ACADEMIA Letters SOGA GUMMY: A Novel Natural Jelly Candy from Sambiloto and Pectin of Dragon Fruit Peel as Immunomodulator in Children in the Pandemic Era Noor Rezky Fitriani, Chemistry, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia Fahrul Nurkolis, Biological Sciences, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia Reza Sukma Dewi, Biological Sciences, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia Dian Aruni Kumalawati, Biological Sciences, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia Aldy Rahman Dharma Putra Sanjaya, Biological Sciences, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia Yan Nurrezkytaku A, Industrial Engineering, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia Astri Arnamalia, Chemistry, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia Nadasyifa Mawadha Sasya, Chemistry, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia Zidni Amaliyatul Hidayah, Biological Sciences, State Islamic University of Sunan Kalijaga (UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta), Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, 55281, Indonesia Academia Letters, May 2022 ©2022 by the authors — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Fahrul Nurkolis, fahrul.nurkolis.mail@gmail.com Citation: Fitriani, N.R., Nurkolis, F., Dewi, R.S., Kumalawati, D.A., Sanjaya, A.R.D.P., A, Y.N., Arnamalia, A., Sasya, N.M., Hidayah, Z.A. (2022). SOGA GUMMY: A Novel Natural Jelly Candy from Sambiloto and Pectin of Dragon Fruit Peel as Immunomodulator in Children in the Pandemic Era. Academia Letters, Article 5301. 1 INTRODUCTION Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been ravaging the world for more than a year and has become a serious health problem in all countries. Currently, various variants of the corona virus are starting to be found in various countries, including Indonesia. One of the variants that are now starting to be found in Indonesia is the Delta variant of the Corona virus (B1.617.2) which was first discovered in India (1). This new variant is known to be more contagious than the previous variant. Based on the results of a study by a joint research team from WHO, it shows that the Delta variant of the corona virus has a 97% higher transmission rate than the original variant (2). The Delta variant of the Corona Virus does not only attack adults, but can also occur in children. This virus even tends to attack children under the age of 18 years. This is reinforced by data from IDAI that there has been a spike in positive cases of COVID-19 in a number of regions in Indonesia with 12.5% of cases occurring in children aged 0-18 years. This means that one in eight positive confirmed cases in Indonesia are children. Ironically, the death of children due to COVID-19 in Indonesia is the highest in the world, reaching 3-5% and 50% of them are under-fives (3). This is due to the lack of massive vaccinations for children because the government is still focusing on vaccinating adults, the lack of immunomodulator supplements for children, and the low awareness of children to reduce mobility and health protocols. Seeing this worrying condition, if it is not immediately addressed, it will increase the number of child deaths. As a result, Indonesia will lose its next generation in the future. Therefore, preventive and curative measures are needed as an effort to overcome these problems, one of which can be done by keeping the child’s immune system good. Strategies to increase the immune system in children can be done by adding supplements that are immunomodulators that work as immune system controllers. Substances in supplements that can act as immunomodulators, one of which can be found in the bitter plant. Sambiloto is a plant that is easy to cultivate and easy to find in Indonesia. Sambiloto contains the active compound andrographolide which is able to improve the function of the body’s defense system such as white blood cells to attack bacteria and other antigens (4). Meanwhile, currently most pharmaceutical preparations for supplements are in the form of tablets, pills, or capsules, where children have difficulty consuming them so that a supplement preparation that is liked by children is needed, such as jelly candy. One of the ingredients for making jelly candy is pectin. Dragon fruit has a fairly high pectin content, especially in the skin. However, during this time dragon fruit peel is rarely used and more often becomes waste, causing environmental pollution. Whereas dragon fruit Academia Letters, May 2022 ©2022 by the authors — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Fahrul Nurkolis, fahrul.nurkolis.mail@gmail.com Citation: Fitriani, N.R., Nurkolis, F., Dewi, R.S., Kumalawati, D.A., Sanjaya, A.R.D.P., A, Y.N., Arnamalia, A., Sasya, N.M., Hidayah, Z.A. (2022). SOGA GUMMY: A Novel Natural Jelly Candy from Sambiloto and Pectin of Dragon Fruit Peel as Immunomodulator in Children in the Pandemic Era. Academia Letters, Article 5301. 2 peel has the potential to be used as pectin as an ingredient for making jelly candy. Based on these problems, the author provides an innovation “SOGA GUMMY: A Novel Natural Jelly Candy from Sambiloto and Pectin of Dragon Fruit Peel as Immunomodulator in Children in the Pandemic Era”. CONTENTS Sambiloto with the Latin name Andrographis paniculata Nees is a superior medicinal plant that contains Andrographolide compounds which have been shown to have the property of maintaining immunity (5). Andrographolide compounds in bitter can act as immunomodulators, especially immunostimulants that can improve the work of the immune system. According to Alkandahri’s research, bitter can act as an immunostimulant capable of stimulating both specific and nonspecific immune functions through NK cells, macrophages, and cytokine induction (6). In addition, according to Saxena’s research, bitter extract is effective for reducing ARI symptoms with an effectiveness of 2.1 times (52.7%) higher than placebo. Thus, bitter has the potential as a supplement to treat COVID-19 patients who usually attack the respiratory system and lower the body’s immune system (7). An alternative way for children to take supplements is that they can be made into jelly candy preparations. Jelly candy is a processed food that looks clear, transparent, and elastic with a certain elasticity with the addition of thickening agents such as pectin and others. Pectin is a good gelling agent and stabilizer in jelly candy with low pH conditions. Dragon fruit has a fairly high pectin content, especially in the skin. According to Nazaruddin, dragon fruit peel contains 20.1% higher pectin (dry basis) than banana peel, orange peel, and apple (8). In addition, according to research by Andersen and Markham, dragon fruit skin also contains natural dyes in the form of betacyanin which is an antioxidant compound that is red or redviolet. The highest Betacyanin content of dragon fruit peel compared to apples and citrus was 34,87 % (9). Therefore, dragon fruit peel has great potential as a source of pectin and natural dyes in the manufacture of Soga Gummy to attract children’s interest in consuming it. The process of making Soga Gummy was carried out by modifying Yuwidasari’s research, which can be seen in the picture above. First, 250 ml of water is mixed with 100 grams of granulated sugar, then heated for 10 minutes at 80 °C. Second, the solution was cooled at room temperature while stirring for 5 minutes and 2.5 g of dragon fruit peel pectin was added. Third, the solution was heated again to a temperature of 90 °C and added 100 ml of dragon fruit juice, 25 grams of Andrographolide (PubChem CID: 5318517) compound from the isolation of sambiloto, and 5 grams of citric acid. Fourth, the jelly candy solution was filtered, molded, and cooled for 1 hour at 28 °C. Finally, the finished jelly candies are floured with powdered Academia Letters, May 2022 ©2022 by the authors — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Fahrul Nurkolis, fahrul.nurkolis.mail@gmail.com Citation: Fitriani, N.R., Nurkolis, F., Dewi, R.S., Kumalawati, D.A., Sanjaya, A.R.D.P., A, Y.N., Arnamalia, A., Sasya, N.M., Hidayah, Z.A. (2022). SOGA GUMMY: A Novel Natural Jelly Candy from Sambiloto and Pectin of Dragon Fruit Peel as Immunomodulator in Children in the Pandemic Era. Academia Letters, Article 5301. 3 sugar and ready to be consumed (10). Andrographolide activity as an immunomodulator has been tested by Wang on the innate and adaptive immune responses using mice at a dose of 1 mg/kg. From this study, it was found that there was a decrease in the production of anti-HBs antibodies and the number of splenocytes producing IL-4. Andrographolides can modulate innate and adaptive immune responses by regulating macrophage phenotypic polarization and Ag-specific antibody production. This research proves that the Andrographolide compound from Sambiloto in Soga Gummy can also be used as an immunomodulator (11). The strategic steps for implementing Soga Gummy can be seen in the picture above. First, the initiator came up with the idea to isolate Andrographolide compounds from bitter, process dragon fruit peel waste into pectin, and formulate Soga Gummy preparations and their mechanism. From this idea, a FGD (Forum Discussion Group) was conducted between the originator of the idea and academics related to the development and implementation of the idea of making Soga Gummy. Based on the results of the discussion, preclinical tests, clinical trials, ethical clearance licensing processes, and collaboration with the Ministry of Health were carried out. Figure 1. Soga Gummy Prototype After that, a production program for Soga Gummy was drawn up including the manufacture of its prototype, procurement of tools and materials, as well as industry and market determination. At the production stage of Soga Gummy, coordination with the Ministry of Education and Culture or cooperation with private companies regarding funding facilities is required. Then the initial production can be carried out as a trial and error process with a series of evaluations and quality control. After obtaining the initial product, coordination was carried out with the Ministry of Industry and BPOM regarding the production and distribution permit of Soga Gummy. Then, Soga Gummy products will be produced on a large scale and ready to be marketed and promoted to the wider community. Academia Letters, May 2022 ©2022 by the authors — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Fahrul Nurkolis, fahrul.nurkolis.mail@gmail.com Citation: Fitriani, N.R., Nurkolis, F., Dewi, R.S., Kumalawati, D.A., Sanjaya, A.R.D.P., A, Y.N., Arnamalia, A., Sasya, N.M., Hidayah, Z.A. (2022). SOGA GUMMY: A Novel Natural Jelly Candy from Sambiloto and Pectin of Dragon Fruit Peel as Immunomodulator in Children in the Pandemic Era. Academia Letters, Article 5301. 4 CONCLUSION The Delta variant of the Corona virus that easily attacks children in Indonesia is a serious problem that must be addressed immediately. Especially with data showing that Indonesia has the highest child mortality rate due to COVID-19 in the world. One effort to overcome this is to provide supplements to children to increase their immune system so they are not susceptible to disease. Soga Gummy is here as a solution to overcome these problems. Soga Gummy contains Andrographolide compounds which have been shown to have immune-maintaining properties. In addition, SOGA Gummy is also made from dragon fruit peel pectin which makes this type of candy chewy textured so that children like it and has a red color that attracts children to eat it. With the existence of Soga Gummy, it is hoped that it can help the government in terms of reducing transmission and accelerating the healing process of COVID-19 in children in order to achieve a pandemic-free Indonesia in 76 years of Indonesia’s independence and towards a better future for Indonesia. One of the efforts to support the use of local ingredients into functional food for health (12-14). Academia Letters, May 2022 ©2022 by the authors — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Fahrul Nurkolis, fahrul.nurkolis.mail@gmail.com Citation: Fitriani, N.R., Nurkolis, F., Dewi, R.S., Kumalawati, D.A., Sanjaya, A.R.D.P., A, Y.N., Arnamalia, A., Sasya, N.M., Hidayah, Z.A. (2022). SOGA GUMMY: A Novel Natural Jelly Candy from Sambiloto and Pectin of Dragon Fruit Peel as Immunomodulator in Children in the Pandemic Era. Academia Letters, Article 5301. 5 References 1. Alkandahri MY, Subarnas A, Berbudi A. 2018. Review: Aktivitas Immunomodulator Tanaman Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata Nees). Farmaka . 16(3): 16-21. 2. Andersen, Q.M., & Markham, K.R. 2006. Flavonoid : Chemistry, Biochemistry and Aplication. Florida : CRC Press. pp.10-12. 3. Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan. 2020. Pedoman Penggunaan Herbal dan Suplemen Kesehatan dalam Menghadapi COVID-19 di Indonesia. Jakarta: Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan. 66-68. 4. Katadata. 2021. 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Academia Letters, May 2022 ©2022 by the authors — Open Access — Distributed under CC BY 4.0 Corresponding Author: Fahrul Nurkolis, fahrul.nurkolis.mail@gmail.com Citation: Fitriani, N.R., Nurkolis, F., Dewi, R.S., Kumalawati, D.A., Sanjaya, A.R.D.P., A, Y.N., Arnamalia, A., Sasya, N.M., Hidayah, Z.A. (2022). SOGA GUMMY: A Novel Natural Jelly Candy from Sambiloto and Pectin of Dragon Fruit Peel as Immunomodulator in Children in the Pandemic Era. Academia Letters, Article 5301. 7