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Arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea. L) is an underutilized local crop potentially to be developed as carbohydrate source and functional food in Indonesia. The objectives of this research are to evaluate the immunostimulatory effects of arrowroot extracts in vitro by using animal cell culture techniques, and in vivo by using BALB/c mice. The arrowroot tuber extracts were prepared by heat-treatment at 121°C for 20 min in distilled water. The IgM production stimulatory activity of arrowroot tuber extracts against human hybridoma HB4C5 cells and mouse splenocytes was assessed. The result indicated that the arrowroot tuber extract stimulated IgM production by HB4C5 cells and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA and IgM) production by splenocytes in vitro. In addition, the arrowroot tuber extracts strongly enhanced interferon c production by splenocytes. In vivo study indicated that the diet containing arrowroot extracts increased the serum IgG, IgA and IgM levels in mice. These results revealed that the arrowroot tuber extracts have immunostimulatory effects in vivo as well as in vitro.

Asia represents rich traditional dietary diversity. The rapid diet transition in the region is leading to a high prevalence of non-communicable diseases. The aim of this exploratory study was to document traditional foods and beverages and associated traditional knowledge that have potential positive health impacts, from selected countries in the region. The study also focused on identifying their importance in the prevention and management of lifestyle-related diseases and nutritional deficiencies as well as for the improvement of the overall health and wellbeing. This was conducted in selected locations in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Nepal through a qualitative method with a pre-tested documentation format. Through a detailed documentation of their health benefits, the study tries to highlight the significance of traditional foods in public health as well as their relevance to local market economies towards sustainable production and consumption and sustainable community livelihoods.

Perkembangan industri pariwisata dapat memberikan peluang bagi berkembangnya produk-produk wisata, termasuk kuliner di Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Tingginya perkembangan industri pariwisata, memberikan peluang yang sangat besar bagi masyarakatnya, untuk ikut berpartisipasi dalam pembangunan pariwisata, khususnya wisata kuliner yang saat ini masih sangat terbatas jumlahnya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan makanan tradisional sebagai Daya Tarik Wisata Kuliner di Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif, dengan menggunakan teori Daya tarik Wisata dari Damanik dan Weber, (keunikan, originalitas, otentisitas, dan keragaman).Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan observasi dan wawancara. Hasil Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa makanan tradisional  Kue Kolombeng merupakan suatu produk yang berdaya tarik wisata. Daya tarik wisata pada Makanan Tradisional Kolombeng adalah karena makanan Tradisional ini memiliki keunikan, originalitas, otentisitas, dan keragaman. Keunikan dapat dilihat dari adanya kombinasi kelangkaan dan kekhasan yang melekat pada makanan tradisional Kue Kolombeng. Originalitas makanan tradisional tergambar dari keaslian bahan makanan tradisional  dengan tetap mempertahankan bahan baku lokal asli dan proses dengan ,juga menggambarkan otentisitasnya, keragaman mengarah pada variasi bentuk dan nama.

Most cocoa beans in Indonesia are traditionally produced by farmers using non fermented and sun drying method. The quality of cocoa beans produced by farmer in yogyakarta may be improved by the fermentation method. However, it needs optimization for best fermentation process. The aims of the study was to improve quality of cocoa bans by fermentation of sun dried cocoa beans. The characteric fermented cocoa beans was determined by maesuring changes pH, acidity and fermentation indexs of cocoa beans during fermentation. This study used preconditioned cocoa beans to resamble obtain from the farmer. Preconditioning was done in order to get 15% mouisture content of pulp at same level as moisture content of pulp from traditional process. Before fermentation, therefor sun dried cocoa beans was rehydrated to obtain a moisture content of pulp similiar to fresh beans pulp, and then fermentation was conducted for 120 hours. Changes in acidity and fermentation indexs of cocoa beans during fermentation were measured. The fermentation process used 3 level treatment i.e. control (without inoculum), mixed culture of microbies added at the begining fermentation. The result show all cocoa beans acidity increase during fermentation from 4,48% to 6,45% for control, 4,64% to 6,39% for addition of inoculum at begining of fermentation and from 4,45% to 6,59% for addition of inoculum at the begining and midle of fermentation and fermentation indexs of cocoa beans increase for all level of inoculum addition i.e. 0,31 to 0,88 for control, 0,32 to 0,99 for addition of inoculum at the beginning fermentation and 0,33 to 1,03 for addition of inoculum at the beginning and midle of fermentation. The study indicated that addition of mix culture microbies in fermetation improved the quality of cocoa beans that characterized by pH, acidity and fermentation indexs of cocoa beans.

Bengkoang (Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urban) is one of the most popular edible root vegetables in Indonesia. Bengkoang contains fairly large amounts of carbohydrates and crude fiber. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the bengkoang fiber extract (BFE) in vitro and in vivo. BFE was prepared by heating the powder of bengkoang fiber suspended in distilled water at 121°C for 20 min. BFE facilitated IgM production by the human hybridoma cell line HB4C5 cells. In addition, production of IgM, IgG, and IgA by mouse primary splenocytes was facilitated by BFE in a dose-dependent manner. BFE also significantly facilitated production of both interleukin-5 and interleukin-10 by splenocytes. Immunoglobulin production by lymphocytes from the spleen, Peyer's patch, and mesenteric lymph node were significantly activated by oral administration of BFE to mice for 14 days. The serum immunoglobulin levels of IgG, IgM, and IgA were also significantly enhanced. Furthermore, cytokine production by lymphocytes from the spleen, Peyer's patch, and mesenteric lymph node were also facilitated by oral administration of BFE. These results suggest that BFE has positive effects on the immune system in vitro and in vivo.