Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder characterised by persistent
hyperglycaemia, in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood. In
Malaysia, Etlingera elatior has been used traditionally for reducing blood glucose
levels. This pilot study was designed to evaluate the hypoglycaemic properties of
aqueous E. elatior flower extract (AEEFE) on a self-made high-fat diet (HFD) and
streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. There were 2 phases
in the pilot study: induction of obesity (prediabetic state) using self-made HFD and
induction of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using 30 mg/kg STZ. Due to the
Movement Control Order (MCO) imposed by the Malaysian government because of
the pandemic Covid-19 outbreak, only the results from the first part of the study had
been analysed. The Body Mass Index (BMI) of the Sprague Dawley (SD) rats reached
the obesity category after 4 weeks of HFD feeding despite there was a reduction of
food intake. The blood glucose level and systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the
experimental group were also increased. Although the second phase of the study
cannot be continued due to MCO, the expected results were still being reported based
on the data and information from the previously published articles. The effects of
AEEFE in the biochemical and histopathological examinations were expected to
exhibit improved results when compared to the untreated diabetic group. The bioactive
compounds present in the AEEFE such as anthocyanin and flavonoid were expected
to minimise the complications from hyperglycaemia and increase insulin sensitivity.
Therefore, from all the evidence collected in the expected effects on AEEFE, E. elatior
flower is expected to have hypoglycaemic potential in treating T2DM
