Deadema setosum Flour to Improve Growth Hormone, Brain Cell Necrosis, and Liver Cell Inflammation in Male Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus): A Local Food Intervention Model for Chronic Malnutrition

Wiralis Wiralis (Poltekkes Kemenkes Kendari, Indonesia)
Teguh Fathurrahman (Poltekkes Kemenkes Kendari, Indonesia)
Zakaria Zakaria (Poltekkes Kemenkes Makassar, Indonesia)
Hariani Hariani (Poltekkes Kemenkes Kendari, Indonesia)
Heru Santoso Wahito Nugroho (Center of Excellence of Community Empowerment in Health, Poltekkes Kemenkes Surabaya, Surabay, Indonesia)
Askrening Askrening (Poltekkes Kemenkes Kendari, Indonesia)
Intan Ria Nirmala (Poltekkes Kemenkes Kendari, Indonesia)
Suwarni Suwarni (Poltekkes Kemenkes Kendari, Indonesia)

Health Dynamics
Vol 3, No 10 (2026): October 2026 (In Progress)

This study aimed to analyze the growth hormone, histological changes in liver and brain tissue after administering Deadema setosum flour. This research was an experimental study with a pretest-posttest design with control group. The research sample was 15 Rattus norwegicus aged 5-7 weeks, who experienced chronic malnutrition, consisting of 5 groups that were determined randomly and given different treatments, namely: K+ (with standard feed and growth hormone injection at a dose of 1 ml), K- (with standard feed), F1 (with standard feed and Deadema setosum flour: 1 gram/day), F2 (with standard feed and Deadema setosum flour: 2 grams/day) and F3 (standard feed and Deadema setosum flour: 3 grams/ day). The intervention was carried out for 12 days, then growth hormone in the blood of levels and a histological examination of the brain was carried out including neuron cells, cortex, pyramids and neuroglia. Growth hormone (GFH-1) levels were measured using the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Imuno Sorbent assay) method. Liver histology changes observed were central veins, liver cells and inflammatory cells; while the brain histological changes observed were neurons, cortex, pyramid cells and neuroglial cells. Next, the observation results were compared between the five sample groups. The examination results for each group were as follows: 1) K+: all brain cells and liver cells were in normal condition; K-: necrosis of all brain cells, necrosis of neuroglia cells in the pyknosis phase and inflammation of liver cells with the qualification “+4”; F1: necrosis of all brain cells, necrosis of neuroglia cells in the pyknosis phase and inflammation of liver cells with the qualification “+3”, F2: necrosis of cortex cells and inflammation of liver cells with the qualification “+2”; and F3: all brain cells were normal and liver cell inflammation occurs with the qualification “+1”. It was concluded that administering Deadema setosum flour at a dose of 3 grams/day can maintain, prevent and repair cell damage due to chronic malnutrition.