Three students of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) have turned red ginger into a formula that can serve to inhibit chronic kidney disease with hypertension risk factors.
“Red ginger contains compounds such as gingerol, shogaol, flavonoids and antioxidant activity that can inhibit the enzymes that cause vasoconstriction and can lower blood pressure,” said Nada Hanifah, one of the students who developed the formula on Tuesday (9/7) during a press conference at UGM’s Public Relations office.
She said the antioxidant content in red ginger can also reduce oxidative stress, thus preventing kidney damage. Red ginger extract is formulated with nanoemulsion technology to improve the solubility, stability, and efficacy of the extract.
The ZAHA formula was created by Nada and fellow students Yusuf Farid Achmad and Aida Humaira under the supervision of Prof. Dr. drh. Siti Isrina Oktavia Salasia in a Student Creativity Program that was funded by Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Research and Technology.
Nada explained the development of ZAHA was motivated by their concern for patients with chronic kidney disease. This disease is slowly emerging and chronic. The second most common cause is hypertension (25%). Meanwhile, increased blood pressure over a long period of time can damage the kidney if not detected early and treated well.
The students made the formula from red ginger which is a natural ingredient for the treatment of the disease. Red ginger is a well-known herbal plant that has been consumed for generations by the community.
“Our research showed the level of kidney damage that occurred in mice could be inhibited, whereas blood pressure has significantly reduced in the group of mice that is treated with ZAHA,” she explained.
She expected the research could be investigated further to be used as alternative drugs for chronic kidney disease with hypertension factors.
Source: https://ugm.ac.id/id/berita/18070-mahasiswa-ugm-olah-jahe-merah-jadi-obat-penyakit-ginjal-kronis
