Hasyrul Hamzah, a young researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Muhammadiyah University of East Kalimantan, is pursuing a career at the Center for Collaborative Research (PKR) Biofilm, recently he made an important breakthrough in the world of health. He managed to uncover the potential of limpasu leaves (Baccaurea lanceolata), an endemic plant from the forests of Kalimantan, as an effective antibiofilm agent. This finding is believed to provide a solution to one of the most pressing health problems today, namely infections caused by biofilms that are often difficult to overcome with conventional antibiotics.
Biofilm is a collection of microbial cells irreversibly attached to a surface and encased in a matrix of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) that it produces itself to protect itself from external threats, including antibiotics. The presence of biofilms on various medical devices, such as catheters, implants and wound surfaces, is one of the major challenges in modern medicine as it can prolong the recovery period of patients and increase the risk of serious complications. Infections caused by biofilms are often difficult to treat, even with the use of high-dose antibiotics. It is in this context that Hasyrul’s research becomes relevant, especially as biofilms are considered one of the main causes of Health Care-Associated Infections (HAIs), or infections that occur in hospital settings.
Hasyrul’s initial research found that limpasu leaf extract has significant antibiofilm ability against Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans. “We found that limpasu leaf extract is able to inhibit the formation of new biofilms, as well as damage biofilms that have already formed,” he explains. However, Hasyrul did not stop there. He developed a mouthwash formula based on limpasu leaf extract and tested its effectiveness.
In the mouthwash test, the developed formula proved to be able to clean biofilms in the oral cavity caused by pathogenic bacteria, providing promising results in the prevention and treatment of oral infections related to biofilms. Hasyrul explained, “This mouthwash formula successfully reduces biofilm formation and has great potential to be applied in oral health products, such as mouthwashes to maintain oral hygiene, while preventing infections caused by biofilms.”
Limpasu leaves, which have rarely been known for their medical benefits, have other potentials that have not been widely revealed. In a study conducted by Hasyrul and his team, limpasu leaf extract showed significant antibiofilm activity, especially on bacteria that cause tooth decay such as Streptococcus mutans, one of the bacteria that is notoriously difficult to overcome in clinical practice. “S. mutans forms a very thick biofilm that is difficult for antibiotics to penetrate. The finding that limpasu leaves can inhibit this biofilm is a very important breakthrough in overcoming antibiotic resistance,” Hasyrul explained.
This research, besides contributing to advances in the field of health, also has broader implications in environmental conservation. According to Hasyrul, the use of local plants such as limpasu leaves not only offers an environmentally friendly medical solution, but also provides added value to the sustainability and preservation of Kalimantan’s biodiversity. “Indonesia, especially Kalimantan, has extraordinary biodiversity. By utilizing local resources sustainably, we can contribute to global health while preserving nature,” he added.
As a next step, Hasyrul and his team plan to develop this research further, up to the clinical trial stage. He hopes that limpasu leaf extract can be applied in the form of health products such as medical cleaners, ointments, or mouthwashes that can prevent infections caused by biofilms. “Clinical trials will be an important stage to see if the active compounds from limpasu leaves are truly effective and safe to use in humans. We are optimistic that the results will pave the way for the development of new health products that are safer and more environmentally friendly,” he said.This achievement certainly adds to Hasyrul Hamzah’s long list of achievements as a talented young researcher in Indonesia. As someone who is active in the world of research, Hasyrul not only focuses on the development of science, but also on the real impact on society. He hopes that this research can provide benefits to the medical world and open the eyes of the wider community about the great potential of Indonesia’s natural resources.
This research on the potential of limpasu leaves as an antibiofilm agent emphasizes the importance of exploring Indonesia’s biodiversity for the development of health solutions. With the growing threat of antibiotic resistance worldwide, these findings are expected to provide a safer, natural, and effective alternative in the treatment of infections. In addition, the results of this research are also expected to encourage more research on other local plants that may have similar benefits, thus supporting Indonesia’s efforts in maintaining national health sovereignty through natural resource-based innovation.
With these findings, Hasyrul Hamzah proves that Kalimantan’s rich forests not only hold ecological potential, but also solutions to increasingly complex global health challenges.