Faculty of Pharmacy students of Universitas Gadjah Mada managed to dominate the pharmacy student writing competition (LKMF) in the Indonesian Pharmacy Student Scientific Week. The activity was held at the University of Airlangga on July 19, followed by 40 teams from several universities in Indonesia. In the competition UGM team won the first and second places while the third place was won by the team of Padjadjaran University.
The first winner team consist of Fera Amelia, Ellsya Angelline F, Kurnianto Wibowo and Galih Nur Afnani, who submitted a paper entitled Enteric-coated tablet of Soursop Leaves Ethanol Extracts (Annona muricata L) as a Potential Anti Colon Cancer. They raised the theme in the scientific paper considering that soursop leaves have considerable potential as an anti-cancer agent with minimal side effects.
Fera Amalia told the reporter on Friday (29/7), so far plenty of cancer therapy through chemotherapy have caused various side effects. Based on the phenomenon, she and her colleagues tried to find new ideas for alternative treatment of cancer therapy with minimal effects.
Fera said that soursop leaves contain anonacin acetogenin which are compounds capable of inhibiting energy production of cancer cell division. This material has the potential as an anti-cancer agent 10 thousand times stronger than chemotherapy agents. "We proposed the idea of making this enteric-coated tablet in the hope of an alternative treatment of cancer, especially colon cancer. In the future, however, deeper research and various tests are needed to determine the exact outcome,” she concluded.
Meanwhile, the other UGM team managed to win the second place by submitting a paper entitled Secang Maskervescent: Antioxidant Mask and Anti Aging Based on Modernization of Indonesia’s Natural Material. The team consisted of Etyk Yunita Anjarsari, Yonika Arum Larasati and Fikri Amalia. All three students were inspired to create a mask made from secang (Caesalpinia sappan) because secang contains10-fold higher antioxidants than the antioxidant contained in synthetic mask. "Antioxidants as free radical reducer compound become the main choice of active substance in various cosmetics. However, from a number of studies it is proved that the use of vitamin E as an antioxidant in an anti-aging cosmetic apparently can stimulate the occurrence of reaction such as bumps and allergies. Therefore, the development of antioxidants cosmetics with safer natural ingredients become a promising alternative in the present time," said Etyk.
To make a Secang Maskervescent is actually pretty easy. First the secang wood is powdered then extracted with 96% ethanol, and it is then filtered and thickened. The results are dried by drying spray and dry extract of secang will be obtained. Finally, the dry extract of secang is mixed with effervescent powder. "We added effervescent powder to produce a mask that can provide fresh sensation for relaxation," she explained.
The materials are then placed over the spunbond non-woven paper that has gauze material affixed on it. Then secang masks can be directly applied to the face. Fikri Amalia added the secang mask has a number of advantages, in addition to containing high antioxidant, it is also anti-bacterial. The presence of effervescent element which makes the relaxation effect makes it a different mask compared to the masks on the market.
Fikri said secang mask is also cheaper than the synthetic masks on the market. "From 1 kg of secang wood that usually cost eight thousand/kg, about 10 grams of dried extract of secang is produced. Meanwhile, to make one secang mask takes only 2 grams of dried secang extract. So, an amount of 1 kg secang can produce five secang masks," she explained.
Secang masks are not yet commercially available as these are prototypes. But in the future they hope to be able to produce these masks. "In future we hope to produce the secang mask but previously we have to do research and advanced tests like extract standardization, hedonic test, irritation test and other tests," she explained.