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UNAIR NEWS – A team of five Faculty of Science and Technology students of ������ has made an innovation by developing a therapeutic herbal mask to prevent flu and cough.

The mask named “COCO-MASK (Common Cold Mask) is the mask produced for therapy and treatment to flu and cough. The mask has more advantages than the usual mask, COCO MASK has the best FST (Flexible design, Sambiloto herbal extract and Top Grade) Masks. Sambiloto contains Andrographolide which is capable of improves our immune from the respiratory system so it is effective to deal with common cold (flu and cough).

“The mask is effective for 3-5 days use after the symptom occurs,” said Ayu Ummi Maufiroh (Biology 2015), head of the team. The other four creative members were Lusky Andriana (Biology 2015), Fitria Mustianingsih (Biology 2015), Elza Ismaya Dewi (2015), and Arjun Niam Al (Chemistry 2014).

The innovation was submitted as Entrepreneurship Student Creativity Program (PKM) titled  “Andrographis paniculata  Leaves Extract Herbal COCO-MASK (Common Cold Mask) Therapy to Cure Flu and Cough”. After the selection of Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, the proposal qualifies and funded by the Higher Education General Directorate in 2016.

The background of this innovation was from the common cold treatment which often uses symptomatic medicine available in any pharmacy. Such as analgesic, antipyretic medicine and simple antibiotic. While some international journals explain that this kind of treatment actually cause a side effect to digestive system and pathogenic resistance.

The patients of non-specific Respiratory System Infection (ISPA) is an infection caused by a virus of air borne disease. The infection transmitted through the air. It is also supported by the tropical climate with high intensity of rain.

The symptom occurs 1-3 days after the transmission. The symptoms are runny nose and congested, sore throat, cough, light headache and teary eyes. To minimize the the transmission effect, the public often wear masks.

COCO-MASK product is sold in box packages. A box contains six herbal masks, a mask is sold Rp 5,000.  The masks are in various colors.

Ayu added that for the last three months, 108 masks have been sold. The product will be marketed in outside Java in the future and even abroad. “COCO-MASK” can be ordered through Instagram with cocomask_herbal���ǰ��������Ա����ɾ��ٳ���id @syr3010a.

“With an economical price, we can get a mask with more advantages compared to the usual masks,” said Ayu Ummi M. (*)

Editor: Bambang Bes