Background:
Etlingera elatior (Ee) contains phytochemical compounds that are rich in antioxidants, which
may reduce several biochemical markers of metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Objective:
We aimed to study the effect of fresh Etlingera elatior (FEe) and steamed Etlingera elatior (SEe) as a part of
rat diet on the body weight, serum lipid, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in Wistar rats with MetS induced by a highfat, high-fructose diet.
Method:
Our research was a true experimental randomized control group design with pre- and post-test. A total of 24
male Wistar rats were divided randomly into the following four groups: 1) Control, fed standard rat diet during the whole
duration of the study, 2) HFFr-Sd, fed high-fat high-fructose (HFFr) diet for 29 days, followed by 29 days of the standard
diet, 3) HFFr-FEe, fed HFFr diet for 29 days, followed by 29 days of a standard diet containing 33.3% FEe, and 4) HFFrSEe, fed HFFr diet for 29 days, followed by 29 days of a standard diet containing 33.3% SEe. The HFFr diet was given at
15 g/day along with fructose drink (20% pure fructose) at 100 ml/day. The diets in each group after the MetS induction
period is referred to as intervention diets. Data at the end of HFFr (pre) and intervention diets (post) were analyzed by
paired t-test. The data among groups were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance followed by post hoc test.
Results:
HFFr diet for 29 days induced MetS in Wistar rats fulfilling the criteria of obesity (Lee Index),
hypertriglyceridemia, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Also, there was a significant increase
in serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and MDA level (p < 0.05). Feeding a diet
contaning FEe or SEe can significantly reduce body weight, serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and MDA, and increase HDL-C levels (p < 0.05). The effect of FEe was more pronounced in ameliorating body weight and lipid profile
than SEe.
Conclusion:
Fresh Ee and Steamed Ee can ameliorate obesity, dyslipidemia, and oxidative stress in MetS Wistar rats
induced by a high-fat high-fructose diet. It suggests that dietary Ee accounting for one-third of daily standard diet can
assist in normalizing some MetS markers in rats.