Biscuit Made Of Torbangun Leaves (Coleus Amboinicus Lour) As Dietary Supplement: An Alternative For The Treatment Of Stunting By Local Wisdom In Batak Pakpak Community, Indonesia

Abstract

Stunting caused by malnutrition, poverty and other environmental factors still exists in Indonesia. According to WHO, Indonesia ranks fifth in the number of children with stunting conditions. In the Batak ethnic group, local wisdom was found in the community where torbangun leaves (Coleus Amboinicus L.) was used to increase the quality of breast milk given to infants aged 12-24 months. Various studies show that torbangun leaves contain elements that can increase the baby's height and nutrition. The objective of this paper is to show that torbangun leaves are very feasible to be consumed by children aged 12-24 months, in a practical, comfortable and healthy form of food according to the decision of the health ministry of the Republic of Indonesia, namely in the form of biscuits. Methods: The research was conducted experimentally to obtain biscuits from torbangun leaves based on the aroma, texture, taste and color of the leaves, and then the nutritional content of the torbangun leaf biscuits were analyzed. Next, biscuits with torbangun leaves and biscuits without torbangun leaves are given to mice to find out the effect on their body length. The last method is to make intervention in stunted children aged 12-24 months. These children are put into two groups: children who are given torbangun leaf biscuits and children who are given regular biscuits without torbangun leaves for 3 months everyday. The findings from the organoleptic test results showed that the most suitable biscuits given to children aged 12-24 months were biscuits with the addition of torbangun leaf flour. When torbangun leaf biscuits were given to mice, there was a significant difference in their body length, compared to mice that consumed regular biscuits without torbangun leaves.