Administration of Green Tea (Camellia sinensis) Leaves Ethanol Extract Increased the Number of Leydig Cells and Testosteron Levels in Cigarette Smoke-Exposed Male Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Background: There are many factors that cause aging, one of which is exposure to cigarette smoke because it contains free radicals. Free radicals can cause the death of Leydig cells thereby decreasing testosterone production. To prevent the negative effects of cigarette smoke, it is necessary to provide antioxidants such as green tea extract which contains phenols, flavonoids, tannins and antioxidants. The purpose of this study was to prove that administration of green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves ethanol extract increases the number of leydig cells and testosteron levels in cigarette smoke-exposed male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). Methods: This study used a post test only control group design. Subjects were 40 male rats, Wistar strain, healthy, weighing 180-200 grams, aged 3-4 months. The control group (20 rats) was given a 2 ml/200gBW placebo (aquadest), the treatment group (20 rats) was given a 40mg/200gBW green tea leaves ethanol extract. Each treatment was given 2 hours before exposure to cigarette smoke for 30 days. Blood serum was drawn to examine testosterone levels using the ELISA method. Afterward, the testis were collected to assess the number of Leydig cells using Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining. Results: The mean number of Leydig cells in the control group was 11.23±1.79 cells/field of view, while the treatment group was 38.29±5.41 cells/field of view (p less than0.001). The median testosterone level in the control group was 2.17 nmol/mL (1.70; 3.40). Median testosterone in the treatment group was 6.79 nmol/mL (3.14; 7.36) (p less than0.001). Conclusion: It can be concluded that administration of green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves ethanol extract increased the number of leydig cells and testosteron levels in cigarette smoke-exposed male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus).