Techno-Economic Assessment and In Silico Study of Ethanol-Water Extracted Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon) for Antidiabetic Applications
Kayla Nasya Tsabita(#1) , Nadine Alifyarini(#1 ), Andrei Bernadette (1) , Luky Rizky Putra (1), Leon Lukhas Santoso (1), Dewi Tristantini (1*)

1 ) Chemical Engineering, Universitas Indonesia
Depok, Indonesia
*Corresponding author: detris[at]che.ui.ac.id
#All authors contributed equally

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus, a disease that occurs during periods of prolonged hyperglycemia, especially in developing countries, urges the development of cost-effective and accessible therapeutic alternatives. Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon), an indigenous Indonesian plant rich in polyphenols and flavonoids such as resveratrol, quercetin, and kaempferol, has demonstrated potential antidiabetic properties. Using an ethanol-water solvent system, this study integrates in silico molecular docking, enzymatic inhibition modeling, and preliminary techno-economic plant design to evaluate the feasibility of producing antidiabetic melinjo extract. To evaluate interactions between key bioactive compounds and three diabetes-related target proteins, 11-\(\beta\)-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (4K1L), interleukin-1\(\beta\) (2NVH), \(\alpha\)-amylase (4W93), molecular docking simulations were performed using MOE 2014.09. The results indicate favorable binding affinities and inhibition constants, which suggest non-competitive inhibition mechanisms consistent with Michaelis-Menten modeling. Process simulation was conducted using SuperPro Designer v.13 to design a batch extraction plant with decoction and oven-drying processes. The projected annual production capacity reached 174,197 bottles at a selling price of IDR 300,000 (USD 20) per bottle. Economic analysis demonstrated strong investment feasibility with ROI of 152%, IRR of 112%, NPV of IDR 54.38 billion (USD 3.53 million), PBP of 1.03 years, and BEP of 69,918 bottles. Results confirm both the biological inhibition potential and economic viability of melinjo extract as a natural antidiabetic product. This study provides a systematic framework linking computational bioactivity validation with industrial process design and financial feasibility, supporting the development of scalable herbal-based therapeutics in Indonesia.

Keywords: melinjo extract- antidiabetic- molecular docking- process simulation- in silico

Topic: Biochemistry