Abstract. Batubara R, Surjanto, Hanum TI, Handika A, Afandi O. 2020. Phytochemical screening and antioxidant activity of agarwood leaves (Aquilaria malaccensis) from two sites in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 1588-1596. Agarwood of gaharu (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk) has an antioxidant activity which can reduce free radicals. This research was conducted to analyze the chemical compounds of agarwood, and the antioxidant activities from two different grown sites, Laru, and Hutanabolon Village. Ethanol extracts of the agarwood leaves (EEAL) were obtained through maceration method. The phytochemical screening included the examination of secondary plant metabolites, while antioxidant activity was determined by free radicals scavenging activity against 1,1- diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). An observable parameter was the percentage of free-radical-reduction with different concentrations (40, 60, 80 and 100 ppm) and inhibitory concentrations (IC50) value by using regression equation. The phytochemical screening result showed that simplicia and EEAL from Laru grown site contained secondary plant metabolites, such as steroid/triterpenoids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins, while simplicia leaves of agarwood from Hutanabolon grown site contained alkaloids, steroid/triterpenoids, saponins, and tannins, However, EEAL from Hutanabolon was found to only contain alkaloids. The f antioxidant activity of EEAL from Laru 27.887 ± 0.560 ppm was not different from Hutanabolon 27.807 ± 4.630 ppm. The EEAL from both Laru and Hutanabolon had a very strong antioxidant activity.

Abstract:The communities who live around Sibolangit Tourism Park have developed nontimber forest products (NTFP) in their own agroforestry lands. This research evaluates the potential economic and development prospects from NTFP development in the Park by examining: (1) type of NTFP and economic value from community agrofrestry land, (2) contribution of NTFPs on household income, (3) development prospects of NTFP-based agroforestry around Sibolangit Tourism Park. The research was conducted in two selected villages around Sibolangit Tourism Park: Sembahe Village and Batu Mbelin Village. The research took place over a period between June and August 2016. Research data was obtained from in-depth interviews and observations. A descriptive method was used to analyze and describe facts related to the research aims. The type of NTFPs cultivated by communities at the research sites include mangosteen, durian, garcinia, candlenut, lanzones, lansium, bitter bean, and areca nut (as their forestry component) and ginger, turmeric, chili, papaya, etlingera, and banana (as the agriculture component). Most NTFPs are cultivated as a comercial product. The economic value of NTFPs in Batu Mbelin Village has reached IDR. 547,275,000/year or contribute 80.07% of total family income. Meanwhile, the economic value of NTFPs in Sembahe Village has reached IDR 682,100,000/year, contributing to 78.75% of total household income. Therefore, the prospects for supporting and expanding NTFP in agroforestry plots in and around Sibolangit Tourism Park has high potential for supporting household income.

Communities with habitat around the forest have used traditional medicine for quite long to maintain their health and treat various diseases. This research aimed to find out the medicinal plants utilized by the communities around Lau Debuk-debuk Tourism Park and to know the utilization of the medicinal plant species. This research implemented two approaches which consisted of field survey in two selected villages (Semangat Gunung Village and Doulu Village). There were sixty species of medicinal plants commonly used by people around Lau Debuk-Debuk Tourism Park. Parts of the plant used as medicines were leaves, root, flowers, plant bark, stem, and tubers. It was found that leaves are most widely used by people of both villages. The current research enlarges the knowledge of the application of endemic plants growing in the investigated area.

After the implementation of Law Number 23/2014 on Regional Government in Indonesia, the authority for forest management rests with the central and provincial governments. This study aims to (1) assess forest governance performance after the implementation of this law, (2) analyse the institutional aspects of forest governance after the implementation of this law and (3) formulate strategies to strengthen forest governance institutions. This study finds that although Law Number 23/2014 has been implemented in North Sumatra Province, the forestry sector remains centralistic; the characteristics of forest resources have not changed (these continue to be common pool resources) and the behaviour of the actors lacks synergy. In this scenario, the performance of forest governance has not improved significantly, as indicated by the incomplete designation of forest areas; the number of Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan that have not implemented the Badan Layanan Umum Daerah scheme; the low rights of access and low forest utilisation by the community; and the slow service process for permits; however, the costs for obtaining permits are according to regulations. This is in line with the results of this study’s institutional analysis, which show that (1) the provincial jurisdiction boundaries have narrowed, given that only the central government has authority over the forestry planning sub-function and forestry supervision; (2) many central government regulations continue to be used in forest management, characterising the low aspect of provincial regional representation rules; and (3) despite clear forest ownership rights, there are claims from other stakeholders, which indicates the low legitimacy of the parties. This study suggests that forest governance performance can be improved by expanding the jurisdiction boundaries through the assistance task mechanism to the provincial government; ensuring provincial government participation in formulating forest policies; and increasing the status of forest permit holders and managers from claimants to proprietors.

Agarwood grows wildly in the nature and its leaves may be utilized as raw materials for agarwood tea, especially from Aquilaria species. The study was conducted to determine the chemical compounds in the young and mature leaves of wild gaharu (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk). Chemical compounds were detected using pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (py-GCMS) while antioxidant capacity of the leaf extracts was assayed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical method. The results obtained a total of 30 chemical compounds in agarwood leaves extract with different composition between young and mature leaves. The agarwood leaves extracts displayed strong antioxidative capacity with a main compound namely octadecanoid acid or stearic acid.