The study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant activity of Zingiber officinale Roscoe (ginger) extract compared to antioxidant compounds such as; Butyl Hydroxy toluene (BHT), Diethyl-dithiocarbamate (DDC) and Ascorbic Acid (Vit. C). The antioxidant activity (DPPH), total phenolic content (TPC) and reducing power (RP) were studied. DPPH inhibitory values demonstrated through IC50 from ginger extract were significantly lower than those of other antioxidants at the same concentrations: ginger (122.2 ± 16.78%), Vit. C (158.21 ± 4.14%), BHT (195.84 ± 5.94%) and DDC (240.39 ± 43.75%) respectively. This proves that ginger extract is more active inhibiting DPPH free radicals. At a concentration of 100 μg / ml, the TPC level indicates the order: Vit. C > DDC > BHT > ginger respectively. As for RP test at concentration 100 μg / ml also Vit. C > ginger > DDC > BHT respectively. The results obtained in present study indicate that, ginger extract is a potential source of natural antioxidant capable of inhibiting and breaking the free radical chain and it’s expected to suppress the development of degenerative cells diseases.

The tooth enamel colour play an important role in esthetics. The discoloured teeth could be due to the using of boild Piper betle extract as a mouth wash. Up to now many people in Indonesia using the boiling Piper betle extract to manage oral diseases and to prevent tooth decay. The aim of this in vitro study are to know the effective concentration and application time of this agent to change the enamel colour. Fresh Piper betle leaves were processed to get 4 differents concentration (50, 33, 25, and 5%). Aquabidest was used as negative control. Every concentration was studyed using 2 maxillae premolar teeth in 24, 48, and 72 hours application times. 30 good condition teeth were used in this research.    The results showed that every concentration gaves discoloured changes. The optimal concentration and duration are 25% and 48 hours. It is concluded that using of this gargling agent must be intermittent. It can be suggested to use this agent only once or twice daily, each for 2 until 3 minutes gargling.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity not only affect an individual’s health physically but also psychologically. So, it is imperative for a clinician to take care both aspects of the individuals. Methods: This study is to report the effects of acupuncture and meditation therapy on the slimming indices of the overweight and obese women visiting our aesthetic clinic. They were voluntarily segregated into two groups, ie. one group consisted of women who selected acupuncture therapy (AT) only, the other group consisted of women who selected acupuncture and meditation therapy (AMT). Both groups’ body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were measured at the first visit and after eight and sixteen sessions of therapy, respectively. The differences between pre-therapy and post-therapy indices and between AT and AMT groups were analysed using two tailed t-test at 95% confidence interval (alpha at 0.05). Results: Subjects were seventeen women with overweight and obesity visiting aesthetic clinic for slimming treatment. Ten women chose AT and seven women chose AMT. After eight and sixteenth sessions of therapy, both AT and AMT groups show very significant reduction in the BMI and WC (P<0.01). The AMT subjects reported that they felt more relaxed and refreshed, and continued meditation practice at home. Discussion: The subjects that chose AMT have significantly lower BMI at the first visit compared to the subjects that chose AT, ie. BMI at 24,33±0,97 kg/m2 and 28,00±2,08 kg/m2(P<0.01), respectively. The age of AMT subjects is in average significantly older than AT subjects, ie. 34,42±5,99 years and 29,2±4,9 years respectively (P<0.01). This may indicate that at the initial or milder state of gaining overweight or obesity, as well as the older women were more aware of the need to seek tranquillity or to overcome the stressful mind through meditation practice.