Effect Oral Administration of Betel Water (Peperomia pellucida) Ethanol Extract on Lipid Profile and F2 Isoprostane Levels in Dyslipidemic Male Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Background: Dyslipidemia is the major risk factor for atherosclerosis. Dyslipidemia followed by increased level of lipid peroxidation as a marker of oxidative stress, measured by F2-Isoprostane level. Betel water (Peperomia pellucida) contains flavonoid and other antioxidant. This study aims to prove effect oral administration of betel water ethanol extract on lipid profile and F2Isoprostane level in dyslipidemic male rats. Methods: Experimental randomized pretest posttest control group design was used in this study. Samples were 24 male white rats aged 2.5-3 months, weighing 180-220, which were given a high fat diet to achieve dyslipidemic state ( total cholesterol levels 200mg/dL). Samples then divided into two groups. Control group was given simvastatin 0.36 mg/day + distilled water as placebo, whereas treatment group was given simvastatin 0.36 mg/day + betel water ethanol extract at a dose of 60 mg/day for 42 days. Lipid profile and F2-isoprostanes level were measured using blood serum before and after 42 days of treatment. Results: The results showed that there was a significant difference on the mean reduction value of total cholesterol, where in control group the result was 21.68±7.12 mg/dL, while in treatment group it was 8.46±5.28mg/dL (p<0.001), simvastatin alone gives better result. There was a significant difference on the mean reduction value of triglycerides, where in control group the result was 27.55±7.29 mg/dL, while in treatment group it was 32.07±4.79mg/dL (p=0.021), simvastatin+betel water ethanol extract give better result. There was a significant difference on the mean reduction value of LDL, where in control group the result was 20.90±8.78 mg/dL, while in treatment group it was 13.03±5.61mg/dL (p=0.016), simvastatin alone give better result. There was no significant difference on the mean increasement value of HDL, where in control group the result was 4.73 ± 3.60 mg/dL, while in treatment group it was 6.69 ± 1.44mg/dL (p = 0.094), simvastatin+betel water ethanol extract give better result, but not statistically significant. There was a significant difference on the mean reduction value of F2-Isoprostane, where in control group the results was 3.05±1.52 ng/dL, while in treatment group it was 4.45±1.43 ng/dL (p=0.030), simvastatin+betel water ethanol extract give better result. Conclusion: As conclusion, combination of betel water ethanol extract and simvastatin decreased total cholesterol and LDL in dyslipidemic male rats not as potent as simvastatin alone, but decreased triglycerides and F2-Isoprostane level better than simvastatin alone. Meanwhile, HDL in both groups were not increase significantly.