FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF FERMENTED COCONUT OIL PREPARED WITH MIXED CULTURES OF Aspergillus oryzae AND Bacillus subtilis

Abstract

Fermented coconut oil (Ferco) is oil that is processed using microbial starter cultures without heating or addition of synthetic chemical solvents, hence it meets quality of virgin coconut oil according to specification by APCC. Our Ferco was fermented using microbial mixed starter of Aspergillus oryzae and Bacillus subtilis. Parameters observed in this study were body weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides, pathological and histopathological changes. Assay on Ferco antimicrobial properties was tested against pathogenic cultures of Listeria monocitogenes, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The results indicated that Ferco could inhibit the growth of L. monocitogenes, B. cereus and S. typhimurium. To determine the effectiveness of Ferco to control blood chemical, an in vivo test using DDY mice as animal model was carried out. Parameters measured were weight gain and blood sugar levels, cholesterol, LDL, HDL and triglycerides in the serum of mice. In addition, pathological and histopathological examination on liver, kidney, spleen and intestine of mice were also conducted to determine the effect of Ferco towards the organs. Ferco influenced the blood cholesterol and HDL levels in mice. There was a decrease in theblood cholesterol levels of groups of mice that were administered with doses of 50 l and 500 l of Ferco while the HDL levels increase. Both the LDL cholesterol and triglycerides levels also showed a decreasing trend. Based on histopathological examination of the spleen, liver, kidney and intestine showed no change in the tissues of the various organs. Microscopic observation showed that the liver of mice that had been infected with E. coli and simultaneously administered with Ferco showed there was occurrence of focal necrosis due to pathogenic infection of E. coli. Oral administration with doses of 500μl of Ferco could cause fatty liver occurrence, while administration with doses of 50μl indicated that there was no occurrence of fatty liver. Histopathological observation on kidney tissues found that swelling of glomerulus and renal tubule epithelial necrosis appeared in some organs of mice with different groups of treatment. However, there was no histopathological changes in the kidneys of mice in the control group. Groups of mice infected with E. coli and simultaneously administered with Ferco exhibited swelling on glomerular and necrosis on epithelial cells of kidney’s tubules due to the occurrence of the infection. Infection by E. coli might lead to sepsis, thus bacteria could penetrate the kidneys resulting in nephritis of the kidney which was characterized by inflammation and necrosis of the glomerular epithelial cells of the renal tubule.