THE EFFECT OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF SWEET FLAG (ACORUS CALAMUS L.) RHIZOME ON NICOTINE DEPENDENCE

• Main Author: Sandrine Azalea Sidik, Callista
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/76499
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Nicotine is a psychoactive substance in tobacco that has addictive properties. Various treatment options are available to treat smoking addiction; however, high relapse rates and issues related to side effects and treatment compliance pose challenges. Acorus calamus L., commonly known as sweet flag, is a plant that has the potential to attenuate nicotine dependence. The aim of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of ethanol extract from sweet flag rhizome in suppressing nicotine addiction and relapse using the Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) protocol. Active constituents in sweet flag rhizomes were extracted using 70% ethanol through maceration. The sweet flag extract (EAC) was suspended in CMC-Na 0,5% and divided into three doses: 100 mg/kg BW, 200 mg/kg BW, and 400 mg/kg BW. To induce dependence, mice were given nicotine at a dose of 0,5 mg/kg BW intraperitoneally once a day for five days. Test mice were administered CMC-Na 0,5%, sodium diclofenac 10 mg/kg BW, or EAC 30 minutes before nicotine administration. Statistical analysis of preference score indicated that all three doses of sweet flag extract significantly reduced preference scores (p<0,05). The decrease in preference scores was proportional to the extract dose. To induce relapse, mice underwent a nicotine abstinence period for 7 days, then on the 8th day, were given suspending agent, reference drug, or EAC 400 mg/kg BW 30 minutes before nicotine administration. The relapse test results showed that administration of EAC 400 mg/kg BW resulted in a significant decrease in preference scores. Histological analysis indicated that sweet flag extract did not prevent nicotine-induced neuronal damage. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that A. calamus extract has the potential to treat nicotine addiction and relapse.