Physical characteristics of artificial nori made from Ptilophora pinnatifida and Moringa oleifera leaves

Abstract

Abstract Artificial nori is a potential alternative to fulfil the need of nori (dried Porphyra) in Indonesia. Ptilophora pinnatifida naturally does not have green colour. Moringa oleifera leaves can give natural green colour to the artificial nori made from Ptilophora pinnatifida. The aim of this study was to produce an artificial nori which had a close physical characteristics as the commercial nori. This study was an experimental research using the concentrate of Moringa oleifera leaves as variable. The concentrate was consisted of 4%, 6%, and 8% (w/w) of Moringa oleifera leaves. The artificial nori made from mixture of Ptilophora pinnatifida and Moringa oleifera leaves were analized it’s colours (L, a, and b), thickness, tensile strength, and elongation. The result showed, the artificial nori with 8% addition of Moringa oleifera leaves had the closest physical characteristics as the commercial nori. It had 0.25 mm of thickness, 1.22 kg/cm2 of tensile strength, 7.67% elongation, colour L 28.05, colour a 2.90, and colour b 10.31. The concentrate of Moringa oleifera significantly affected the colours, tensile strength, and elongation of the artificial nori, while the tickness was not significantly affected by the concentration of Moringa oleifera.