Innovative research ideas are increasingly developing and becoming a driving force for young researchers, especially the academic community of Diponegoro University (UNDIP), in finding solutions to societal problems. Mohamad Endy Julianto, S.T., M.T., a lecturer at UNDIP Vocational School, has demonstrated this through his research. He and his team are currently developing cancer chemopreventive agents from natural materials.
Despite his busy schedule as the Head of the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology (TRKI) Study Program, he has successfully secured 6 granted patents, 5 copyrights, and 6 reputable international publications within a semester (6 months).
Endy, as he is commonly known, mentioned that the granted patents include IDS000007201 (Enzymatic Inactivation Process for Making Green Tea using a Cylindrical Disperser Steamer); IDS000007235 (Method for Making Hesperidin from Lime Peels through Microwave Thermochemical Extraction); and IDS000007413 (Method for Making Citrulline from Watermelon Rinds through Microwave Extraction). Another patent is IDS000007821 (Reactive Extraction of Gingerol into Ginger Shogaol using Subcritical Water), followed by IDS000007561 with the invention of a Method for Extracting Gaultherin from Wintergreen Accompanied by Ultraviolet Light, and lastly, patent IDS000007969.
“Even the patent IDS000007201 is currently being tested in the Green Tea industry at the Tea and Quinine Research Center (PPTK) Pasir Sarongge and market segmentation studies. The areas of study and innovation produced include process development,” Endy added.
Endy also explained that he and his team are collaborating with partner industries to develop cancer chemopreventive products from a combination of natural materials. “These materials include bioactive compounds such as ginger shogaol, linamarin from cassava leaves, gaultherin from wintergreen, hesperidin from lime peels, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea. These bioactive compounds are encapsulated in a nano liposome liquid membrane emulsion, ensuring that the drug reaches its target when used,” he explained.
“The development of this product is driven by concern over the high cost of chemotherapy that cancer patients in Indonesia have to bear. Besides being expensive, 90 percent of the raw materials used in cancer patient treatment processes still have to be imported. Therefore, together with experts such as Prof. Dr. Ari Yuniastuti, S.Pt., M.Kes.; Dr. Eng Vita Paramita, S.T., M.M., M.Eng.; Prof. Dr. Eflita Yohana, M.T., Ph.D.; Dr. Hermawan Dwi Ariyanto, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., and Dr. Indah Hartati, S.T., M.T., we are striving to develop innovative anticancer products,” Endy explained.
Endy, who has a total of 71 reputable international publications indexed by Scopus, revealed that the crucial issue in preparing raw materials such as bioactive compounds linamarin and gaultherin lies in the difficulty of extraction due to the activation of the enzymes linamarase and gaultherase in the cytoplasm of the leaves when the tonoplast membrane is ruptured. Therefore, the technique of simultaneous extraction and enzymatic inactivation can refer to the team’s patents IDS000006687 and IDS000007561. Meanwhile, the bioactive compound shogaol can be obtained from the dehydration of gingerol through subcritical water, which can refer to Patent IDS000007821.
He also explained that the most important aspects to be passed for the commercialization of cancer drugs include preclinical and clinical testing of nano products, adaptation testing and evaluation of the application of process units in partner industries, preparation of the result documents of production scale tests, standardization and certification documents, technology transfer documents, and technology audit.
Meanwhile, Teguh Adhi Nugroho, CEO of PT. Naturindo Fresh Kulon Progo warmly welcomed the collaboration initiative between UNDIP’s Vocational Team and PT. Naturindo Fresh Kulon Progo, which had previously received the Kalpataru award at the provincial level for managing herbal plant cultivation. PT. Naturindo Fresh cultivates more than 182 types of herbal plants by empowering the surrounding community and providing training to develop human resources from various educational backgrounds.
“Hopefully, in the near future, the commercialization of products in partner industries can proceed through commercial research, and the results of this research can benefit the community, especially those fighting to recover from cancer,” said Endy. (Endy-SV & DHW – Public Relations)
