Effect of Fermentation using Lactobacillus casei on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Sorghum Flour

Abstract

Sorghum is one of the high carbohydrate food sources that is still underutilized for processed food products due to its anti-nutritional content and functional properties. Fermentation is one of the processes that can reduce anti-nutritional content and improve the functional properties of sorghum flour. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Lactobacillus casei fermentation on the physicochemical and functional properties of sorghum flour. Sorghum used in this study was a local variety of KD-4 from Lamongan Dictrict, East Java. The experimental design used was Completely Randomized Design with two factors and three replication. The first factor was the concentration of bacteria in soaking water (0.05%; 0.10%; 0.15%, and 0.20% of the volume of water) and the second factor was the fermentation period (4, 8 and 12 hours). The results showed that concentration of bacteria and fermentation period generally affected the physicochemical and functional properties of sorghum flour. Increasing concentrations of bacteria and fermentation period tended to decrease tannin content, starch, amylopectin, and water and oil absorption but increased the value of whiteness, dietary fiber, amylose, and viscosity of sorghum flour.