As a form of concrete contribution to the community, the Faculty of Pharmacy, Airlangga University (FF UNAIR) in collaboration with the Branch Management of the Indonesian Pharmacists Association (PC IAI) Banyuwangi Regency held a community service (pengmas) in Songgon Village, Banyuwangi. This activity, which was carried out successfully on July 22, 2023, carried the theme "Empowering the Songgon Village Community in the Manufacturing of Mangosteen Fruit-Based Health Products as an Effort to Improve the Community's Economy". This activity is part of the 60th Anniversary celebration of Lustrum XII FF UNAIR.
In Songgon village, many mangosteen plants are planted in gardens or in the yards of people's houses. But unfortunately, so far the mangosteen fruit produced is only sold for consumption as a fruit.
Based on this, UNAIR FF community service team took the initiative to explain to the public that a fruit with the scientific name Garcinia mangostana or what we usually know as mangosteen has been scientifically proven to be beneficial for health. Interestingly, mangosteen rind that we usually throw away can actually increase immunity, act as an antioxidant, and help lose weight so that it can be consumed regularly as a traditional medicinal product.
That way, through this activity, the people of Songgon Village can optimize their natural resources as one of the mangosteen fruit producing villages. Not only used for personal and family needs in maintaining health, health products from Mangosteen also have economic value.
This community service activity was carried out at the Songgon Village Hall. The event began with delivering material related to the benefits of the mangosteen fruit to the participants. Then, the participants consisting of PKK cadres and the Songgon Village Karang Taruna were given training on making tea bags, masks, and syrup from mangosteen fruit. The participants looked enthusiastic in following the whole series of activities from start to finish. At the end of the event, don't forget to take a group photo to remember this moment.
