Prof. Dr. Ir. Warid Ali Qosim, MP: Mangosteen Cultivation in Indonesia Still Lacking Technology

[Unpad.ac.id, 28/06/2016] The title “Queen of tropical fruit” is suitable for mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.). This Indonesian native fruit has been the highest export commodity in comparison to other fresh fruit. In addition to its sweet and fresh taste, mangosteen is also rich in xanthones compounds are efficacious for the health.

Prof. Dr. Ir. Warid Ali Qosim, MP (Foto oleh: Dadan T.)*
Prof. Dr. Ir. Warid Ali Qosim, MP (Photo by Dadan T.)*

“Mangosteen is a local exotic fruit with many benefits both as fresh fruit or material for medicine,” said Prof. Dr. Ir. Warid Ali Qosim, M.P., Professor of Faculty of Agriculture Universitas Padjadjaran who since 2001 has been researching mangosteen.

Since the 1990s, the world market’s demand on Indonesia mangosteen was very high. Mangosteen is usually exported to China, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, United States, and also to the European country. Although mangosteen is also grown in parts of Malaysia and Thailand, the market still chose Indonesia mangosteen. Prof. Warid said that it was because Indonesia mangosteen is still organic.

Mangosteen fruit grows in almost every region in Indonesia. In West Java, mangosteen production centers spread across from Subang, Wanayasa (Purwakarta), Sukabumi, Leuwiliang (Bogor), to Puspahiang (Tasikmalaya). Each region produces its own fruit characteristic: for example, Purwakarta produces fruits that are much larger, while Puspahiang’s has a sweeter taste.

As for cultivation techniques, Indonesia mangosteen still utilize the technique developed since long time ago, that it is done for conservation and not plantation based. Prof. Warid said that mangosteen cultivation techniques in Indonesia are still utilizing minimal technology. This has become Prof. Warid research object in relation with technologies that can improve the productivity of this “queen of fruit”.

The range of technologies generated by Prof. Warid is technology that could accelerate the flowering process. Mangosteen fruit, he believes, has a less dependable root system. Besides the juvenile phase (phase where the trees bear fruit the first time) is long, up to ten years.

“With cultivation technology the improvement of root system and acceleration of the juvenile phase are expected. This technology uses IBA growth regulators between 50-100 ppm, as well as shortening the juvenile phase from 10 to 7 years using buds graft to the parent, “said this Professor who was born in Indramayu, May 7, 1966.

Along with cross disciplines faculty, Prof. Warid chaired Mangosteen related research programs in Academic Leadership Grant (ALG), an Unpad flagship program. Some of the lecturers involved in the study are Dr. Dwi Purnomo, S.TP., M.T., (FTIP), Muchtaridi, S.Si., M.Si., Apt., (Pharmacy), Dr. rer. nat. Ir. Suseno Amien (Agriculture), Dr. Ir. Dini Rochdiani, M.P., (Agriculture), Dr. Darwati, M.Si., (Chemistry) and Dr. Denny Sobardini, MS. (Agriculture).

humas unpad 2016_06_22 Prof Warid 2 DADANThe research has been running for four years. In the first year, it focused on the characterization based on morphological characters of mangosteen fruit and xanthones compound as the parent tree. According to Prof. Warid, during this time the seeds to be used as mangosteen are still arbitrary. “We choose the mother trees to be used as a nursery. With the parent tree selection affecting quantity and quality of the fruit, it can be used for further processing, “said the author of” Mangosteen, utilities, Aquaculture, Agribusiness, and Processing,” published in Graha Ilmu.

Puspahiang production centers became Unpad auxiliary in conducting research related to the mangosteen. From the research, Prof. Warid has produced several products that can be commercialized trials, such as mangosteen fruit juice and juice of mangosteen peel.

Medicine Raw Materials
Besides consumed as fresh fruit, mangosteen is also popular because of its many other benefits. The substance found in all parts of the mangosteen, including its bark, fruits, and seeds.

This Lecturer of Department of Agriculture said that mangosteen is rich in xanthone compound abundantly found in mangosteen skin. These compounds contain antioxidants that are beneficial to the body, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergic, anti-malarial herbal supplements, and able to increase endurance for people with HIV.

Xanthone compounds only produced by Garcinia genus, and has not been found from other plants. Besides mangosteen, Prof. Warid is reviewing xanthone compound and its derivatives from wild relatives mangosteen, among others Garcinia dulcis (mundu), Garcinia atroviridis (gelugur acid) that has specific xanthone with no less importance in the health field.

Mangosteen peel extract then is isolated until formed into pure gartanin, and alpha mangostin is useful for anti-cancer. The result of this isolation is used by many pharmaceutical companies as raw material for herbal medicine.

“Market demand for raw materials is high enough, because drug companies need a herbal compound. Although the drug is now being circulated on the content of mangosteen peel, it has not been widely pharmacologically tested. Mostly the medicine did not originated from mangosteen extracts of but only the pure powder of the peel. Should that in pharmacy, it must be extracted first. After it is extracted then isolated, “said Prof. Warid. *

Reported by Arief Maulana / eh

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