Effects of various drying methods on the physicochemical properties of telang flower (Clitoria ternatea L.)
Endah Puspitojati, Novia Aristi Rahayu, Nur Fatimah, Bambang Sudarmanto

Politeknik Pembangunan Pertanian Yogyakarta Magelang

Abstract

Telang flower is a biopharmaceutical horticulture commodity and known as functional food source since it contains rich nutrients. The physicochemical properties of this flower are influenced by the drying methods. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties of telang flower using the sun and oven drying methods. The standard procedures were used to determine the water content, pH, anthocyanin content, free radical inhibitory activity, and IC50. This study used a completely randomized design with one treatment factor: drying methods, which included sun drying, sun drying with black cloth cover, and oven drying. The fresh telang flower served as the control. Furthermore, the best drying treatment was also evaluated using the De Garmo effectiveness index test. The results revealed that all drying procedures possessed a significant difference in water content, pH, anthocyanin content, and IC50 values (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the free radical inhibitory activity in all treatments did not differ significantly (p> 0.05). It was found that all treatments had IC50 values in the range of 36.48-49.67 ppm of antioxidant activity. Telang flowers were found to be very potent antioxidants. As a result of the effectiveness index test, the sun drying using a black cloth cover provided the best treatment with the characteristics of water content, pH, anthocyanin content, free radical inhibitory activity, and IC50 of 17.47%, 7.03, 0.085 mg/mL, 85.51%, and 49.67 ppm, respectively.

Keywords: Clitoria ternatea, anthocyanin, free radical inhibition, antioxidant, drying

Topic: Food and Nutrition Security