ANTIHYPERTENSIVE ACTIVITY OF JAMAICA CHERRY (MUNTINGIA CALABURA) LEAVES ETHANOLIC EXTRACT ON MALE WISTAR RATS INDUCED BY DEXAMETHASONE

• Main Author: Natalia Gunawan Putri, Fitri
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/80301
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease with high prevalence. Hypertension is characterized by systolic blood pressure ?140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure ?90 mmHg. The treatment of hypertension has been carried out throughout life using conventional drugs that have various side effects. Traditional medicine is preferred due to its relatively fewer side effects. Jamaica cherry (Muntingia calabura L.) leaves have been known in vitro to have activity as Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACEI). This research was conducted to test the antihypertensive activity of Jamaica cherry leaves ethanol extract on dexamethasone induced hypertensive rats and to determine its optimum dose as an antihypertensive. Rats were induced with subcutaneous dexamethasone at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg body weight for 7-10 days. Captopril at a dose of 4.5 mg/kg body weight was used as a standard drug. Jamaica cherry leaves ethanol extract was tested at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight doses. Captopril and extract were given orally forfive days without stopping the induction. Blood pressure was measured non-invasively using the CODA® tail-cuff blood pressure system before and after induction and during therapy (on days 1, 3, and 5). Doses of 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight could reduce systolic blood pressure by 44.6±33, 38.0±15, and 31.2±7 mmHg, respectively. Reduction of diastolic blood pressure was 41.6±31, 31.8±11, and 27.6±9 mmHg, respectively, at the end of therapy. Jamaica cherry leaves showed and antihypertensive effect on dexamethasone-induced hypertensive rats. The optimum dose of Jamaica cherry leaves as an antihypertensive was 50 mg/kg body weight.