Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. and Sargassum aquifolium J. Agardh extracts as anti-atherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective agents in Wistar rats induced by a high-cholesterol diet.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is often associated with inflammation and non-alcoholic liver disease due to high-cholesterol diet and the side effects of conventional treatment. AIM: This study aimed to determine the efficacy of Blumea balsamifera extract (BBLE) and Sargassum aquifolium extract (SAE) in controlling atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects in rats induced by a high cholesterol diet. METHODS: Hypercholesterolemia induction was achieved by oral administration of feed with lard for 21 days in male Wistar rats. Next, the animals were treated with 4 mg/kg BW of BBLE (single dose) and 4 mg/kg BW of BBLE+SAE (combined dose) for 3 months, and continued to be given a high cholesterol diet. The negative control was a high cholesterol diet, and the positive control was simvastatin. Blood samples were taken to determine total cholesterol, apolipoprotein-E (Apo-E), interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. Meanwhile, the weight of the liver and histopathology preparations were weighed. RESULTS: Giving BBLE+SAE was able to reduce body weight, liver weight, and cholesterol levels significantly compared to negative controls (p ≤ 0.05). There was a significant increase in Apo-E levels in the BBLE+SAE group, as well as a decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. A decrease in AST and ALT levels was shown by administering BBLE+SAE, and a higher mean hepatocyte cell count was observed compared to the other groups. CONCLUSION: Administration of BBLE+SAE acts as an anti-atherosclerotic and hepatoprotective agent for the liver through reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, and its use was promising for clinical studies.