Shah Alam Ι (08/10/2019)| Students of Chemistry Education consisting four students such as Miftakhul Hidayati, Nur Faridatus So’imah, Rista Ni’matul Maula, and Destyana Larasati had successfully made Unimus in fame through winning the competition entitled “World Invention Competition and Exhibition” organised on 2-6 October 2019 in Subang Jaya Malaysia. By promoting the theme of the project entitled “Helps Save Your Life from Hypertension with B-Pack (Bittern Salt Package) Product” Miftakhul and team won bronze medal (category: health and medical) and eliminated 139 rival teams. Unimus young scientist proved to be excellent over 8 different countries across the world such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey, USA, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and Philippine.
Miftakhul and teams created the product from bittern (solution remains after precipitation of halite or common salt) lower in natrium (40% less sodium salt). The products created were called “Lessosa” (less sodium salt, b-ion water, salt scrub, and bath salt) that will help people suffer from hypertension. This product is able to lower blood pressure and increase relaxation for those who suffer from hypertension.
The idea was first initiated by Miftahul Hidayati as leader of the team. At the beginning, she was really concerned about the number of people with hypertension nowadays. ”Data from WHO indicates that the prevalence of hypertension tends to increasing from time to time, and it is expected that in 2025 people with hypertension will increase by 29%. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the percentage of people with hypertension is higher than 17%. Miftahul said that the intake of salt in Indonesian dishes proved to increase the hypertension, heart diseases, and stroke. Most of the people tends to eat high-sodium foods (fast foods, canned-food, and preserved foods). This bad habit create imbalance of blood pressure, mineral and lead to hypertension. The process of turning bittern to safe consumed product becomes the solution” she said. She also said that their innovation has been tested in laboratory and showed that sodium level in bittern is relatively low. We also tested the use of less sodium salt 2000 mg three times a day and drink 1500 mg “B-Ion Water” everyday and relaxation using salt scrub for 20 minutes (during 30 days) will lower the systolic and diastolic pressure significantly.
“It is expected that students innovation will give extra income for salt farmer, because so far bittern is not used. In the future, B-Pack product will be developed and studied with further research by adding several variable. The result should not be stopped in the competition level, but next, BPOM test will be conducted to proceed to commercial action.” Added Fitria Fatichatul Hidayah, S.Si., M.Pd., as the advisor. Hopefully, this achievement will inspire many others young scientist in Indonesia to create useful things as great contribution to this beloved country.
Reported by the Technical Unit of Public Relation and Protocol
