Rico Ramadhan

In the search for potent bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants, Garcinia parvifolia from East Kalimantan has demonstrated significant bioactivity consistent with established scientific criteria.

Etlingera balikpapanensis, a rhizomatous plant native to East Kalimantan and a member of the Zingiberaceae family, shows great promise for use in traditional medicine. This research investigated the biological activities of the essential oils derived from the rhizome of E. balikpapanensis for their antidiabetic and antioxidant activities, and molecular docking analysis of their chemical constituents for the first time. The essential oils were extracted via hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The essential oils were evaluated for their antidiabetic properties through the inhibition of α-glucosidase, using molecular docking techniques. The evaluation aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of essential oil compounds on the target protein with their potential antidiabetic properties. A total of 62 volatile compounds were identified, with eucalyptol (3.06%), linalool (8.74%), benzyl benzoate (15.24%), and 2-propenoic acid, 3-phenyl, phenylmethyl ester, (E) (14.63%) identified as the predominant constituents. These essential oils demonstrated significant antioxidant activities against ABTS and nitric oxide free radicals compared to ascorbic acid. Furthermore, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the essential oils demonstrated an IC50 value comparable to acarbose as the positive control. In the in silico analysis, the major compounds derived from the essential oils yielded significant insights for molecular docking by the GOLD score assessment. This study indicates that the essential oils extracted from the rhizome of E. balikpapanensis possess potential antidiabetic and antioxidant properties, thereby underscoring their potential as a functional secondary agentthat may mitigate the risks associated with diabetic complications.

The International Community Services program (ICS) at Universitas Airlangga, part of the Tri Dharma of the university focusing on community service, aims to enhance human resource capacities within communities. In 2024, the program targeted Senden Village, Kampak sub-District, Trenggalek District, East Java, Indonesia, to assist its MSMEs in overcoming packaging challenges that hinder market interest. Collaborating with domestic and international universities, including Universitas Mayjen Sungkono, SMBBMU University Larkana Pakistan, UiTM Negeri Sembilan Malaysia, UM Malaysia, and Meijo University Japan, the program provided intensive training on innovative and functional packaging techniques. This program was chosen and considered urgent because processed food products produced by local MSMEs are still sold in bulk and packaged haphazardly. Therefore, a touch of hygienic and "eye-catching" packaging technology is needed. Attractive and hygienic packaging technology is expected to increase the selling power of these processed food products. The training included theoretical sessions, focus group discussion (FGD) demonstrations, and the introduction of plastic vacuum sealers to improve product packaging and branding. Food packaging workshop held on July 15, 2024, where participants engaged in hands-on training, group discussions, and label design, resulting in tangible improvements in product marketability. The initiative of this activity is not only to increase the visibility and attractiveness of Senden Village products but also to introduce the natural exotism of the village and local products to the national and international community, encouraging cultural and knowledge exchange. The collaboration of this program strengthens international collaboration and provides invaluable experience for students and lecturers. The successful implementation of this program confirms Airlangga University's commitment to community service and its goal of creating a sustainable positive impact on the village community, which ultimately contributes to the development of better human resources. The training has been carried out very well and each training participant has their own brand with an attractive logo and is hygienically packaged with vacuum technology. All training participants were satisfied with this activity as well as head of village, head of PKK, and all the team involved. They hope that next year's activities can be carried out with other innovations for the progress of Senden village.

The tropical plant Pandanus helicopus Kurz, a member of the Pandanaceae family found in peatland regions of Central Kalimantan, is recognized for its pharmacological potential attributed to secondary metabolites. This current study represents the first comprehensive qualitative and quantitative analysis, along with molecular docking investigations, of the fruit extract of P. helicopus Kurz. The chemical constituents of the crude extract obtained using three different organic solvents of varying polarities were examined to identify bioactive compounds. The secondary metabolite profile of P. helicopus Kurz fruit extract was assessed with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited significant inhibition of α‐glucosidase with an IC₅₀ value of 31.38 ± 0.12 µg/mL, outperforming the positive control acarbose with an IC₅₀ of 39.85 ± 0.09 µg/mL. This fraction also displayed notable tyrosinase inhibitory activities and promising antioxidant properties (2,2‐dipehnyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl [DPPH], 2,2‐azino‐bis‐(3‐ethylbenzothiozoline6‐sulphonic acid di‐ammonium salt [ABTS], and cupric reducing antioxidant activity [CUPRAC] assays). Additionally, in silico molecular docking studies revealed that two secondary metabolites from P. helicopus Kurz fruit, namely, 2,3‐dihydroxypropyl elaidate and quercetin‐3‐glucoside‐7‐rhamnoside, exhibited favorable conformation and binding affinities within the enzymatic pockets of α‐glucosidase and tyrosinase. These findings suggest that the indigenous P. helicopus Kurz fruit could serve as a valuable natural source of antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti‐tyrosinase compounds with potential pharmacological applications.

Pesticide residues in soil present significant environmental and health risks, especially in regions with heavy organophosphate used in vegetable farming. This study examines bioaugmentation, an eco-friendly method for degrading soil pesticide residues, utilizing both indigenous and exogenous microorganisms, as well as bio-slurry from biogas production. Puntukdoro Village, Magetan, Indonesia, generates a substantial quantity of bio-slurry waste, which presents a promising solution to local agricultural challenges, including low crop yields and soil degradation. Puntukdoro Village produces a significant amount of bio-slurry waste, which offers a promising solution to local agricultural issues, including poor crop yield and soil degradation. The study aims to identify and formulate microorganisms from Puntukdoro using bio-slurry and exogenous cellulolytic mold formulations. This involves extracting and characterizing indigenous bacteria, preparing external supplements, and conducting ex situ bioaugmentation with seven different treatments. Ten mold isolates, including Penicillium, Monilia, Aspergillus, and Trichoderma, and eight bacterial isolates, including Micrococcus, Pseudomonas, and Bacillus, were identified. Bioremediation assays showed that both indigenous and exogenous microorganisms improved soil quality and reduced pesticide levels. The most effective treatment, P7, with 10% bio-slurry, 10% biofostik, and 10% indigenous microorganisms applied for 28 d (W4), reduced profenofos from 4.718 to 0.000 mg/kg. In contrast, treatment P2W1, with 30% biofostik for 7 d, reduced profenofos by 0.293 mg/kg. These findings indicate that exogenous and indigenous microorganisms can effectively enhance profenofos bioremediation.

Anxiety and depression are psychiatric disorders strongly associated with insomnia. This study aimed to examine the sedative and anxiolytic activities of a 70% ethanol leaf extract of Cassia spectabilis DC (CS70EE) in a mouse model with electric foot shock (EFS)‐induced stress. Male BALB/c mice were subjected to mild EFS (1 mA) for 15 × 1 s for five consecutive days. The stressed mice were administered various doses of CS70EE, diazepam, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (0.5%) for comparison. The hole cross (HC) and thiopental sodium (TS)‐induced sleep time method was used to assess sedative activity, while the elevated plus maze (EPM) test was used to assess anxiolytic activity. An in silico study was performed to predict the potential of active compounds in the extracts against sedative/anxiolytic target protein. The protein used is γ‐aminobutyric acid receptor‐associated protein (PDB code: 3D32). CS70EE at a dose of 500 mg/kg showed sedative activity in mice by significantly decreasing the number of passages through the hole in the HC test and increasing the TS‐induced sleep duration ( p < 0.05). In the EPM test, stressed mice that were administered the extract (50 and 100 mg/kg) showed a significant increase in the time spent in the open arm ( p > 0.05). Meanwhile, molecular docking study in silico showed that spectaline compounds may play a crucial role in this activity. In conclusion, CS70EE exhibited sedative and anxiolytic effects in mice subjected to EFS‐induced stress.

Ramadhan R, Ni’matuzahroh, Lestari DA, Hariyanto NA, Suwandari S, Kurnia IT, Phuwapraisirisan PP, Hasan MI, Phontree K, Setiawan J, Salamun, Wahono ND, Supriyanto A, Affandi M. 2024. Bioprospecting of non-timber forest products of selected flora in Baluran National Park, East Java, Indonesia for phytochemicals, anti-diabetic, anti-tyrosinase, and antioxidants. Biodiversitas 25: 3803-3815. The ecosystem within Baluran National Park comprises elements that exhibit varying degrees of sensitivity to environmental influences, encompassing both biotic and abiotic factors. It has been observed that identical plant species may display significant variations in their secondary metabolite content across different habitats. The primary objective of this investigation is to analyze the phytochemical composition, antioxidant properties, anti-tyrosinase effects, and anti-diabetic potential of specific flora species found in Baluran National Park. Furthermore, the research aims to identify novel natural resources with anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties among the selected flora from Baluran National Park, East Java, using chemotaxonomic and ethnopharmacological data. The study involved the qualitative and quantitative analysis of phytochemicals, along with assessing their in vitro anti-diabetic, anti-tyrosinase, and antioxidant activities through various assays such as ?-glucosidase inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, and free radical scavenging tests (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP). The findings reveal that ethanol extracts of Euphorbia atoto demonstrated potent ?-glucosidase inhibitory activity with a percent inhibition (PI) value of 92.07±1.43%, surpassing the inhibitory effects of acarbose (25.92±1.61%) and quercetin (84.79±1.18%). Additionally, the antioxidant assessments indicated that the selected flora from Baluran National Park exhibited substantial antioxidant properties, as evidenced by their percent inhibition (PI) values. These results provide a scientific basis for considering the flora of Baluran National Park as a potential source of natural medicinal compounds.

Hariyanto NA, Ramadhan R, Raharjo Y, Firdaus YFH, Kurnia IT, Lestari DA, Suwandari S, Mahmuda NF, Nathanael J, Phontree K, Phuwapraisirisan P, Riyadi L, Rahman A, Abdulgani N. 2024. GC-MS analysis of three Diospyros species and evaluation of its in vitro rat intestinal a-glucosidase and FRAP activity. Biodiversitas 25: 2442-2453. The vast diversity of natural products has long been recognized as a potentially valuable source of bioactive compounds derived from nature. The Diospyros species, belonging to the Ebenaceae family, thrive in tropical forest regions and have been traditionally used for treating various disorders such as ischemic stroke, hypertension, and infectious diseases. This research aims to assess the phytochemical constituents, rat intestinal a-glucosidase, and Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) of non-polar (n-hexane) and semi-polar (dichloromethane) extracts from three Diospyros species, i.e., Diospyros buxifolia (Blume) Hiern; Diospyros celebica Bakh.; Diospyros confertiflora (Hiern) Bakh). Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified numerous bioactive secondary metabolites in the extracts. The study revealed that the semi-polar extracts of D. buxifolia exhibited potent rat intestinal a-glucosidase inhibitory activities, with an IC50 value of 33.31±3.23 ug/mL. The IC50 of acarbose as a positive control was 6.31±0.31 ug/mL. The FRAP test demonstrated that the non-polar and semi-polar leaf extracts of the three Diospyros species from East Kalimantan are potential sources of natural antioxidants, with the IC50 in the range of 6.48±0.38 umol Fe/g - 11.35±0.16 umol Fe/g. The results of this study confirm the therapeutic properties of leaf extracts derived from 3 Diospyros species, which align with their traditional medicinal use.

The city of Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara province, consists of 6 sub-districts and 50 sub-districts and has 28 public and private high schools. Lecturers and students of the Department of Chemistry, who are members of the community service team, on August 5th, 2023 carried out a workshop for chemistry and biology teachers in the City of Mataram. The title of the activity was "Application of Phytochemical Screening as a medium to increase the insight of Biology and Chemistry High School Teachers in Mataran City, NTB as an alternative implementation of Merdeka Belajar". The workshop was held at SMAN 5 Mataram City involving 51 chemistry and biology teachers as participants. The material provided includes Phytochemicals and the Chemdraw application. Both of these topics are given by lecturing and discussion and also complemented by practical activities. The successful of the activity is reflected in the increase in posttest scores compared to the pretest score. Evaluation of activities in the form of filling out the questionnaires by participants also reflected the participant satisfaction, in which the majority of participants gave positive answers to each question. Similar activities remain relevant and still need to be carried out, especially in areas outside Java to broaden teachers' insight