Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leaf ethanolic extract of Etlingera hemisphaerica (LE3H) has the potential to restore glucose, triglyceride, and uric acid disorders and reduce mercury toxicity. High levels of glucose (hyperglycemia), urine (uremia), and creatinine (hypercreatininemia) in the blood cause real health problems. Meanwhile, the phytochemical content in fruit ethanolic extract of E. hemisphaerica (FE3H) is higher than that of LE3H. AIM: This study evaluated the potential of FE3H as a solution for hyperglycemia, uremia, and hypercreatininemia in mice. METHODS: Quercetin levels in FE3H were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The first (A) stage used 25 male mice divided into five groups. On day (d)1, the body weight (BW) of the mice was weighed. On d2-11, 5-mg/gBW sucrose was given by gavage, and then, on d12, BW and blood glucose level of mice were determined. On d13, 0.52-mg/gBW glibenclamide was given in A2, 0.39-mg/gBW FE3H was given in A3, and 0.52-mg/g BW FE3H was given in A4 by gavage. Control, A0, was only given double-distilled water (DDW). On d14, BW and blood glucose levels of the mice were determined. The second (B) stage used 24 male mice divided into six groups. On d1, B1-B5 were injected intraperitoneally 5-mg/kg BW HgCl(2); then, on d3-5, they were given by gavage 0.2-mg/g BW Immunos(®) in B2, 0.39-mg/gBW FE3H in B3, 0.52-mg/gBW FE3H in B4, and 0.65-mg/gBW FE3H in B5. Controls, B0 and B1, were only given DDW. On d6, the mice were killed by cervical dislocation. The weight of the kidney was determined, and then, the urea and creatinine levels were measured in blood samples from the heart. RESULTS: FE3H contains 98.92 ± 12.88 µg/g quercetin. Sucrose tends to increase BW, and then, 0.39-mg/g BW FE3H treatment tends to restore BW close to control. Sucrose significantly increased blood glucose, and then, 0.39- and 0.52-mg/gBW FE3H treatment restored significantly blood glucose similar to control. HgCl(2) increases kidney weight, and then, 0.65-mg/gBW FE3H treatment tends to restore kidney weight close to control. HgCl(2) significantly increased urea and creatinine, and then, 0.52- and 0.65-mg/gBW FE3H treatment significantly restored urea and creatinine similar to the control. CONCLUSION: FE3H, which is high in flavonoid quercetin, has the potential to restore hyperglycemia by 47.38%-48.18%, uremia by 29.04%-33.06%, and hypercreatininemia by 49.52%-54.28% in mice.