Haruan Channa Striatus: Malaysia's Wonder and Functional Food

Abstract Introduction: Malaysia’s freshwater biodiversity includes the carnivorous snakehead Channa striatus (Haruan), traditionally consumed to accelerate postpartum recovery. This review synthesizes compositional, preclinical and clinical evidence supporting Haruan as a protein-rich functional food and source of bioactive extracts for wound healing and musculoskeletal applications. Objective: Wild Haruan contain high protein (up to 78.3%) and 17 amino acids including, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, leucine, isoleucine and histidine; linked to tissue repair and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Mechanistic studies implicate peptides, essential fatty acids and growth-promoting factors as candidate bioactive constituents. Findings: Solvent-free Pressurized In-Water Extraction (PIWE) yields Haruan Manan (HM), a standardized extract incorporated into Haruan Biomedical Products (HBP) including a 5% topical cream. The Certificate of Analysis (COA) confirms heavy metals within permissible limits, and Ames testing indicates non-mutagenicity. Human studies include a randomized Lower Segment Cesarean trial (oral HM 500 mg/day), a CABG cohort (mixed wound and Quality of Life outcomes), a Phase-I topical safety evaluation (5% HM), and a three-arm knee osteoarthritis randomized controlled trial (500 and 1000 mg/day; WOMAC function improvement). Development pathways include oral supplements (capsules and tablets), topical dermatological formulations and Halal-certified collagen or gelatin ingredients for the nutraceutical and biomedical markets. Conclusion: Collectively, these data support continued translational development of C. striatus HM/HBP, bridging traditional practice and evidence-based medicine. However, larger multicenter for randomized controlled trials, standardized extract characterization, and targeted safety monitoring such as hemostatic parameters are needed to confirm efficacy and ensure regulatory readiness.