IJTech International Journal of Technology

Increasing production of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) leads to a higher environmental burden due to its solid waste generation. Cocoa pod husk, one of the major solid wastes of cocoa production, contains rich bioactive compounds unveiling its valorization potential. With that in mind, our research aimed to explore the biological and antioxidant activities of aqueous extracts from cocoa pod husks. In this present work, cocoa pod husk was extracted using water and subsequentially partitioned using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol. The antimicrobial investigation revealed that the ethyl acetate solubles were active against the Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans, where at a 20% w/v concentration, the inhibition diameters were 6.62 ± 0.10, 6.52 ± 0.02, and 11.72 ± 0.36 mm, respectively. The extracts were found non-toxic proven by brine shrimp lethality tests against Artemia salina with LC₅₀ scores ranging from 74.1 to 19,054.6 μg/mL. The total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were obtained in the range of 47.44 to 570.44 mg/g GAE and 1.96 to 4.34 mg/g QE, respectively. Antioxidant activities of the obtained extracts were revealed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) assay with EC₅₀ reached as low as 9.61 μg/mL by the ethyl acetate soluble. Phytochemical screening based on gas chromatography—mass spectroscopy analysis on the sample with the highest antioxidant activities revealed the dominant presence of three phytosterols, namely gamma-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and campesterol.

Background: Tabletop Exercise (TTE) is a specific learning method through a simulation designed to test the competency and the ability of a group to respond to disasters. Using the map of disaster events is considered effective to prepare disaster drills rather than other methods. TTE method has been carried out annually to train the students, however no studies reported the effect of this method.Purpose: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of TTE on enhancing nursing students’ knowledge and attitude in a disaster drill. Methods: This study was conducted with one-group pre and post-test of a quasi-experimental design. The total samplings were 80 nursing students of the fourth year who undertook the disaster nursing course. The intervention of the study was started using the scenario of an earthquake disaster simulation using TTE media divided into four groups. The instruments consisted of two questionnaires: Students’ Knowledge on Tabletop Exercise (SKTE), and Students' Attitude on Tabletop Exercise (SATE) which were tested for their validity and reliability. The data were analyzed using a dependent paired t-test. Results: The study showed that TTE had a positive effect in enhancing the knowledge (p=0.001) and the attitude of nursing students in disaster drills (p=0.001) (df=79). Conclusion: TTE intervention was an effective direct learning method to improve students’ competencies in disaster response. TTE might be considered as a learning method in improving students' competencies in preparing disaster drills.

Investigations of antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-type 2 diabetes mellitus activities have been carried out onGarcinia macrophyllaMart. plant extract fractions. An isolate from a fraction of ethyl acetate extract was characterized with spectroscopic data. A new biflavonoid compound was found to have a skeleton of 5,7,4′,5″,7″,3‴,4‴-heptahydroxyflavanone[3-6″] flavones which was named macrophylloflavone (1). The compound was evaluated for its antibacterial activity againstEscherichia coliATCC 25922 andStaphylococcus aureusATCC 25923 with cephazolin as a positive control, antioxidant assay against 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) with ascorbic acid as the positive control, and anti-type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment with metformin as a positive control. The biflavonoid compound exhibited a good inhibition for bacteria and free radical DPPH. Furthermore, biflavonoid compound treatment on the diabetic rats suggested its ability to decrease the blood glucose level. This study provided evidence that the plant has antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic properties.

Background: Many researchers have paid attention to Theobroma cocoa pod husk for its bioactive phytoconstituents which have several medicinal benefits. Herein, we aim to evaluate the methanolic extract from T. cocoa pod husk and its partitions for their anticancer and antiretroviral activities. Methods: The T. cocoa pod husk was macerated using methanol, and then sequentially partitioned with n-hexane and ethyl acetate. MCF-7 and HeLa cells were used to assess the anticancer activities, while the simian retrovirus-2 (SRV-2)-infected A549 cells were used for antiretroviral study. The ethyl acetate partition (TCEA) was then fractionated and screened for in-vitro antioxidant and cytotoxicity. The most active fraction was sub-fractionated and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Results: The results suggested that TCEA had moderate and weak activities against MCF-7 (IC50=53.91 μg/mL) and HeLa cells (IC50=120.71 μg/mL), respectively. TCEA 125 μg/mL had higher anti-SRV-2 activity in comparison with lamivudine 25 μg/mL after 1—7 days of incubation. The GC-MS analysis of the polyphenol-predominated sub-fraction from the most active fraction revealed the presence of lupeol, syringaresinol, catechol, and squalene. Conclusions: TCEA derived from the methanolic extract of T. cacao pod husk had moderate activity against MCF-7 cells and weak activity against HeLa cells. Antiretroviral study suggests that TCEA 125 μg/mL had higher inhibitory activity against SRV-2 replication as compared to lamivudine 25 μg/mL.

Introduction: Indonesia has the highest risk and vulnerability to both natural and non-natural disasters in the world. Aceh Province located on the confluence of two earth fault plates has been discovered to be exposed to a higher risk leading to significant physical, emotional, and psychological problems. Therefore, there is a need for immediate disaster response efforts to reduce the impacts, and nurses are the largest care providers with adequate competencies to ensure effectiveness. Objective: The study aims to develop a study protocol to measure the effectiveness of the intervention program to improve nurses’ competencies in disaster response. Methods: A sequential exploratory mixed-method study design will be used. A qualitative phase is to explore nurses’ competencies in disaster response according to nurses, disaster survivors, hospitalized patients, members of the Ulama Consultative Assembly of Aceh, and hospital policymakers using FGDs and in-depth interviews. The result of this phase is to develop intervention and instruments. Data are analyzed using a content analysis. A quantitative phase is to examine the effectiveness of the initiated intervention programs on nurses’ competencies in disaster response with a randomized controlled trial study design. There will be three groups in this phase, namely Evidence-Based Intervention (EBI) group, Islamic-Based Intervention (IBI) group, and Control Group (CG). The nurses’ competencies related knowledge, skill, and attitude will be measured using valid and reliable instruments. Data will be analyzed using independent t-test, and a repeated measure one way ANOVA. Discussion: The findings are expected to be the basis for the development of appropriate tools and better intervention in nursing practice and education in relation to evidence and Islamic-based disaster curriculum as well as a guide for future research. Trial registration: on process with request number ANZCTR 378930