This research have focused on isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with potential antifungal which candidate as biopreservative microorganisms. LAB produce bioactive compound with antifungal activity. Thus, of a total of 69 lactic acid bacteria isolated and 39 isolates further tested its antifungal activity. Indigenous moulds that will be tested for antifungal activity of LAB were obtained from unfermented cocoa beans. There were black mould (allegedly Aspergillus niger), green mould (allegedly Aspergillus fumigatus) and grayish white mold (allegedly Mucor spp.). Thus, 18 isolates of LAB that could inhibit all of three types of fungi further identified in a phenotype, 3 isolates of LAB with highest antifungal activity in identification with API 50 CHL method and identified as Lactobacillus fermentum, with a different value of ID value, ID 99,8% (F1L-6an) criteria : very good identification; ID 99.9% (F1L-6dsr), criteria : very good identification , and ID 89.8% (F3L-7P) criteria : very good identification to the genus. LAB isolates obtained can be used as starter cultures to improve the quality of fermentation to inhibit the growth of mould, mycotoxin production, and fungicide residues so as to improve quality, safety of cocoa concumption, and increase the price of Indonesian cocoa bean exports.

A large number of forests at Munggu Village, Ngabang District, Landak Regency have been converted into oil palm and rubber plantations. As consequences, natural habitats in the region have been fragmented and species diversity, including herpetofauna, has been decreased. This study aimed to assess herpetofauna diversity in four different habitats in Munggu Village: (1) forests, (2) Landak river, (3) tourist areas, and (4) rubber plantations. Data collection used Visual Encounter Survey (VES) for 8 days.[u1]  The results showed that the total of 24 herpetofauna species: 15 amphibians’ species (4 families) and 9 reptiles species (6 families) have been recorded from the four sampled areas. Of the four locations 11 species were found in river habitat in the forest, 4 species in the location of Landak river, 8 species in tourism sites and 9 species in rubber plantations. The Shannon-Wiener (H') diversity index in all four habitats was classified as moderate. In the river location in the forest, H' was 2.14, in the Landak river it was 1.28, in the tourism sites it was 1.71 and in the rubber plantation it was 1.87. However, the evenness index (E) for the herpetofauna community in all four locations was >0.80. Habitat loss and habitat destruction are among the causes of decline in amphibian and reptile populations. Knowing the diversity of herpetofauna, it is hoped that the community and stakeholders can collaborate to secure the herpetofauna in Munggu Village.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the hypocholesterolemic activity of kedawung (Parkia roxburghii), an underutilized and lesss-known tree nut. Kedawung was prepared into kedawung powder (BK), kedawung extract (SK) and hydrolyzed kedawung (HK) and then analyzed for its proximate and total phenol content. Furthermore, SK and HK were administered to rats to evaluate their effects on the lipid profile. Oral administration of HK at 160 mg/kg body weight increased the HDL cholesterol level and lowered the LDL and total cholesterol levels in blood of the administered rats. Among groups of the administered rats that completed the 35-day treatment, total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol were significantly reduced (p0.01). The present data showed that kedawung has a hypocholesterolemic activity because of its phenolic content that acts as antioxidant that can bind cholesterol in blood; composition and distribution of amino acid in HK that changed the cholesterol metabolism (reduced cholesterol concentration); protein content in HK that increased the production of lipoprotein that plays a role in suppression of plaque and atherosclerosis. Therefore, hydrolyzed kedawung can be used as an hypocholesterolemic food material.

We describe a new species of water snake genus Hypsiscopus that was formerly placed in the genus Enhydris from Towuti Lake, South Sulawesi, based on six specimens collected in 2003 and a specimen collected in 2019. The new species has several significant differences from other species in the genus Hypsiscopus (H. matannensis, H. plumbea, and H. murphyi) in possessing laterally compressed tail, higher number of scale rows in mid body, higher number of ventral scales, lower number of subcaudal scales, and distinct color pattern. The new species is likely distributed only in the Towuti Lake, and has higher level endemicity compared to H. matannensis. Further studies on the population and distribution are needed to evaluate its conservation status.