Brown Seaweed Can Press Obesity

Researchers from Ma Chung University Malang Leenawaty Limantara, revealing brown seaweed commonly found in coastal Sumenep, Madura Island, able to suppress obesity.

"We've done the research and result in Sumenep, brown seaweed could be the anti-obesity drug. Seaweed could be a new hope for farmers to survive the onslaught of various products marketed widely in the era of globalization," said Leenawaty Limantara in Malang, East Java, Sunday (28/9).

Research conducted Rector Ma Chung University is funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation through Ma Chung Research Center for Photosyntetic Pigments (MCRPP).

According to him, the price of raw seaweed (not processed or packaged) highest average of only Rp15 thousand per kilogram, but if it is processed into medicinal products, in particular anti-obesity drugs or herbs can reach 4,000 times the original price.

He said to develop seaweed cultivation, the institute has been working with the East Java provincial government through innovation program "Center of Downstream Products Pigments Indonesian Seaweed".

Java was chosen to be the center of cultivation and development of brown seaweed for various reasons, including transportation facilities and adequate infrastructure.

Indeed, in other areas, such as Borneo, Sulawesi and eastern Indonesia there are also other brown seaweeds, but as the supporting infrastructure is still inadequate, so that will hinder the process or inter-regional traffic movement.

In addition, Leenawaty said it had signed a partnership with the East Java province, and also offered a partnership with Martha Tilaar cosmetics company to develop anti-obesity herbal based seaweed resulting from research conducted MCRPP.

In fact, he continued, in Indonesia many species of plants that can be developed and cultivated to be the raw material for medicine, food or otherwise, but is not protected, so much is lost and turns itself off.

"Should the government is to secure and protect the various species in order not to become extinct. Least some species and gene bank so that when needed development can be directly performed. Fact if necessary intergovernmental cooperation, and this should be pursued and prioritized," he said.