(Unila): The collaborative community service between the Medical Faculty (FK), Faculty of Agriculture (FP), and Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Unila resulted in parovia herbal tea for diabetes.
The community service particularly demonstrated how to make use of fragrant pandan leaves (Pandanus amary llifolius Roxb.) rich in antioxidants as a herbal tea product beneficial for diabetes sufferers, said Zulpakor Oktoba, the Head of Community Service from the Pharmacy Department, Unila.
According to Zulfakor, the lecturer at the Pharmacy Study Program, Medical Faculty, fragrant pandan leaves have very beneficial substances to boost the immune system, to relieve stress, inflammation, to protect the body from chronic diseases and from oxidative damage that causes premature aging.
Herbal tea is made of fragrant pandan leaves mixed with natural sugar from stevia leaves (Stevia rebaudiana) as well as rosemary leaves (Salvia rosmarinus) safe for diabetics. So far, pandan leaves have been known as a flavor enhancer for food and as a coloring for cakes and flavoring drinks.
As a matter of fact, pandan leaves contain phenolic substances as antioxidants that can inhibit free radical activity in the human body and are used as a drink to increase body immunity.
In addition to providing education regarding the use of pandan leaves as a Parovia herbal tea product, the PKM team demonstrated a simulation of the processing of dried pandan leaves. The practice starts from having the pandan leaves washed, cut, dried, sorted, refined and finally mixed with rosemary and stevia.
The community was also introduced with marketing strategies of how to sell the product of the herbal tea. Not only does the community have capability of producing herbal tea but they also get knowledge how to sell the product. This helps community boost their economic value. [PR Team]
