Karakter Fisikokimia dan Potensi Antioksidan dari Daun Kelor, Daun Insulin, Purwaceng, Jahe Merah, dan Mengkudu dengan Berbagai Metode Pengeringan

Nurma Kumala Dewi Triwahyuni, Prof. Dr. Ir. Supriyadi, M.Sc.; Dr. Inasanti Pandan Wangi, S.T.

2026 | Skripsi | TEKNOLOGI PANGAN & HASIL PERTANIAN

Indonesia memiliki keanekaragaman tanaman herbal yang berpotensi sebagai sumber pangan fungsional. Namun, pemanfaatannya masih menghadapi kendala berupa umur simpan bahan segar yang pendek dan kerentanan senyawa bioaktif terhadap degradasi. Salah satu upaya untuk mempertahankan kualitas bahan adalah melalui pengeringan menjadi simplisia. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pengaruh metode pengeringan terhadap karakteristik fisikokimia, total fenol, dan aktivitas antioksidan simplisia daun kelor (Moringa oleifera), daun insulin (Smallanthus sonchifolius), akar purwaceng (Pimpinella pruatjan), rimpang jahe merah (Zingiber officinale var. rubrum), dan buah mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia), serta menentukan metode pengeringan yang paling sesuai berdasarkan karakteristik yang dihasilkan. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) satu faktor, yaitu metode pengeringan yang terdiri atas sun drying, cabinet drying, dan freeze drying. Parameter yang dianalisis meliputi kadar air, kadar abu, pH ekstrak, warna, total fenol, dan aktivitas antioksidan. Data dianalisis menggunakan one-way ANOVA pada taraf signifikansi 5% yang dilanjutkan dengan uji Tukey apabila terdapat perbedaan nyata antarperlakuan.

Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa metode pengeringan memengaruhi karakteristik fisikokimia dan fitokimia setiap simplisia. Freeze drying menghasilkan kadar air terendah pada seluruh sampel. Metode ini juga menghasilkan total fenol tertinggi pada daun kelor, daun insulin, purwaceng, dan mengkudu, sedangkan pada jahe merah tidak terdapat perbedaan signifikan antara cabinet drying dan freeze drying. Freeze drying menghasilkan nilai IC50 terendah pada seluruh sampel, tetapi perbedaan antarperlakuan pada purwaceng tidak signifikan. Berdasarkan kadar air, total fenol, dan aktivitas antioksidan, freeze drying merupakan metode yang paling sesuai di antara metode yang diuji, meskipun keunggulannya tidak selalu berbeda signifikan pada seluruh bahan dan parameter.

Indonesia possesses abundant herbal plant diversity with potential as a source of functional food. However, the utilization of fresh herbal materials is limited by their short shelf life and the susceptibility of bioactive compounds to degradation. Drying is one approach to preserve herbal materials by converting them into simplisia. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of drying methods on the physicochemical characteristics, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of simplisia derived from Moringa oleifera leaves, Smallanthus sonchifolius leaves, Pimpinella pruatjan roots, Zingiber officinale var. rubrum rhizomes, and Morinda citrifolia fruits, and to determine the most suitable drying method based on the resulting characteristics. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with one factor, namely drying method, was employed, consisting of sun drying, cabinet drying, and freeze drying. The evaluated parameters included moisture content, ash content, extract pH, colour, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA at a 5% significance level, followed by Tukey’s post hoc test when significant differences were observed.

The results showed that drying methods affected the physicochemical and phytochemical characteristics of each simplisia. Freeze drying resulted in the lowest moisture content in all samples. It also produced the highest total phenolic content in Moringa oleifera leaves, Smallanthus sonchifolius leaves, Pimpinella pruatjan roots, and Morinda citrifolia fruits, whereas no significant difference was observed between cabinet drying and freeze drying in Zingiber officinale var. rubrum rhizomes. Freeze drying also resulted in the lowest IC50 values in all samples, although differences among drying treatments were not significant for Pimpinella pruatjan roots. Based on moisture content, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity, freeze drying was the most suitable method among those evaluated, although its advantages were not statistically significant for every sample and parameter.

Kata Kunci : Pengeringan, simplisia, Fisikokimia, Fitokimia, Tanaman herbal