Kandangan, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - HSS Deputy Regent Syamsuri Arsyad received Achmad Rafieq from the Agricultural Technology Assessment Center (BPTP) South Kalimantan who visted the district to introduce the innovation of eucalyptus necklace made by the Agriculture Ministry's Agricultural Research and Development Agency (Balitbangtan).
He said, if the eucalyptus plant have been tested to have capabilities to fight the virus caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), so it will be a solution to suppress and stop the current pandemic.
"Hopefully this could be a solution to prevent the transmission and control of COVID-19, including to develop its use in HSS," he said when receiving the visit at his office, Tuesday (July 14, 2020).
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Achmad Rafieq from BPTP South Kalimantan said the eucalyptus-based products are currently being developed in three forms, necklace, inhaler, and roll-on, based on laboratory test the Balitbangtan has announced the benefits of active compound in eucalyptus plants.
The active compound is eucalyptol or 1,8-Cineol has a positive effect in inhibiting the growth of various type of influenza viruses, including the Betacorona which is similar to SARS-CoV-2.
However, for further research, the Ministry of agriculture has collaborated with the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), the UI's Medical Faculty, and the Unhas' Medical Faculty to conduct clinical test on the use of eucalyptus.
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