International Journal of Chemistry Studies

Authors
Sri Mayun Ariani, Sri Rahayu Santi, Ni Wayan Bogoriani

Abstract
Torch ginger (Etlingera elatior) is a plant rich in antioxidants such as flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, saponins, and steroids. Torch ginger has activity as antidiabetic. This study aims to determine the potential of torch ginger flower methanol extract in reducing levels of free fatty acids, blood glucose, and triglycerides in obese rats. The study was conducted in vivo using 18 female Wistar rats, which were divided into three groups, namely a normal control group, a high-fat diet control group, and a treatment group (high-fat diet + 100 mg/kg BW torch ginger flower extract) and the phytochemical test was carried out in vitro. The treatment lasted for 30 days, and after that, the rats were fasted for 10-12 hours to take their blood which would later be used to examine free fatty acids, blood glucose, and triglycerides. The results showed that the methanolic extract of torch ginger flower contained polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and steroids. In vivo results showed that a dose of 100 mg/kg BW of torch ginger flower extract was able to reduce levels of free fatty acids, blood glucose, and triglycerides with a percentage reduced in free heavy acid levels by 26.60%, glucose levels by 43.53%, and triglyceride levels by 57.39% compared to the high-fat diet control group.