Channa.id – The Ministry of Research and Technology / National Research and Innovation Agency (RISTEK/BRIN) officially announced the results of the second phase of the research consortium and innovation program for accelerating the handling of Coronavirus Disease-19 (Covid-19) on July 6, 2020.
From a total of 902 research proposals submitted by various universities and research institutions across Indonesia, 139 proposals were selected for meeting the required criteria. One of the selected studies has also been published in the prestigious international scientific journal Scientific Reports.
Among the selected proposals, 30 focus on prevention research, which will be further developed through downstream processes such as research, development, assessment, and application. The aim is to produce outcomes that can be utilized by the community in efforts to control Covid-19.
During the official announcement of the second phase on July 10, 2020, the Minister of Research and Technology, Prof. Bambang Brodjonegoro, S.E., M.UP., Ph.D., emphasized the importance of collaboration in the consortium.
“Research today must prioritize collaboration and synergy between researchers, industry partners, and the government as regulator and facilitator,” he stated.
The Minister also highlighted the urgent need to develop supplements in the prevention sector to strengthen the immune system and reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. He further stressed that these supplements must meet quality standards and comply with clinical procedures.
“The development of proposed supplements in this program must strictly follow complete procedures,” he added.
One of the projects that successfully passed the selection stage is the research on developing a natural product combination derived from Channa striata (snakehead fish), Phyllanthus niruri (chanca piedra), and Curcuma xanthorrhiza (temulawak) for Covid-19 prevention.
This research, led by Chief Investigator Imam Bagus Sumantri, S.Farm., M.Si., Apt., is a collaboration between the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FF USU), PT Akar Rimba (AR), and PT Mega Medica Pharmaceuticals (MMP). Both companies have extensive experience in extracting snakehead fish for more than five years. Together, they aim to develop an immunomodulatory product to strengthen the human immune system.
The project, titled “Development of Capsule Formulation of Snakehead Fish, Phyllanthus niruri, and Curcuma xanthorrhiza Extracts as an Immunomodulator for Covid-19 Prevention”, is considered highly promising as a potential daily supplement to maintain immunity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Broadly, the study seeks to explore the pharmacological benefits of combining these three natural ingredients, each of which is already known to possess significant immunomodulatory properties when used individually.
Previous studies have shown that snakehead fish, rich in protein and particularly albumin, plays an important role in macrophage activation. Meanwhile, Phyllanthus niruri contains phyllanthin, and Curcuma xanthorrhiza contains curcumin—both compounds known to enhance macrophage function and boost antibody synthesis within the immune system.
More specifically, this research—covering both pre-clinical and clinical stages—will examine the combined effects of snakehead fish, chanca piedra, and temulawak extracts in activating macrophages, T cells, and B cells. The goal is to help prevent transmission, accelerate clinical recovery, and reduce hospitalization time for Covid-19 patients.
With a well-structured research design, a competent team of scientists, and strategic collaboration with industry partners to ensure high-quality and controlled pharmaceutical products, this study is expected to produce significant outcomes for Covid-19 prevention.