The Potency of Local Fermented Foods Tape Ketan to Improve The Body's Immune System

Abstract

Food processed by fermentation can be found in almost every area in Indonesia for example is tape ketan. Tape ketan is a traditional food that comes from fermented glutinous rice. The processing of tape ketan involves tape yeast which contains various kinds of microorganisms. The results of fermentation on tape ketan become a habitat for lactic acid bacteria (LAB) which also acts as probiotic bacteria. The bacteria were Lactobacillus curvatus, L. plantarum, L. fermentum, Pediococcus pentosaceous, Weissella confusa, W. paramesenteroides and, W. kimchii. Consuming foods containing LAB has a positive impact because it can increase the body's immune system. The LAB mechanism in enhancing the body's immune system is to maintain the balance of the digestive tract microflora by (1) competing with enteric pathogens (2) triggering the synthesis of cytokines and enterocytes (3) producing toxic metabolites (4) producing butyric acid to increase enterocyte turnover ( 5) restore normal microflora during antibiotic therapy (6) produce bacteriocins. In addition, the glutinous rice tape produces phenolic compounds and flavonoids as immunomodulators.