Crude Palm Oil (CPO) is one of the typical Indonesian plant that has potential effect as an antioxidant preparation. The purpose of this study was to produce microemulsion with CPO content that had good physical characteristics and also showed antioxidant activity. This research was divided into 3 stages i.e. microemulsion formulation, physical characterization and stability, and antioxidant activity evaluation. The microemulsion was formulated using Phase Titration Method with CPO as oil phase, surfactant tween 80, cosurfactant PEG 400 and aquadest. The treatment in this study was the addition of CPO with various concentration of 5%, 7.5%, and 10% (w/w). The optimum formula was A1 which contained 5% (w/w) CPO. The results showed that this formula had a globule size of 288.87 ± 20.94 nm, zeta potential of -0.36 mV, density of 1.024 ± 6.15x10-5 g/mL, and pH in the range of 4.5-6.5. The microemulsion was stable in storage for 28 days at 25ºC, stable against extreme temperature changes and agitation. The CPO-based microemulsion had IC50 value of 10.5 μg/mL which showed strong antioxidant activity. It can be concluded that CPO-based microemulsion had good physical stability and antioxidant activity for further cosmetic preparation.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles, as potential mercury metal detection, using Lamtoro Pods extracts has been successfully carried out by the green reduction method. The peak spectrum of plasmon resonance (SPR) at 415 nm confirmed the formation of silver nanoparticles. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) test obtained a characteristic functional group vibration spectrum in Lamtoro Pods. A shift of wavenumber was distinguished by comparing the FTIR spectrum between Lamtoro pods extract and silver nanoparticles. This indicated the involvement of phenol and flavonoid compounds found in the Lamtoro act as a reducing agent of Ag + to Ag 0 (silver nanoparticles). The X-ray diffractometer (XRD) pattern showed that the material synthesized as silver nanoparticles. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterization showed that the nanoparticles have an average size 15.70 nm. The color intensity of silver nanoparticles decreased to be colorless after being contacted with mercury ion, indicating its potential for mercury metal ions detection.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO) and crude palm oil (CPO) are products of Indonesia’s natural wealth with significant antioxidant activity and potential as lip balm sticks to treat dry lips caused by sun exposure. This study aims to determine the formulation of lip balm stick preparations containing VCO and CPO that have sunscreen activity and acceptable physical characteristics. This study included the phases of testing, formulation of lip balm stick, sunscreen activity test, and evaluation of physical properties. The compositions were melted using a water bath, and the sunscreen’s efficacy was evaluated using UV-Vis spectrophotometry. VCO and CPO concentrations varied between 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15% (w/w). The F1 formula containing 5% VCO and 15% CPO (w/w) had the highest sun protection factor (SPF) value of 15.438. The evaluation of the formula activity test revealed that the higher the CPO content, the greater the sunscreen activity. Formula F1 has stable physical properties while stored at room temperature for 28 days. Formula F1 has a yellow color, chocolate scent, semi-solid consistency, homogeneous, 3.35 cm dispersion, 56 oC melting point, and 64-gram hardness. Formula F1 provides excellent sun protection and physical properties. It may be further evaluated as a lip balm stick sunscreen formulation for chapped lips.

Indonesia has a diversity of hot spring as a habitat of bacteria. One of the hot springs is Natar hot spring, Lampung. This study is to report the characteristics of a bacterium called Nat1 isolate that produces amylase to degrade raw starch from Natar hot spring. Water samples were taken from hot springs with a temperature of 45°C and a pH of 7.0. Nat1 was isolated by screening on the medium of Starch-Luria Bertani at 37°C. Its amylase-producing bacteria showed an optimum amylolytic activity of a crude enzyme of Nat1 isolate in soluble starch was 267.2774 U/mL at 60°C. Genotypic identification results using the 16S rRNA gene showed that the Nat1 isolate is identified as Panninobacter phragmatetus. A crude enzyme of Nat1 isolate showed a novel amylase ability and could degrade the raw starch substrates, such as corn and sago, with the amount of reducing sugar for each raw starch, 37.0688 µmol/mg, and 24.2697 µmol/mg. In conclusion, Nat1 amylase is potentially used in industry for its ability to degrade raw starch directly.

Sampo merupakan salah satu sediaan kosmetik yang digunakan untuk keramas sehingga membuat rambut menjadi bersih dan mudah untuk diatur. Sediaan sampo terdiri dari berbagai komponen, dengan surfaktan merupakan kunci dari pembersihan rambut karena memiliki struktur molekul yang terdiri dari bagian hidrofilik dan lipofilik dengan kemampuan menurunkan tegangan permukaan antara air dan kotoran sehingga tersuspensi dalam fase air. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk melihat pengaruh variasi sodium lauril sulfat (SLS) terhadap karakteristik sifat fisik sampo cair (organoleptik, pH, viskositas, dan bobot jenis). Sampo dibuat dengan metode emulsifikasi menggunakan minyak serai wangi (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle) dan ekstrak lidah buaya (Aloe vera) sebagai zat aktif. Pada awal formulasi, HPMC dikembangkan terlebih dahulu kemudian dicampurkan dengan fase air lain (berupa SLS, aloe vera, cocomide DEA, propil paraben, metil paraben, mentol, akuades). Fase air dan fase minyak (minyak serai wangi) dipanaskan pada suhu masing-masing 60-70˚C kemudian dicampurkan dicampurkan dengan magnetic stirrer pada kecepatan 800 rpm selama 15 menit. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan SLS berpengaruh signifikan (p<0,05) terhadap peningkatan pH, viskositas, dan bobot jenis dari sampo. Korelasi Pearson pada konsentrasi SLS terhadap pH yaitu R=0,926; terhadap viskositas yaitu R=0,973; sedangkan terhadap bobot jenis yaitu R=0,918. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini adalah SLS berpengaruh besar pada peningkatan pH, viskositas, dan bobot jenis sediaan sampo berbasis minyak serai wangi dan ekstrak lidah buaya.