1 Teknologi Indonesia © LIPI Press 2011 Volume 34, Edisi Khusus 2011 PROFIL ASAM AMINO EKSTRAK CACING TANAH (LUMBRICUS RUBELLUS) TERENKAPSULASI DENGAN METODE SPRAY DRYING Septi Nur Hayati, Hendra Herdian, Ema Damayanti, Lusty Istiqomah, dan Hardi Julendra Balai Pengembangan Proses dan Teknologi Kimia (BPPTK)-LIPI Jln. Jogja–Wonosari Km. 31, Yogyakarta, 55861 E-mail: septi.nur.hayati@lipi.go.id Hp. 085729158890 ABSTRAK Antibiotik pada ternak unggas banyak digunakan sebagai pemacu pertumbuhan dan antiinfeksi. Antibiotik yang digunakan terus-menerus dalam waktu lama dapat menyebabkan mikroba resisten. Berbagai upaya dilakukan untuk mencari pengganti antibiotik seiring meningkatnya kecenderungan akan permintaan produk peternakan yang sehat, aman dan bebas dari residu berbahaya. Salah satunya dengan pemanfaatan cacing tanah (Lumbricus rubellus) yang mengandung protein tinggi dan asam amino lengkap. Cacing tanah diekstraksi ke dalam bentuk ekstrak air dengan metode dekokta. Bentuk ekstrak air masih memiliki kelemahan. Maka perlu dilakukan formulasi ke dalam bentuk sediaan padat yang lebih stabil, reprodusibel, dan praktis. Formulasi yang dipilih adalah enkapsulasi dengan teknik spray drying. Evaluasi kualitas imbuhan pakan dapat dilihat dari nilai biologisnya. Nilai biologis berkorelasi positif dengan keseimbangan asam amino atau nilai indek asam amino (Essential Amino Acid Index/EAAI). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan ekstrak cacing tanah (ECT) mempunyai kandungan asam amino, baik esensial maupun nonesensial lebih tinggi dibandingkan tepung cacing tanah (TCT) dan ekstrak cacing tanah terenkapsulasi (ECT-e). Asam amino esensial tertinggi pada TCT, yaitu isoleusin (3,14%), pada ECT, yaitu lisin (8,16%), dan pada ECT-e, yaitu leusin (1,71%). Asam amino nonesensial tertinggi pada TCT dan ECT-e adalah asam glutamat, masing-masing 7,67% dan 1,87%, sedangkan ECT adalah serin (14,52%). Tingginya nilai IAAE pada ECT menunjukkan bahwa ekstraksi menghasilkan keseimbangan asam amino yang lebih baik (69,87%) dibandingkan TCT (58,67%), sedang- kan nilai IAAE pada ECT-e menunjukkan bahwa tingkat imbangan asam amino esensial lebih rendah (16,05%) dibandingkan TCT (69,87%) dan ECT (58,67%). Kata Kunci: Lumbricus rubellus, Dekokta, Enkapsulasi, Spray drying, Nilai indek asam amino ABSTRACT Antibiotics in poultry were widely used as growth promotor and anti-infective. When antibiotics were used continuously for long periods, it caused microbial resistance. Various attempts were made to replace antibiotics along with the increasing of trend towards demand for healthy, safe and free from harmful residues of livestock products. One of them was application of earthworm which contains high protein and complete amino acids. Earth- worms were extracted into water extract form by decoct method. Water extract form had some weaknesses. It was necessary to formulate into a solid dosage form which was more stable, reproducible, and practical. The selected formulation was encapsulation by spray drying method. Quality control of feed additives can be seen from biological value. Biological value correlated positively with amino acids equilibrium or Essential Amino Acid Index (EAAI). The result showed that earthworm extract had both essential and non-essential amino acids higher than earthworm meal and encapsulated earthworm extract. The highest essential amino acid in earthworm meal was isoleucine (3.14%), in earthworm extract was lysine (8.16%), and in encapsulated earthworm extract was leucine (1.71%). The highest non-essential amino acids in earthworm meal and encapsulation of earthworm extract were glutamic acid, respectively 7.67% and 1.87%, while the earthworm extracts was serine (14.52%). The high value of IAAE in earthworm extract showed that the extraction method resulted better amino acid balance (69.87%) than earthworm meal (58.67%). While the value IAAE of encapsulated earthworm extract showed that levels of essential amino acid balance was lower (16.05%) than the earthworm meal (69.87%) and the earthworm extract (58.67%). Keywords: Lumbricus rubellus, Decoct, Encapsulation, Spray drying, Essential Amino Acid Index Off print request to: Septi Nur Hayati, Hendra H., Ema Damayanti, Lusty I., dan Hardi Julendra