In the course of searching for new materials to use as whitening agents, we screened 19 methanol extracts prepared from 14 medicinal plants from Central Kalimantan province, Indonesia. The screening methods used were the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging assay, a tyrosinase inhibition assay, and a melanin formation inhibition assay using B16 melanoma cells. The extracts of Willughbeia coriacea (bark part of aerial root), Phyllanthus urinaria (root), Eleutherine palmifolia (bulb), Eusideroxylon zwageri (seed), Dendrophthoe petandra (aerial root), Passiflora foetida (stem), and Vitex pinnata (root) showed DPPH radical-scavenging activity of more than 70% at 100 microg/ml. The extracts of W. coriacea (bark part of aerial root), P. urinaria (root), and D. petandra (aerial root) showed tyrosinase inhibitory activity of more than 40% using L-tyrosine as a substrate at 500 microg/ml. The extracts of W. coriacea (bark part of aerial root) and D. petandra (aerial root) showed tyrosinase inhibitory activity of more than 40% using L-DOPA as a substrate at 500 microg/ml. The extracts of W. coriacea (bark part of aerial root, 200 microg/ml), Glochidion philippcum (aerial root, 200 and 300 microg/ml), E. palmifolia (bulb, 50 microg/ml), E. zwageri (seed, 100 microg/ml), D. petandra (aerial root, 200 microg/ml), Lansium domesticum (bark, 25 microg/ml), P. foetida (stem, fruit, 300 microg/ml), and Solanum torvum (root, 300 microg/ml) strongly inhibited the melanin production of B16 melanoma cells without significant cytotoxicity. These findings indicate that some medicinal plants from Central Kalimantan are potential ingredients for skin-whitening cosmetics if their safety can be confirmed.

This study investigated the effects of the pressing temperature on the mechanical and physical properties of binderless bark particleboard made from Gelam bark waste and the improvement of those properties. In addition, the thermal insulation properties of the particleboard were determined. Four different temperatures (140 °C, 160 °C, 180 °C, and 200 °C) were used to make single-layer binderless bark particleboard with a target density of less than or equal to 0.59 g/cm3. Results revealed that the pressing temperature affected the mechanical properties (modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, and tensile strength perpendicular to panel surface), which increased as the temperature increased, and the physical properties (thickness swelling and water absorption), which decreased as the temperature increased. Based on the Tukey test, increasing the temperature from 180 to 200 °C did not significantly affect the mechanical or physical properties, except for the tensile strength perpendicular to panel surface. None of the mechanical properties met SNI standard 03-2105-2006 (2006); however, the 12% maximum thickness swelling requirement was met for binderless bark particleboard hot-pressed at 200 °C. Binderless bark particleboard hot-pressed at 200 °C had high water resistance, regardless of its low strength, and a thermal conductivity value of 0.14 W/m∙K.

The problem of plastic waste is still an environmental threat, but efforts to suppress plastic waste continue to be developed until now. Purun straws are a biodegradable product to solve the problem of plastic waste. So, purun straw products can become the concern of an environmentally aware global community. The research aims to describe purun straws as an eco-friendly product. In-depth interviews with key informants revealed that purun danau (Lepironia articulate) was sufficiently available as a raw material, and a semi-finished purun straw product was produced, which was eco-friendly

The production of low-density binderless bark particleboards (LDBBP) from gelam wood bark (GWB) using a hot pressing method at low temperature (128 °C) and pressure (30 kg × cm-2) was explored by examining their physical properties according to SNI 03-2105-2006 (2006). They were also examined via scanning electron microscope (SEM)-energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) observation. The LDBBPs were manufactured using two types of GWB particles: (1) bark waste that was peeled off of small-diameter trees < 10 cm (A) and, (2) bark that was directly peeled off from a standing tree with an average diameter of 10 cm to 15 cm (B). Results showed that the average values of the physical properties of LDBBP(A) and LDBBP(B) met the SNI 03-2105-2006 (2006) requirements in terms of density, moisture content, and thickness swelling after being immersed for 24 h for particleboard type 24-10 and type 17.5-10.5 with maximum thickness swelling requirement 20%. However, they failed to meet the maximum thickness swelling criterion of 12% for other particleboard types. Subsequent internal morphology observation using SEM indicated the presence of cracks on LDBBP (A), so only LDBBP (B) could be manufactured without delamination. Gelam bark could potentially be used to produce non-adhesive particleboards.

Terrestrial arthropods inhabit the Hanjulutung lake floodplain (HLF) were characterized. Terrestrial arthropods were trapped with pitfalls where installed on two lakeside at nine different sampling site and two sampling date, April (before flooding) and July (after flooding). Carabidae, Formicidae, and Gryllidae dominated HLF. Carabidae and Formicidae were the primary dwellers of HLF on the outside and inside the lake, respectively. A result of Nonmetric-Multi Dimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination was concluded that two lakeside does not show different terrestrial arthropods assemblages but outside of HLF showed higher terrestrial arthropods. The sensitivity of Carabidae to flood event and their existence in floodplain ecosystems are identification tool for successful floodplain restoration.Karakterisasi artropoda tanah yang mendiami dataran banjir danau Hanjulutung (DBDH) dilakukan. Artropoda tanah dijebak dengan perangkat sumur jebakan yang dipasang pada kedua sisi danau di sembilan lokasi yang berbeda dengan dua waktu pengambilan sampel, Bulan April (sebelum banjir) dan Juli (sesudah banjir). Komposisi artropoda tanah penghuni DBDH adalah didominasi kumbang karabid, semut, dan belalang. Kumbang karabid dan semut adalah penghuni utama DBDH pada masing-masing bagian danau. Hasil Ringkasan ordinasi Nonmetric-Multi Dimensional Scaling (NMDS) menyimpulkan bahwa kedua bagian danau tidak menunjukan perbedaan komposisi dan struktur artropoda terestrial tetapi sisi luar DBDH menunjukan kekayaan atropoda tanah yang lebih tinggi. Kepekaan kumbang karabid terhadap kejadian banjir dan keberadaannya di dataran banjir merupakan alat identifikasi keberhasilan restorasi dataran banjir.