Successfully Obtaining Master's Degree in Food Technology, Krisma Widya Combines Beluntas Leaf Extract and Lemongrass Stem into Instant Drink with Microencapsulation Technique

I Gusti Ayu Krisma Widya Saraswati, S.TP. who is often called Gek Ima or Krisma Widya successfully earned his Masters in Food Technology (M.T.P.) by conducting a Study of Extraction Time and Comparison of Gelatin and Maltodextrin in Instant Drink Microcapsules Combination of Beluntas Leaf Extract and Lemongrass Stem under the guidance of Dr. Luh Putu Wrasiati, M.P., and Prof. Dr. Ir. I Nengah Kencana Putra, M.S.

 

The research conducted is the produce of instant drinks derived from natural ingredients such as beluntas leaves and lemongrass stems, this is because the leaves of beluntas and lemongrass stems contribute in the form of bioactive components that are good for body health. In the process of making instant drinks, this is done using the Microencapsulation Technique. Microencapsulation is a technology used to coat or better known as coating a core substance with a polymer wall layer to form small micro-sized particles (1-1000 m) and are known as microcapsules.

 

The process of making instant drinks is that ingredients such as beluntas leaves are washed and then drained. then dried in the oven and mashed using a food grinder and sifted to obtain beluntas leaf powder. After obtaining the beluntas leaf powder, it was combined with lemongrass stem powder and extracted using the maceration method to obtain a combination extract of beluntas leaves and lemongrass stems. The combination of extracts obtained was then encapsulated using a microencapsulation technique with a comparison of gelatin and maltodextrin coatings, where after mixing the combination was then dried using a Spray Dryer to obtain an instant drink with a combination of extracts of beluntas leaves and lemongrass stalks.

 

Krisma Widya reported in the research that the microcapsules of instant drink a combination of beluntas leaf extract and lemongrass stem had an IC50 value of 86.16 ppm, a solubility of 97.20% and a dissolving time of 1 minute 21 seconds and had a fine round particle shape with a size of 10.48 mm - 10.62mm. She also suggested that research is still needed regarding the further development of the combination of extracts of beluntas leaves and lemongrass stems into other food products that have physiological functions on health.