Improving Simplicia of Kerangas Forest by Minimizing Microbial Content Under Ultraviolet Radiation Treatment

Abstract

Kerangas forest is known as a source of tradi- tional medicinal plants and thus potentially the source of simplicia. Medicinal plant preparations of simplicia are usu- ally dried to meet water content standards (< 10%). However, in some cases the drying process carried out still does not eliminate the microbial content in the simplicia. This study aims to analyze the phytochemical compounds contained in three types of medicinal plant simplicia and the total microbial content by treatment with ultraviolet (UV) irra- diation. The types of simplicia used were Baeckea frutescens leaves, Shorea balangeran bark and Vitex pubescens leaves (obtained from the kerangas forest). Before testing the total microbial content, simplicia first received UV irradiation. The first simplicia sample was not irradiated, while the next simplicia sample was given UV irradiation with a power of 60 watts and an irradiation time of 1, 2 and 4 h. The micro- bial content test used the total plate count method with the pour plate analysis technique. S. balangeran is unexposed species to microbes, even without UV irradiation. Radiation with a UV lamp for 1 h with a lamp power of 60 watts and a distance of the sample with a lamp of 30 cm effectively eliminates microbes in B. frutescens simplicia. Radiation for 4 h with a UV lamp of 60 watts and a sample distance of 30 cm was only able to eliminate the microbial content in V. pubescens simplicia. The results of this study indicate that S. balangeran has high potential to be developed as an antibacterial.