Judul: Fungsi Hati Tikus yang Diberi Aromaterapi Ekstrak Bangle Sebagai Pelangsing Tubuh
Abstrak: Bangle (Zingber purpereum Roxb.) has been widely used as a traditional medicine such as for a body slimming. This study was aimed to examine the safety of bangle extracts aromatherapy against mouse hearts by analysis of SGOT and SGPT. The effects of extracts on the liver was detected through observing the color of the liver, SGOT, SGPT and liver histopathology. A total of 50 adult Sprague-Dawley strain rats were divided into 5 groups, group A negative control (normal feed), group B positive control (high fat diet), group C crude extract inhalation bangle (dimetoksifenil butadiena – DMPBD), group D inhalation by compounds fraction x (sabinena), group E inhalation by pure bangle compounds (terpinen-4-ol). The analysis was conducted using spectrofotometric technique to measure SGPT and SGOT enzyme activity in blood and liver histopatologi to examine the condition of liver funcion. This suggests that aromatherapy slimming treatment using extracts and compounds derived from the bangle does not affect the performance of the liver function so it safe for the liver.
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Judul: Fractionation of Bangle Essential Oil (Zingiber purpureum) as Aromatherapy for Antiobesity
Abstrak: Bangle is one of aromatic plants which contains of essential oil. The aims of this research were to find essential oil from bangle rhizomes and fractions having potency as aromatherapy for antiobesity. The essential oil contained in the rhizome isolated using distilation method were 0.38-0.91% (v/w) based on wet weight. The potency of compound in crude essential oil, fraction 1, and fraction 4 as aromatherapy for antiobesity was tested in vivo on male Sprague-Dawley rats. Inhalation of crude essential oil, fraction 1, and fraction 4 showed lower response to body weight gain of rats than positive control group (cholesterol fed). Among the three inhalated groups, the rats inhalating fraction 4 had the lowest response to body weight gain, i.e. 37.34% (w/w). Based on analysis of terpenes by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the dominant compound in bangle essential oil and in fraction 4 is terpinene-4-ol, indicating that the compound is potential as an aromatherapy for antiobesity.
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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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