Quality Standardization of Snakehead Fish (Channa striata) from Limboto Lake as Traditional Medicine Raw Material

Abstract

Snakehead fish (Channa striata) has long been used by communities in Gorontalo, Indonesia, as a traditional remedy to accelerate wound healing and to increase serum albumin levels. The growing use of natural products underscores the need to assure quality and safety through standardization. This study aimed to standardize the specific and non-specific parameters of C. striata collected from Limboto Lake, Gorontalo Regency. The evaluated parameters included organoleptic properties, extractable matter, moisture content, loss on drying, total ash, acid-insoluble ash, and heavy metal contamination determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The total protein content was 138.18 g (46.1%). For specific parameters, the sample was a fine powder with a slightly yellowish color and a characteristic snakehead odor; water- and ethanol-soluble extractive values were 8.8% and 4.6%, respectively. Non-specific parameters showed a loss on drying of 3.13%, moisture content of 5.9%, total ash of 2.83%, and acid-insoluble ash of 0.49%. Heavy metal levels were 0.15785 mg/kg for arsenic (As), 0.01705 mg/kg for cadmium (Cd), <0.00055 mg/kg for mercury (Hg), and <0.00055 mg/kg for lead (Pb), all of which complied with BPOM and Indonesian National Standards (SNI) safety criteria. Overall, C. striata from Limboto Lake met the required specific and non-specific quality parameters for traditional medicine raw materials, indicating its potential for further development as a safe, high-quality herbal drug ingredient. This study provides scientific support for the development of traditional medicines based on local aquatic resources.