In vivo Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Anti-Atherosclerotic Herbs using White Male Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Atherosclerosis is plaque formation in the arteries, which eventually narrows and gradually shocks them at a specified period. The continuous formation will lead to acute or chronic inflammation and higher probability of atherosclerosis. A combination of herbs consisting of Tanjung leaves (Mimusops elengi L.), starfruit leaves (Averrhoa carambola L.), and temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza R.) as an herb drink is empirically believed to have an anti-atheroscleroticeffect as itcontains a potential flavonoid with anti-inflammatory properties (such as quercetin) that may help prevent atherosclerosis. An anti-inflammatory activity test was conducted using the in vivo method on 32 white male rats of the Sprague-Dawleystrain. The result shows that carrageenan 1%-induced (inflammatory agent) and divided into five groups: a negative control (Na CMC 0.5%); a positive control (sodium diclofenac 2%); dosage I (2.7 mL of herb extract/200 g body weight); dosage II (3.6 mL of herb extract/200 g body weight), and dosage III (4.5 mL of herb extract/200 g body weight). To begin with, 24 grams of anti-atherosclerotic herbs in 60<D<16 mesh powder were extracted using 600 mL solvent with the reflux method. Its anti-inflammatory activity was tested based on the herbs' ability in reducing rat paw oedema. The observation was done for every one hour up to five hours to monitor the fluctuation of oedema volume after being carrageenan-induced.The results show that all theherb dosages could inhibit oedema formation in a particular level with the highest oedema inhibition percentage was obtained in dosage III (4.5 mL of herb extract/200 g body weight) at 23.11%. Herb's anti-inflammatory activity was almost equal to the positive control anti-inflammatory with inhibition percentage at 23.81%. In conclusion, anti-inflammatory properties in the herbs could inhibit further inflammation and might prevent the development of atherosclerosis.