Albumin And Zinc Content Of Snakehead Fish (Channa striata) Extract And Its Role In Health

One of the nutritional problems of hospitalized patients is hypoalbuminemia. Hospitality malnutrition data in Indonesia shows that 45% -50% of patients suffer from hypoalbuminemia, some of whom are at life-threatening level. In an effort to help patients with hypoalbuminemia is albumin administration in form of Human Serum Albumin (HSA), which until recently is still an expensive choice. Snakehead fish (Channa striata) extract has been introduced and significantly proven to increase levels of albumin in hypoalbuminemia and to accelerate the process of wound healing in postoperative patients. This paper aims to describe the nutrients profile of Channa striata extract and their role in health. Snakehead is one of native freshwater fish that is widely available in many tropical regions such as Asia and Africa, and has been shown to have high nutrition and health benefits. Snakehead extract contains abundant of albumin (2.17 ± 0.14g/100mL) which is the largest fraction (64.61%) of protein. This is sufficient to provide albumin for highly demanded such as hypoalbuminemia and post-surgical patients, and growing children. Snakehead extract is a potential source of albumin as per 100 mL it contains 3.36± 0.29 g protein, 2.17± 0.14 g albumin, 0.77± 0.66 g total fat ; Total Glucose 0.07 ± 0.02 g, Zinc 3.34 ± 0.8 mg; Cu 2.34 ± 0.98 mg and 0.20 ± 0.09 mg Fe. Key-Words: snakehead fish, Channa striata extract, albumin, hypoalbuminemia, Zn, wound