POTENCY OF Areca catechu FLESH EXTRACT IN INHIBITING SOFT ROT FUNGI OF MELONS AND BANANAS

Areca fruit (Areca catechu) has traditionally been used as a tooth strengthening and whitener through the habit of "chewing," in Indonesian culture. In Madura, the use of young areca nuts is an herbal medicine for male virility. Wider utilization has not been performed, even though betel nuts contain bioactive compounds, potentially as antimicrobials. The aim of this research was to obtain evidence for the use of watery extract of betel nuts as a natural ingredient to extend fruits' shelf life from fungal attacks. The fungus isolated from melon fruit was Meyerozyma sp., and the isolate from banana fruit was Aspergillus sp. Extraction of betel nuts using water as a solvent produces a dark brown concentrated solution. The in vitro antifungal test result showed that the inhibitory activity of areca flesh water extract against fungal isolates was still lower than that of 0.2% ketoconazole. The in vivo test results on "Arumanis" mangoes and "Ambon" bananas with Aspergillus sp. from bananas showed that hyphae had not appeared on days 4 and 5 of storage at room temperature 25 oC, respectively. Areca fruit extract can extend the shelf life of the fruit at room temperature.