A Antioxidant Activity of Syrup Made from a Combination of Earthworth (Lumbricus rubellus) And Dragon Fruit Peel (Hylocereus polyrhizus) With DPPH Method: Fitri Kurniasari1,*,Jena HayuWidyasti 1Fakultas Farmasi *Universitas Setia Budi, Surakarta,Indonesia, fitrinature@gmail.com

Abstract

Dragon fruit peels and earthworms are substances containing an antioxidant activity that can inhibit free radicals. Their utilization can be developed in the form of syrup ingredients. Dragon fruit peel extract has IC₅₀ 3.14 gram / 100 ml, while earthworm flour has IC₅₀ 120.22. This research aimed at determining the best syrup formula and antioxidant activity from a combination of earthworms (Lumbricus rubellus) and dragon fruit peels (Hylocereus polyrhizus).

The syrup was made in 3 formulas with varying levels of earthworms and dragon fruit peels, namely formula 1 (20%; 10%), formula 2 (15%; 15%), and formula 3 (10%; 20%). Each formula was tested for its physical properties, organoleptic properties (color, smell, and taste), homogeneity, viscosity, pH, specific gravity, and hedonic test to obtain the syrup with the best profile. Then, the best syrup was tested for antioxidant activity by  using the DPPH method.

The results showed that the syrup from a combination of earthworm and dragon fruit peel met the syrup quality test (organoleptic, homogeneity, viscosity, pH, and BJ). In this study formula 2 (15%; 15%) was the chosen formula because it had an attractive taste and appearance, no sediment/homogeneity, low viscosity, stable pH, and showed the highest hedonic test results. Earthworm syrup and dragon fruit peel have moderate antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 124.9 ppm) than ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ 10.24 ppm).

Keywords: antioxidant; dragon fruit peel (Hyocereus polyrhizus); DPPH; earthworm (Lumbricus rubellus); syrup