IPB Creates Candy made of Torbangun for Smokers
Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest number of smokers in the world. It is estimated that the decline in smoking behaviour has not occurred, even tends to increase, within the next 15 years. Smoking behaviour can lead to an increase of non-contagious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, etc. This is because cigarettes contain toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic chemicals. In addition, smoking can also cause a person experiencing respiratory system disorders characterized by cough symptom.
Based on the facts above, the research team from the Department of Community Nutrition, Faculty of Human Ecology, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), consisting of Prof. drh. Muhammad Rizal Martua Damanik, MRepSc, PhD, dr. Naufal Muharam Nurdin, S.Ked, M.Si, and Retno Fifian, developed hard candy lozenges as an oral substitution in the treatment of quitting smoking.
Tissue damage caused by free radicals can be prevented with antioxidants. Torbangun is a medicinal plant that has pharmaceutical components such as antioxidant and antibacterial. To date, torbangun leaves are widely used as a medicine for thrush, cough and asthma. Torbangun also contains micro nutrients, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, α-tocopherol, and β-carotene, as well as essential oil.
"The development of torbangun leaf extract into candy is done because candy is one of the most favoured foods of many people. One of the well-known candies is hard candy lozenges that contain one or more ingredients that generally have a sweet taste. Hard candy lozenges can treat sore throat or reduce cough. Lozenges usually contain local anaesthetics, antiseptics, and antibacterial. Generally, hard candy is made of sucrose, but in this study the sugar used is isomalt. It is a low-calorie sugar and safe for consumption by diabetics," said Prof. Rizal.
To date, the utilization of torbangun leaves by local people, especially Batak Tribe, is only for consumption in the form of torbangun soup. To increase the selling value and utilize the active ingredients of torbangun leaves, the leaves should be developed into a product that has an effect on health, especially for smokers.
The study of making hard candy lozenges using torbangun extract consisted of three formulas with different concentration levels of torbangun extract added, namely the concentration of 2x, 4x, and 6x from the initial extract. The antioxidant capacity of hard candy lozenges made of torbangun extract is classified as low, namely 1.3977 – 2.7787 mg Vit C/100 g.
"The antioxidant capacity increases in line with the concentration of the extract added to the hard candy formula. F2 formula with a concentration of 4x from the initial extract is the preferred formula that has the highest antioxidant capacity and can be accepted by the panellists based on the rating test value," he explained. (TK)
