Bilimbi Starfruit, a Potential Local Commodity As Anti-Bacterial

A student of the Master Program in Food Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Udayana University (FTP Unud), Yemima Maria Lasma Roha Sitompul conducted research on the extraction of bilimbi starfruit and its ability as an anti-bacterial, especially Vibrio cholerae. This research was guided by Dr. Ir. Ni Made Wartini, M.P and Prof.Dr. Ir. I Made Sugitha, M.Sc.

 

Cholera is an infection caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacteria which can be infected by consuming food contaminated with the bacteria. The characteristics of the disease caused by infection with the Vibrio cholerae bacteria are diarrhea similar to rice water, sudden onset, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and severe dehydration.

 

Yemima reported that the reason she wanted to do antibacterial research was because she wanted to take advantage of local commodities that have the potential as anti-bacterial to reduce poisoning cases in the Bali area, one of which is bilimbi starfruit because it contains antibacterial compounds such as triterpenoids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids. One of the functions of flavonoids, saponins, and tannins is as an antibacterial. She also added that to extract the active compounds contained in bilimbi starfruit, maceration extraction method was used and the antibacterial activity test against Vibrio cholerae using disc diffusion method.

 

Based on the research, she reported that the bilimbi starfruit extract was able to inhibit the growth of Vibrio cholerae with a very strong category with an inhibition diameter of 20.78 mm.