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| Prof. Dr. Ir. Elfi Anis Saati, MP., a Professor at UMM, Wins ‘Inspirational Lecturer’ Award for Creating Innovative Product from Rose Petal Pigments (Photo: Special) |
Utilizing the abundant natural resources available locally, a lecturer from Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (UMM) won the ‘Inspirational Lecturer’ award for creating an innovative product from rose petal pigments. Prof. Dr. Ir. Elfi Anis Saati, MP., a Professor at UMM, successfully received the trophy and certificate of recognition for her innovation at the bazaar and exhibition of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) products during the Indonesia Mental Health Summit (IMHS) on November 10. The high-antioxidant rose petal drink, named "Elviza", attracted the attention of both the judges and the public.
The IMHS 2024 was the first event of its kind in Indonesia, organized by an Indonesian psychology association in collaboration with Alisa Khadijah of the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) Malang Raya. The event featured a series of activities, including international and national webinars, various creative competitions, sports events, and a bazaar to showcase local SME products. Each activity was judged based on different criteria.
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Elfi, along with her team, represented SMEs from Malang with her "Elviza" product and won the ‘Chronological Product Creation’ category. This innovative rose petal drink was based on research into the anthocyanin pigment from rose petals, which is rarely utilized as a food source. Elfi shared that she was inspired by Quranic verses and natural phenomena, where flowers are often visited by butterflies and other animals. The focus of her research was on the local organic rose petals as an alternative food source, natural food colorant, herbal product, cosmetics ingredient, and organic batik dye.
“I was inspired by the Quranic verse that mentions honey comes from flower nectar. In addition to being beautiful to look at, the local rose petals are rich in antioxidants and contain a high level of vitamin C. This motivated me to develop a variety of products, including drinks, herbal supplements, effervescent tablets, and organic batik dyes, all sourced from local rose farmers in areas like Pasuruan, Lawang, and Nganjuk,” she explained.
The variety of food products that Elfi has developed is the result of years of dedicated research that she has been pursuing since 2002. Her research on the rose petal drink has shown an antioxidant content of 82-87%, which is classified as a high antioxidant level in health science. In addition to food products, the local rose petal pigment is also used in skincare products such as hand and body lotion.
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“The extraordinary properties of local rose petals are also being utilized in skincare. At one point, I had the opportunity to collaborate with a cosmetic brand for this purpose. I am currently working on developing the rose petal pigment into a formula that can be used in the medical field,” she added.
Finally, Elfi expressed her joy in seeing the richness of biological resources available in Indonesia, which was previously underexplored. "Alhamdulillah, now people are beginning to appreciate the natural treasures around us. I am grateful to have received this award. More than that, I hope that the younger generation will continue to innovate. Of course, with the spirit of mutual cooperation and strong determination to help improve the local economy,” she concluded. (din/wil/fajr)
