria, I. arrecta, I.
suffruticosa and I. longiracemosa contained indigo. The colour produced by indigo dye obtained from these four species
of Indigofera had a ‘4–5’ value of colour change and colour staining in tests involving washing, sweat, bright light and
heat stress. This value meets the ‘good quality’ standard of the Indonesian National Standards (SNI). I. suffruticosa has
the highest indicant content at 1.4 g/kg, followed by I. tinctoria, I. arrecta, and I. longiracemosa with 0.414, 0.13, and
0.038 g/kg, respectively. The colour of upper and lower dried foliages were correlated to potential indigo dye producers.