UNS — The Covid-19 pandemic has not shown any sign of receding, with the number of positive cases increasing in Indonesia. The government has asked the community to tighten the health protocol and avoid outdoor activities. Improving immunity is also suggested to prevent severe infection from the new Coronavirus strain.
To support the community’s efforts to improve their immunity, a team of researchers from Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta created an immunomodulator beverage to enhance immunity. The drink called Curcuma Pro is initiated by a group of researchers that consists of Dr. Ir. Joko Sutrisno (Faculty of Agriculture), Prof. Dr. Hartono, dr. (Director of UNS Hospital), Dr. Ir. Eddy Triharyanto (Faculty of Agriculture), and Prof. Dr. Munawir Yusuf (Faculty of Teacher Training and Education).
Curcuma Pro is made from herbal compositions that have beneficial ingredients to increase immunity from Covid-19. The herbal ingredients used in the beverage are turmeric, ginger, Curcuma, forest honey, and coco nectar. Curcuma and turmeric have curcumin, which acts as an immunomodulator for the patient with Covid-19 infection. “Forest honey and coco nectar act as sweetener,” Prof. Hartono explained.
The team coordinator, Dr. Joko Sutrisno, explained that this research had won a grant from Difusi Inovasi (Diffusion Innovation) from the Ministry of Research and Technology (Kemenristek/BRIN) in 2020. In collaboration with PT. Synthesa Herba Salatiga, the team, has produced 7,000 bottles of Curcuma Pro, which has been distributed to several institutions such as Kemenristek/BRIN, hospitals, local governments, and Islamic Boarding Schools.
Currently, the product is not available for sales, and the team continues to strengthen their scientific foundation and register the product for distribution permit. “We currently conducting an analysis in Balai Besar Penelitian dan Pengembangan Tanaman Obat dan Obat Tradisional (BP2TOOT) (Center for Research and Development of Traditional Medicines and Medicinal Plants) in Tawangmangu. The laboratory analysis will determine how much curcumin and gingerol are contained in 15 ml, and the dosage of curcumin and gingerol needed daily,” Dr. Joko Sutrisno stated on Friday (5/2/2021).
Curcuma Pro is produced in a limited number and packaged in a 500 ml bottle. The team suggested that this beverage is consumed twice up to three times a day, one to two tablespoons each time. Its shelf life is 2 years at room temperature. “We keep improving the product and packaging. We hope that this year this (beverage) can be marketed widely,” he concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti