Potency of Honje Hutan Flowers (Etlingera Hemisphaerica (Blume) R.M.Sm.) as Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor

Abstract

The Pangandaran people process honje flowers into fresh drinks that are consumed for health. Theforest honje leaf extract provides antidiabetic activity at a dose of 0.39 mg/g BW can reduce bloodglucose levels by 36.16% has been reported. Limited scientific information from honje hutan flowers,it is necessary on its activity as an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and study its chemical content. Theextraction process was macerated in 70% ethanol for 24 hours and the fractionation process wascarried out by liquid-liquid extraction method with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and water as solvents.Testing the activity of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors colorimetrically using the chromogenic substratep-nitrophenyl α-D-glucopyranoside, alpha-glucosidase enzymes derived from Saccharomycescerevisiae, measurement of absorption at a maximum wavelength of 401.3 nm and acarbose usedas a comparison drug alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. The results showed that the forest honje flowerscontain flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, quinones, monoterpenoids, and sesquiterpenoids. IC50 valuesfor 70% ethanol extract, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, water and acarbose fractions were 136.79, 307.18,277.12, 66.18, and 14.63 g/mL respectively. The water fraction gave the best inhibitory activity againstalpha-glucosidase with an IC50 value of 66.18 g/mL.Keywords: Etlingera hemisphaerica (Blume) R.M.Sm, honje hutan flowers, alpha-glucosidaseinhibitor.