Nitrite Reduction in Edible Bird^s Nest Using Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus plantarum Muhamad Ali (a), Rafi Adjie Firmansyah Putra (a), I Gede Nano Septian (b*), Alimuddin (b,c) Muhamad Amin (d), Hasma (a) Made Sriasih (a)
(a) Laboratory of Biotechnology and Animal Product Processing, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Mataram, Jl. Majapahit No. 62 Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
(b) Laboratory of Animal Production, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Mataram, Jl. Majapahit No. 62 Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
*nanoseptian[at]staff.unram.ac.id
(c) Faculty of NW Mataram, Mataram, Indonesia,
(d) Fish Nutrition Research Group, Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
Abstract
Edible bird^s nests (EBNs), a highly valued ethnomedicinal product, are well-known for their nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Currently, Indonesia is the largest global producer and exporter of EBNs. However, due to high nitrite levels, China has banned the import of EBNs from Indonesia and Malaysia. Nitrite forms in EBNs naturally, driven by fluctuations in nitrogen levels within Swiftlet farmhouses. Since nitrite leads to the formation of methemoglobin, which hinders oxygen transport, it can be toxic and harmful. Therefore, reducing nitrite in EBNs is crucial. This study investigates the effectiveness of P. pentosaceus and L. plantarum in lowering nitrite levels in EBNs. The results indicate that applying L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus significantly (p<0.05) reduced nitrite levels in EBNs. Spraying EBNs with 1.2 x 108 CFU/g of L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus decreased nitrite by 84.65% (1.65 +- 0.17 ppm) after 1 h, 82% (1.94 +- 0.02 ppm) after 3 h, and 78% (2.27 +- 0.2 ppm) after 6 h. These findings demonstrate that nitrite levels in EBNs can be effectively reduced using L. plantarum and P. pentosaceus. The method is cost-effective, safe, easy to implement, leaves no residue, and yields excellent results, making it suitable for large-scale nitrite processing in EBN factories.
Keywords: Edible bird nests: P. Pentaceous: L. Plantarum: Nitrite
