YOGYAKARTA- Fisheries Department of UGM Faculty of Agriculture held a workshop on Bio-prospecting of Bioactive Compounds on Marine Life from 1 to 3 March 2012. According to the Secretary of the Department, Suadi, Ph.D, a marine bio-prospecting is exploration and exploitation of marine biodiversity for medicinal, food, cosmetics, agrochemicals and other industrial applications.
"Isolation, purification and determination of bioactive compounds are routine work in bio-prospecting," Suadi said, Monday (5/3).
Suadi emphasized that the ocean covers 70% of the world and keeps rich biodiversity, especially in tropical areas such as Indonesia. Marine life such as sponges, coral reefs, seaweed, soft animals is rich sources of bioactive compounds as anticancer activity, anti-tumor, antidepressants, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulator and antibiotics. Meanwhile, Indonesia with its second longest coastlines in the world and the largest archipelagic country in the world holds the potential of marine resources.
"Management of the wealth and potential of marine resources requires skilled human resources, expertise and adequate experience including Bio-prospecting," he said.
The workshop followed by 27 lecturers, the general public and researchers from several universities in Indonesia aims to provide knowledge, refresher and skill to participants in performing routine work, such as screening, isolation and purification of natural marine ingredients. After attending the workshop, Suadi added, participants are expected to have the knowledge and hands-on experience in screening, technical isolation, purification and de-replication of bioactive compounds that can be utilized in the bio-prospecting of marine natural products.
The workshop materials include knowledge and hands-on experience on planar chromatography, solvent extraction, solid phase extraction, column chromatography, screening of bioactive compounds, bioassay-guided isolation by MTT-one and two dimensions essay bio-autography by presenting an instructor, Noer Kasanah., Apt., M.Si., Ph.D., and Dr. Ir. Alim Isnansetyo, M.Sc, lecturer of Department of Fisheries.