Innovations emerging from among students can provide solutions to challenges faced by society and contribute to driving Indonesia toward becoming a more advanced nation. One real-world example is what was done by Muhammad Yusuf, a student in the Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology (TRKI) study program at the Vocational School of Diponegoro University (UNDIP). Yusuf, who is more commonly called Ucup, successfully completed his TRKI applied bachelor’s degree with guidance from Mohamad Endy Yulianto.
Yusuf revealed that thanks to the patience and guidance provided by his mentor, he finally succeeded in obtaining a patent for his invention titled “Process for Extracting Piperine from Java Pepper Using Subcritical Water” (Patent No. IDS000006334). This remarkable achievement also paved the way for Yusuf to join the leading company, PT. ESSA Industries Indonesia Tbk, along with his fellow TRKI students, Muhammad Fikri Arief and Ahmad Walihul Mahali.
Currently, Yusuf works at PT ESSA Industries Indonesia Tbk in the Ammonia Plant division as a Management Trainee (MT). He explained that his research, titled “Extraction of Piperine Compounds from Piper Nigrum for Anti-Acne (Propionibacterium Acnes) thru Hydrothermal Process,” has helped boost his confidence in facing the future. This patent achievement also played a significant role in helping him secure a position in a leading industry.
The background of this research focuses on the significant potential of Indonesia’s abundant natural resources, which must be utilized to develop value-added products, such as pharmaceutical raw materials. The demand for natural pharmaceutical raw materials is increasing, considering that many natural ingredients contain active compounds with extraordinary benefits, such as black pepper and Java chili. Currently, the use of these two ingredients is still limited to being an addition to cooking. Therefore, Yusuf emphasized the importance of utilizing black pepper and Java chili, which contain piperine, as an antibacterial agent to treat acne.
Yusuf also explained the various benefits of piperine, which include acting as an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-malarial, toxin neutralizer, fever reducer, and helping with weight loss and improving the absorption of certain types of vitamins. To obtain more efficient extraction results, he proposed developing a Green Solvent-based extraction method.
One extraction method considered more efficient and effective is subcritical water extraction. The diffusion process of subcritical water in the organic matrix shows a significant improvement. “The higher the extraction temperature, the lower the viscosity of the water and the surface tension, which causes the water’s diffusivity to increase tenfold,” Yusuf explained.
Currently, the research is being continued by his younger colleagues, and Yusuf is also exploring collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry to develop nano-piperine herbal medicine in capsule form. Hopefully, this product can be marketed soon and provide real benefits to the community, especially for those who are struggling to recover from illness, Yusuf concluded.