Sarang semut (Myrmecodia beccarii Hook.f.) is a famous medicinal plant of Papua, which has traditionally potential in treating a wide variety of mild and severe illnesses, such as cancers and tumors, gout, coronary heart disease, hemorrhoids, tuberculosis, migraines, rheumatism, and leukemia. The purposes of this study were to determine the content of the active compound group and the cytotoxic activity of sarang semut plants from Merauke Region. The extraction was done by maceration using 96 % ethanol. The concentration of ethanolic extract were 0, 25, 50, 75, 100 ppm. The results of the study showed that the cytotoxic activity determine using BSLT (Brine Shrimp Lethality Test) method have a high cytotoxic activity with LC50 values of 22.86 ppm and containing the active compound namely flavonoids, tannins and saponins separately. The ethanolic extract of tuber of sarang semut (M. beccarii) has a high cytotoxic activity against larvae of Artemia salina Leach according BSLT method. Key words: Active compound, M. beccarii, cytotoxic activity, Merauke.

The Bohadschia argus Jeager contains bioactive compounds that have the potential as antibiotics, antibacterial, antitumor, anticoagulants and anesthetics and alleviate cancer. This study aims to determine the content of chemical compounds group and to test the cytotoxic activity of ethanol extract of Bohadschia argus Jeager. The method for determining the group of chemical compounds was used the color reaction and precipitation using chemical reagents. The method for testing cytotoxic activity using the Brine Shimp Lethality Test (BSLT), this method commonly was used to test the safety of the use of natural ingredients as traditional medicine. The results of screening of the chemical compound group of  Bohadschia argus Jeager extract showed that the extract contained a lot of alkaloids secondary metabolites and few saponins. The results of testing of cytotoxic activity showed LC50 value of 878.22 ppm. Base on the results of this study it can be concluded that the ethanol extract of Bohadschia argus Jeager has significant cytotoxic activity against Artemia salina Leach, so it can be considered as a chemotherapeutic agent.   Key words: Screening, chemical compounds, ethanol extract, B. argus, BSLT.

Abstract. Suharno, Chrystomo LY, Sujarta P, Tanjung RHR. 2020. Rapid assessment of lichen diversity in Baliem Valley, Jayawijaya, Papua, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 2403-2409. Lichen is a form of mutualistic symbiosis between phycobiont and mycobiont. Lichens play an important role in environment, either to maintain the biological diversity and the function of ecosystems. This study is aimed to determine the diversity of species of lichens in the Baliem Valley region, Jayawijaya, Papua. The method used was explorative surveys in several villages in Jayawijaya District. Species identification was based on morphological characteristics. The results showed that there were 37 species of lichen belong to 24 genera and 11 families on several habitats on altitude ranging from 1655 to 2179 m asl with temperatures between 18-26°C. The dominant species were from the families of Parmeliaceae, Cladoniaceae, and Teloschistaceae. The results indicate that the Baliem Valley region rich in lichen diversity and the existence of particular lichen species suggests that the region has healthy environmental conditions. This study provides new information on the existence of lichen diversity in Papua.

The use of medicinal plants as natural medicine is increasingly trend and developing rapidly to prevent and treat disease, also maintain human health. Spruce plants belong to Casuarinaceae family and Magnoliophyta, generally contain of secondary metabolite compounds such as: alkaloid, saponin, polyphenol, flavonoid, and tannin that can be efficacious to cure diseases in human. The purpose of this study was to analyze the secondary metabolites compound of Casuarina equisetifolia L. and Casuarina junghuhniana Mig. using the Fransworth phytochemical screening method of bark ethanol extracts. The analysis of phytochemical screening of spruce bark shows flavonoid, saponin and tannin activity, while the montain spruce shows alkaloid, steroid, saponin and tannin activity. Further research is needed to investigate the ethnopharmaceutical information on the use of the spruce plants as a traditional medicine.Key words: Spruce plants; screening; extract; analysis; phytochemical; secondary metabolite

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is native plant comes from the American continent. It began to spread throughout the world, especially in the tropical countries in the 16th century. Papua Province is one of the regions with the largest area of harvested sweetpotato in Indonesia, therefore there is a high chance to develop food independence in Papua. Because of the Papuan people are accustomed consuming non-rice food. The study was conducted in the Biology Laboratory and the Pharmacy laboratory of MIPA Faculty Cenderawasih University and also the supporting Laboratory of The Papua Agricultural Research and Development Center (Balitbangtan). The purpose of  this research is to test the quality of flour of Keerom sweet potato varieties. Method for flour of sweet potato quality testing were using phytochemical screening  to determine the chemical compound group and using antioxidant test with the DPPH (1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method.  The results of the description of the Skanto District Keerom sweet potatoes in the field  were three (3) local varieties including Weayuken (purple sweet potato), Musanaken (yellow sweet potato) and Hiho (white sweet potato). The result of phytochemical  screening show that the purple sweet potato variety has more chemical compounds consist of tannins, quinones, flavonoids, terpenoids and alkaloids compared to white sweet potato consist of alkaloids only and yellow sweet potato consist of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids and alkaloids. The result of antioxidant activity tests to flour extract ethanol  has IC50values of 299.82 ppm (purple sweet potato), 301.18 (yellow sweet potato), 1027.98 ppm (white sweet potato) respectively. So can be conclude that the purple sweet potato variety is the best. It was suggested for further research to isolate bioactive compounds and test antioxidants to other varieties in other centers areas of sweetpotato culture which have potential to develop for food, supplement and tradisional drugs.Key words: Sweet potato; local varieties; flour quality; phytochemical screening; antioxidant test