Three students of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) have turned red ginger into a formula that can serve to block chronic kidney disease with hypertension risk factor.
“Red ginger contains compounds such as gingerol, shogaol, flavonoid and antioxidant activity that can block the enzyme that causes vasoconstriction and can reduce blood pressure,” said Nada Hanifah, one of the students on Tuesday (9/7) in a press conference of UGM’s Public Relations office.
She said the antioxidant content in red ginger can also reduce oxidative stress that can prevent kidney damage. Red ginger extract is formulated with nanoemulsion technology to increase solubility, stability, and efficacy of the extract.
The ZAHA formula was created by Nada and fellow students Yusuf Farid Achmad and Aida Humaira under the supervision of Prof. Dr. drh. Siti Isrina Oktavia Salasia in a Student Creativity Programme that was funded by Higher Learning Directorate General.
Nada said they started to develop ZAHA following the experience of patients of chronic kidney disease. The disease is slowly emerging and chronic. The second cause is hypertension (25%). Meanwhile, increased blood pressure for a long time can damage the kidney if not detected and treated well.
The students made the formula from red ginger which is natural to treat the disease. Red ginger is herbal and consumed often by community.
“Our research showed the damage level in the mouse can be inhibited while blood pressure has significantly reduced in the mice that are treated with ZAHA,” she explained.
She expected the research could be investigated further to be used as alternative drugs for chronic kidney disease with hypertension factor.