PEMANFAATAN POTENSI TANAMAN KERSEN (Muntingia calabura L.) SEBAGAI BAHAN UTAMA DALAM FORMULASI SCRUB BUBUK ALAMI

Abstract

Cherry leaves are known to contain bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and polyphenols that act as antioxidants and antimicrobials. These compounds can protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, prevent inflammation, and help fight acne-causing bacteria. This research aims to formulate and evaluate a natural powder scrub based on cherry leaves (Muntingia calabura L.) as a safe, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative for exfoliating cosmetics. The study was conducted using a simple method, including drying the materials under sunlight, grinding with a blender, and mixing the cherry leaf powder with other natural ingredients such as coffee, rice, turmeric, and aloe vera gel. The final formulation resulted in a fine-textured powder scrub with a distinctive herbal aroma. Hedonic test results indicate that the product is well-accepted by most respondents, with an average interest score of 4 on a scale of 1–5. These findings indicate that cherry leaves have great potential as a main ingredient in developing herbal cosmetic products in the form of safe, affordable, and environmentally friendly scrubs.