Judul: Aktivitas ekstrak etanol Daun Mindi (Melia azedarach L.) sebagai inhibitor alfa glukosidase secara in vitro
Abstrak: Melia azedarach L. yang dikenal dengan nama mindi adalah tanaman hutan yang digunakan dalam mengobati berbagai penyakit, termasuk hiperglikemia. Salah satu penanganan terhadap timbulnya hiperglikemia adalah melalui inhibisi -glukosidase di usus dengan menghambat hidrolisis oligosakarida menjadi monosakarida seperti glukosa, sehingga jumlah glukosa yang diserap tubuh sedikit. Penelitian ilmiah mengenai khasiat daun mindi sebagai antihiperglikemia melalui inhibisi -glukosidase belum pernah dilakukan. Oleh karena itu, tujuan penelitian ini adalah menguji aktivitas ekstrak etanol daun mindi sebagai antihiperglikemia dengan mengukur persen inhibisi α-glukosidase secara kuantitatif melalui metode spektrofotometri. Secara in vitro, enzim -glukosidase menghidrolisis substrat p-nitrofenil-α-D-glukopiranosida menjadi glukosa dan pnitrofenol berwarna kuning. Ekstrak kasar etanol daun mindi mampu menginhibisi 50% aktivitas -glukosidase dengan nilai IC50 sebesar 3444.114 μg/mL dengan total fenolik yang dihasilkan sebesar 17.94 μg GAE/mg ekstrak dan total flavonoid sebesar 9.55 μg QE/mg ekstrak.
Keyword: Alpha glucosidase, Flavonoids, Mindi, Phenolics, Biofarmaka, Herbal plant, Forest plant, Diabetes millitus

Judul: Total Fenolik, Flavonoid, dan Aktivitas Inhibisi Enzim α- Glukosidase Ekstrak dan Fraksi Ekstrak Daun Afrika (Vernonia amygdalina Del.)
Abstrak: Diabetes melitus merupakan gangguan metabolisme kronis yang ditandai dengan tingginya kadar gula darah dengan kasus kematian yang meningkat setiap tahunnya. Salah satu agen terapeutik antidiabetes yaitu inhibitor α-glukosidase. Penelitian terdahulu menunjukkan daun afrika (Vernonia amygdalina Del.) memiliki kemampuan inhibisi α-glukosidase. Penelitian ini bertujuan menentukan aktivitas inhibisi dan IC50 senyawa bioaktif hasil fraksinasi ekstrak etanol daun afrika terhadap enzim α-glukosidase. Daun afrika diekstraksi menggunakan etanol 70% kemudian difraksinasi bertingkat menggunakan n-heksana, etil asetat, n-butanol, dan air. Hasil fraksinasi dipekatkan menggunakan rotary evaporator dan dilakukan uji total fenolik, flavonoid, serta aktivitas inhibisi enzim dan menghitung nilai IC50 terhadap enzim α-glukosidase. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan fraksi etil asetat sebagai fraksi terbaik dengan kandungan total fenolik, total flavonoid, dan aktivitas inhibisi α-glukosidase paling tinggi dengan nilai IC50 sebesar 1.41 mg/mL.
Keyword: α-glucosidase, bitter leaf, flavonoid, IC50, phenolic

Judul: Thermal Characteristics and Dynamics of Tropical Cyclone over Western North Pacific Ocean: A Case Study of Typhoon Songda (Chedeng) 2011
Abstrak: The frequent occasion of Tropical Cyclone (TC) over Western North Pacific (WNP) Ocean lies from 10˚N to 26˚N and 121˚E to 170˚E. Sources of TC development come from warm ocean temperature where latent heat is released during condensation processes and subsequently concentrated in the boundary layer. Relative humidity at 850-700 hPa is responsible to produce the most intense storm. Meanwhile, weak vertical wind shear between 850-200 hPa is one of the dynamical factors that lead to the development of TC. Pressure level of 850-200 hPa is chosen to minimize the thermodynamic effect in the lower troposphere. Typhoon Songda (Chedeng in the Philippines) or TSC lasted from May 18th to 30th, 2011 and strengthened into powerful Super Typhoon stage between May 24th and 27th. Long curving track and the exhibition of all sequences of TC life cycle, TSC is then considered as an ideal case of TC. The objective of the study with case of TSC is to investigate the role of thermal characteristics and dynamics on TC intensity. The research is carried out by using Advanced Research of Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF ARW model) version 3.3. Two domains are employed in the model. The first domain situate from 02˚N to 40˚N and 118˚E to 149˚E and cover spatial resolution () of 33.1 km. The second domain situate from 09˚N to 27˚N and 119˚E to 132˚E with of 11 km. Timestep of the model () is 120 seconds. The model is supported by the following physical parameterization, i.e., Yonsei University Scheme (YSU) in the boundary layer, Kain-Fritsch scheme (KF) in the cumulus, and WRF Single-Moment 3-class scheme in the microphysics. Initial meteorological condition prior to the formation of the cyclone is generated using WRF ARW standard-release model. Sensitivity of the model output is obtained from a selected single-parameter change scenarios, namely, 10 % to 20 % decrease and increase of wind shear initial data at 850-200 hPa, and by 10 % to 20 % decrease of relative humidity initial data at 850-700 hPa. The result showed that the negative correlations between wind shear and intensity are found in wind shear scenarios. Wind shears of 10 ms-1 which lead to strengthening of the wind intensity in the early period of Typhoon development are found in wind shear scenarios. The effect of wind shear changes on wind intensity is statistically significant in the 20 % wind shear scenarios. During mature stage, weak wind intensity occurred when wind shear increase as given in the WRF standard-release and the 20 % decreasing scenario. Different situation is found in the 20 % increasing scenario where wind shear tend to weak and lead to strong wind intensity at this stage. Meanwhile, the reduction of moisture supply at 850-700 hPa resulting from 20 % decreasing relative humidity play a major role in the weakening of wind intensity and reduces mechanical energy of the cycle process as much as 300 J kg-1.
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