Mask Products from Snake Plant Leaves
Sansevieria trifasciata is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, native to tropical West Africa from Nigeria east to the Congo. It is most commonly known as the snake plant, mother-in-law’s tongue, and viper’s bowstring hemp, among other names. It is an evergreen perennial plant forming dense stands, spreading by way of its creeping rhizome, which is sometimes above ground, sometimes underground. Its leaves grow stiff vertically from a basal rosette. Mature leaves are dark green with light gray-green cross-banding and usually ranges from 70–90 centimeters (28–35 in) long and 5–6 centimeters (2.0–2.4 in) wide, though it can reach heights above 2 m ( 6 ft) in optimal conditions.
The use of masks is an effort to prevent health problems caused by the entry of harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde. Pegnan glycosides from the tongue-in-law plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) can reduce pollutants to other harmless substances. This study is aimed at developing mask products using pregnane glycoside extract from the tongue-in-law leaves as an absorbent of harmful pollutants. Extraction of preganene glycosides was carried out by maceration using 96% ethanol. Identification of the pregnane glycoside content was carried out with Lieberman-Buchard reagent and ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Pollutants tested include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde.
The results showed that the optimal absorption of pollutants was obtained from cotton mask products with 10% pregnane glycoside extract for 30 minutes absorption time. The quantity of mass of pollutant sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde absorbed by the mask are 0.219 mg / cm2, 2.449 mg / cm2 and 24.3327 mg / cm2, respectively. Blind test on respondents shows that the masks that are of interest are those that contain menthol fragrances. The mechanism of absorption of pollutants by pregnane glycoside extract occurs physically and chemically, which is accompanied by changes in the maximum wavelength and ultraviolet profile, and confirmed by changes in the infrared spectra absorption absorption band. From the results of this study it can be concluded, that mask products with pregnane glycoside extract are able to absorb harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and formaldehyde
