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 F2-Isoprostane 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 (pless than0.001), 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.