Skrining Isolat Bakteri Asam Laktat dari Feses Luwak Sebagai Kandidat Probiotik - Faustine Theodore; Komang Ayu Nocianitri; Sayi Hatiningsih (Study Program of Food Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Udayana University, 2025)
Abstract Probiotics play an important role in maintaining gut microbiota balance and supporting digestive health. They can be isolated from various natural sources, including plants, soil, water, and the digestive tracts of animals or humans. To qualify as probiotics, potential strains must meet specific criteria: they must be safe to consume, resistant to stomach acid and bile, and capable of producing antimicrobial compounds. This study evaluated the potential of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates from civet feces as probiotics based on their resistance to low pH and bile salts and their inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli. Ten LAB isolates were tested for resistance at pH levels of 2, 3, and 4. Those resistant to low pH were tested for resistance to 0.3% bile salts. Those that were resistant low pH and bile salts were tested for their ability to inhibit E. coli ATCC 25922 using the disk diffusion method. The results showed that four isolates; FL 6, FL 19, FL 21, and FL 40 had resistance to low pH by 67.8% to 72.8%, and resistance to bile salts by 86% to 91%. These four isolates exhibited inhibitory activity against E. coli, with inhibition zones ranging from 6.0 to 7.3 mm. They were categorized as having moderate inhibitory activity, with isolate FL 19 exhibiting the highest activity. Lactic acid bacteria isolates from civet feces have probiotic potential because they can withstand extreme conditions in the digestive tract and inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Keywords: bile salt, civet feces, lactic acid bacteria, low pH, probiotic Abstrak Probiotik berperan penting dalam menjaga keseimbangan mikrobiota usus dan mendukung kesehatan pencernaan. Probiotik dapat diisolasi dari berbagai sumber alam, seperti tanaman, tanah, air, dan saluran pencernaan hewan ataupun manusia. Strain yang berpotensi sebagai probiotik harus memenuhi syarat, seperti aman dikonsumsi, tahan terhadap cairan lambung dan empedu, dan menghasilkan senyawa antimikroba. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji potensi isolat bakteri asam laktat (BAL) dari feses luwak sebagai kandidat probiotik berdasarkan ketahanan terhadap pH rendah, garam empedu, dan kemampuan daya hambat terhadap Escherichia coli. Sebanyak 10 isolat BAL diuji ketahanannya terhadap pH 2, 3, dan 4. Isolat yang tahan terhadap pH rendah dilanjutkan dengan uji ketahanan terhadap garam empedu 0,3 persen. Isolat yang mempunyai ketahanan terhadap pH rendah dan garam empedu dilanjutkan dengan uji daya hambat terhadap E. coli ATCC 25922 menggunakan metode difusi cakram. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa empat isolat yaitu FL 6, FL 19, FL 21, dan FL 40 mempunyai ketahanan terhadap pada pH rendah sebesar 67,8% hingga 72,8%, dan ketahanan terhadap garam empedu sebesar 86% hingga 91%. Keempat isolat tersebut juga menunjukkan aktivitas daya hambat terhadap E. coli dengan zona hambat berkisar antara 6,0 hingga 7,3 mm dengan kategori sedang dan isolat FL 19 memberikan daya hambat tertinggi terhadap bakteri E. coli. Isolat BAL dari feses luwak berpotensi sebagai probiotik karena memenuhi beberapa kriteria, yaitu tahan terhadap kondisi ekstrem di saluran pencernaan dan mampu menghambat pertumbuhan bakteri patogen. Kata kunci: bakteri asam laktat, feses luwak, garam empedu, pH rendah, probiotik