Melinjo

Gnetum gnemon is a species ofGnetum native to southeast Asia and the westernPacific Oceanislands, fromAssam south and east throughIndonesia andMalaysia to thePhilippines andFiji.

It is a small to medium-size tree (unlike most other Gnetumspecies, which are lianas), growing to 15–20 m tall. Theleaves are evergreen, opposite, 8–20 cm long and 3–10 cm broad, entire, emerging bronze-coloured, maturing glossy dark green. The fruit-like strobilus consist of little but skin and a large nut-like seed 2–4 cm long inside.

(Gnetum gnemon) The small oval fruits of the gnemon tree, which are both red and green, contain a seed which is used to make tantalizing, deep-fried crisps known as melinjo nut crackers. In Indonesia, they are called emping melinjo or belinjo. They may be labeled ‘melinjo wafers’, ‘dried bitter nuts’ or ‘bitter nut crackers’. Some brands list the ingredients as melinjo nuts and tapioca starch. Others simply state that they are melinjo nuts, and indeed they look like nuts which have been rolled out thinly. Some sources say the seed is ground into flour, then pressed into a thin wafer and dried in the sun. Whatever the method, the crackers are parchment colored, thin circles, 2.5-3.5cm in diameter, with somewhat jagged edges.

Deep fry them in oil hot enough to puff them but not brown them. Only cook a few at a time. Some varieties come with a coating of sugar which browns when the crackers are fried. The texture is not as light and crisp as un-sugared melinjo wafers. Some are already fried, ready to eat. The plain wafers are best and most typical.

Benefits of Melinjo

As mentioned melinjo, most people probably know him as a raw material chips with his trademark sense of bitterness. There are people who abstain because of fear of melinjo uric acid. But, you know, beans rich in antioxidants and can melinjo increase endurance?

Researchers from the University of Jember, Tri Agus Siswoyo, considered that the antioxidant activity of seeds is equivalent to vitamin C. melinjo This antioxidant activity obtained from the high protein concentrations, 90-10 percent, within each seed melinjo.

The main protein is very effective in eliminating free radicals causes various diseases such as hypertension, high cholesterol, a narrowing of blood vessels, and premature aging.

Great potential that is contained in a seed or Gnetum gnemon melinjo made sure melinjo Tri is a suitable source of functional protein used as a food supplement nutrasetikal (nutritious food for health), including to prevent and treat disease. Moreover melinjo seeds are easy to obtain.

Cheap Supplements
Recognized until recently had no formal studies on the use of seed proteins as sources of antioxidants melinjo. In fact, if the use of antioxidant peptides from hydrolysis gnemon Gnetum seed was successful, will be available nutrasetikal supplements can be cheap and safe alternative.

Unlike in the country, Japan has already looked at the potential of antioxidant from the seeds of this Gnetaceae family. Tri research results on isolation and characterization of antioxidant peptide from the seeds of this melinjo making it one recipient of research funds from the Indonesia Toray Science Foundation, a foundation established textile company and Japan’s largest synthetic fiber.