Nutritional and Bioactive Profile of Gitumon: An Indonesian Traditional Herbal Beverage
Background: In regions with limited access to or expensive conventional medical facilities, herbal remedies frequently serve as crucial healthcare alternatives. represents an innovative blend derived from two renowned traditional Indonesian Jamu preparations, Kunyit Asam and Jamu Jahe, enhanced with a subtle cinnamon flavor. Previous studies into Gitumon have primarily focused on its potential hepatoprotective, blood glucose-regulating, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the specific ingredients and preparation methods inherently influence its nutritional value.
Aims: This study aimed to thoroughly characterize the nutrient content of Gitumon, including its energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, and fiber composition, as well as the levels of key vitamins such as β-carotene and ascorbic acid, and minerals including iron and zinc. Furthermore, the study sought to quantify its curcumin content and assess its antioxidant activity.
Methods: All analytical techniques and measurements adhered to the guidelines established by Chem-Mix Pratama Laboratory. Specifically, the gravimetric method was employed for ash and moisture determination; the Soxhlet technique for fat extraction; the Kjeldahl method for protein quantification; the by-difference method for carbohydrate estimation; and multi-enzyme complexes for fiber analysis. Total energy content was calculated using Atwater factors. Ascorbic acid levels were determined via iodometric titration. Iron, zinc, β-carotene, and curcumin concentrations were measured using spectrophotometry. Antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging assay, with results expressed as IC50 values. Descriptive statistical analysis techniques were applied to all generated data to identify the main features of the dataset.
Results: In each 250 mL serving, all tested varieties of Gitumon provided over 100 kcal of energy. Gitumon samples also exhibited high concentrations of vitamin C (exceeding 100 mg/100 g), iron (greater than 3.6 mg/serving), and curcumin (above 20 mg/serving). Zinc levels were found to be below 10 mg/kg. Conversely, the concentrations of β-Carotene (less than 200 μg/100 g) and DPPH antioxidant scavenging activity (IC50 value exceeding 100 ppm) were found to be negligible.
Conclusions: Gitumon emerges as a noteworthy beverage with a remarkably high content of vitamin C, iron, zinc, and curcumin. Nevertheless, further antioxidant assays are necessary to evaluate and confirm the potential health benefits attributable to the substantial presence of curcumin in Gitumons.
Keywords
How to Cite
Adhawati, N., & Jatmiko, Y. D. (2023). Evaluation of jamu kunyit asam (Curcuma domestica Val. - Tama-rindus indica L.) as probiotic carrier of Lactobacillus plantarum BP102. International Food Research Jour-nal, 30(5), 1274–1284. https://doi.org/10.47836/ifrj.30.5.15
Alabidi, H. M., Farhan, A. M., & Al-Rufaie, M. M. (2021). Spectrophotometric determination of zn(II) in pharmaceutical formulation using a new azo reagent as derivative of 2-naphthol. Current Applied Science and Technology, 21(1), 176–187. https://doi.org/10.14456/cast.2021.17
Al-Shaar, L., Vercammen, K., Lu, C., Richardson, S., Tamez, M., & Mattei, J. (2017). Health effects and public health concerns of energy drink consumption in the United States: A mini-review. Frontiers in Public Health, 5(AUG). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2017.00225
Ansari, S., Maftoon-Azad, N., Farahnaky, A., Hosseini, E., & Badii, F. (2014). Effect of moisture content on textural attributes of dried figs. International Agrophysics, 28(4), 403–412. https://doi.org/10.2478/intag-2014-0031
Arcaro, C. A., Gutierres, V. O., Assis, R. P., Moreira, T. F., Costa, P. I., Baviera, A. M., & Brunetti, I. L. (2014). Piperine, a natural bioenhancer, nullifies the antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of curcumin in streptozotocin-diabetic rats. PLoS ONE, 9(12). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0113993
Bailey, R. L., Saldanha, L. G., Gahche, J. J., & Dwyer, J. T. (2014). Estimating caffeine intake from energy drinks and dietary supplements in the United States. Nutrition Reviews, 72(S1), 9–13. https://doi.org/10.1111/nure.12138
Baliyan, S., Mukherjee, R., Priyadarshini, A., Vibhuti, A., Gupta, A., Pandey, R. P., & Chang, C. M. (2022). Determination of Antioxidants by DPPH Radical Scavenging Activity and Quantitative Phytochemical Analysis of Ficus religiosa. Molecules, 27(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27041326
Balkrishna, A., Sharma, N., Srivastava, D., Kukreti, A., Srivastava, S., & Arya, V. (2024). Exploring the Safety, Efficacy, and Bioactivity of Herbal Medicines: Bridging Traditional Wisdom and Modern Science in Healthcare. Future Integrative Medicine, 3(1), 35–49. https://doi.org/10.14218/fim.2023.00086
Ballester, P., Cerdá, B., Arcusa, R., Marhuenda, J., Yamedjeu, K., & Zafrilla, P. (2022). Effect of Ginger on Inflammatory Diseases. Molecules, 27(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27217223
Bischoff-Kont, I., & Fürst, R. (2021). Benefits of ginger and its constituent 6-shogaol in inhibiting in-flammatory processes. Pharmaceuticals, 14(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14060571
Similar Articles
- Partial substitution of sucrose by non-nutritive sweeteners in sour orange marmalades: effects on quality characteristics and acute postprandial glycemic response in healthy volunteers
- Assessment of vitamin A levels in breast milk and serum of lactating mothers in Southeast Nigeria
- Quantitative and qualitative assessment of food waste in rural markets in Morocco
- Dietary patterns and nutrient intake of pregnant women in Afijio and Oyo East Local Government areas of Oyo State, Nigeria
- Impact of food security, dietary diversity, and nutritional status on glycemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Fako Division, Cameroon
- A review of traditional grain-based complementary foods for children aged 6-23 months in selected African countries
- An Observational Study on the Use of Manual Muscle Testing for Dietary Elimination in Food Sensitivity-Related Conditions
- Nutrient composition of leaves and seeds in selected African Indigenous Vegetables (AIVs): Potential for addressing malnutrition in children under five in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Does sex differ the relationship between macronutrients adequacy and aerobic power?
- Olive stone as a sustainable agricultural by-product: Valorization pathways and prospects in food and feed Industries
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

NAJFNR is licensed under