Publication: Etlingera elatior flower (bunga kantan) aqueous extract (eeae) as a potential agent for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (pilot study)
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2026-01
Authors
Nazri, Tharwah Hidayah Mohd
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a form of chronic liver disease and a growing global health problem closely associated with metabolic disorders, including obesity. Natural plant-derived antioxidants have attracted attention as potential therapeutic agents. The Etlingera elatior (E. elatior) flower has been utilised traditionally for its therapeutic properties. However, there is insufficient knowledge about the effect of E. elatior aqueous extract (EEAE) on NAFLD. This study identifies the presence of anthocyanin and determines the in vitro antioxidant properties of EEAE. This pilot study also aims to evaluate the potential effects of different concentrations of EEAE on NAFLD in high-fat diet (HFD) induced obese rats. Anthocyanins were identified using thin-layer chromatography (TLC), and in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Male Sprague Dawley rats were assigned to control, untreated, and EEAE-treated groups (500 and 1000 mg/kg). The study comprised induction and intervention phases: control rats received standard pellets, while the remaining groups were fed a high-fat diet for eight weeks, followed by EEAE treatment for eight weeks. Body mass index (BMI), liver function tests (LFT), and liver histopathology (H&E and Masson’s Trichrome staining) were evaluated. EEAE demonstrated high anthocyanin content and strong in vitro antioxidant activity, but did not significantly improve BMI or LFT. Untreated rats developed non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, whereas EEAE-treated rats showed dose-dependent histological improvement, with minimal steatosis observed at 1000 mg/kg. These findings suggest the potential of E. elatior aqueous extract as a natural antioxidant for the management of NAFLD.