Indonesian Students Create Body Lotion Claimed to Be Able to Tackle Coronavirus

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian studentss from Brawijaya University recently created a body lotion which is claimed to be able to protect the body from being exposed to the coronavirus. Citing the university's official website ub.ac.id, on Tuesday, August 3, five students used flavonoid content in moringa leaves and catfish skin collagen in the making of the lotion.

Their concern of high level usage of hand sanitizers during the pandemic had resulted in the idea of making the lotion. Most sanitizers tend to dry out the skin and people usually use lotions to moisturize the skin. However, there are negative effects in the long-term use of synthetic ingredients such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and parabens in body lotion which have been proven to be toxic and carcinogenic.

Therefore, the five students initiated to use moringa leaves and catfish skin in their body lotion.

Indri Dwi Fitria, one of the students involved in this innovation said that the content of moringa leaves such as apiin, epicatechin and hesperetin which have good affinity for the active site of ACE2 (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2), can inhibit the SARS-Cov-2 interaction process. "In addition, collagen from catfish skin can be used to prevent premature aging, prevent wrinkles, moisturize the skin and increase skin elasticity," she explained .

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology granted them with a research fund in the 2021 Entrepreneurship Student Creativity Week. The founders in this research are students of Brawijaya University Fisheries and Marine Science Faculty, namely Indri Dwi Fitria, Rani Elvira, Jamiilah Zahrotul Jannah, Kevin, and Alfain Homis Fadil, under the guidance of professor Muhammad Fakhri.

The Brawijaya University students-made body lotion, called Moristin, is claimed to be safe, healthy and provides more protection while not causing side effects when used regularly. The content of this lotion is formulated as an antiseptic that is rich in antioxidants, able to make the skin moist and healthy, can protect the skin from UV rays and avoid the threat of bacteria and viruses, including COVID-19.

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Ahmad Faiz Ibnu Sani | Maudey K. Setyakusuma (Intern)