UNAIR NEWS – Four students of Universitas Airlangga Faculty of Pharmacy have successfully utilized phenol content from betel leaf, basil, lemongrass, and fleabane leaves to create Multipurpose Powder (Beta-TIP) which can overcome skin problems all in one as powder, natural face mask, or deodorant.
It has a good prospect as its natural compositions are also efficacious, and the Directorate General of Higher Education Kemenristekdikti funded the research through Entrepreneurship Student Creativity Program (PKMK) in 2016. The four students of Faculty of Pharmacy UNAIR are Danik Mahfirotul H (captain), Risqy Sobriya A , Lisa Tri A, and Annita Putri.
Beta- TIP product ( Tabak Multipurpose Powder ) is still in the stage of registration in the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) to be a cosmetic product that can be sold freely in the market.
Described by Danik Mahfirotul, head of this PKM group, the background of this innovation was the skin problems with high prevalence in tropical countries, such as in Indonesia. High temperature reaching above 30º C resulted in many cause various skin disorders such as itching, rash, prickly heat and complaints of body odor.
In 2011, skin diseases and subcutaneous tissue ranked third of the top ten diseases in outpatients in hospitals throughout Indonesia, which was 192,414 visits with 48,576 new cases (Kemenkes, 2012). Skin diseases in Indonesia are mostly caused by bacterial infections, fungi, parasites, and allergies.
Many solutions are offered to overcome various problems on those skin. There is hazardous chemical from various brands powder, natural skin mask, to modern deodorant. “Therefore our team of PKMK Pharmacy UNAIR motivated to make multipurpose powder that is efficacious all in one ,” said Danik.
The materials used make this powder 100% blend of natural ingredients that have been tested useful for skin health. For example, the content of phenol from betel and basil is useful as an antiseptic and antifungal that can reduce the growth of bacteria and fungi in the skin. Then fleabane marsh is believed to help eliminate body odor, and there are still some other natural compositions.
This antiseptic powder product is packaged economically and practical to be taken anywhere. Beta-TIP can also be used for all ages and different sexes without worrying about harmful side effects. This product can also keep the armpits dry, can reduce irritation due to chemicals, allergies, inhibit the growth of underarm hair, and certainly do not leave marks on the clothes.
“The use of Beta-TIP as a natural health product does not require a difficult application. Just need to sprinkle talcum sufficiently over the itchy body parts armpit skin, “said Danik Mahfirotul H.
They believed that this product has a good market opportunity because it targets all people, both men and women, adults and children. Moreover, this product only costs Rp 8,500 for one sachet @15 grams.
Based on trials in the market so far, some consumers have felt the benefits of efficacious Beta-TIP powder. It can be used as deodorant, it can also be used to treat skin diseases such as prickly heat and itching because of allergies.
“We will soon produce 40mg cup packs which is more economical with better packaging,” added Danik. (*)
Editor: Bambang Bes
