The supplementation of pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia Jack.) in undernourished rats to increase spatial memory through antioxidant mechanism

Abstract

Summary Undernourished interferes with the synthesis of antioxidants enzymes, causing oxidative stress in the brain. They will damage the cellular components of the brain and result in decreased intelligence. Pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia. Jack) is an endemic plant in Kalimantan that has potential as an antioxidant so it is thought to increase intelligence after undernourished through antioxidant mechanisms. This study aims to prove that the pasak bumi root can improve the spatial memory of Rattus norvegicus after undernourished through antioxidant mechanisms. The study design was post test only with control design. Four treatment groups: normal (KN), P1 = undernourished rat + placebo, P2 = undernourished rat + 70% ethanol extract pasak bumi (EPB) 7.5 mg/kgBW, P3 = undernourished rat + EPB 15 mg/kgBW. The brain oxidative stress parameters examined were SOD activity, H2O2 level, catalase activity and MDA level. Spatial memory of rats was measured by the Morris Water Maze method. Data analysis used Anova and Kruskal Wallis test with a confidence level of 95%. The results showed that the group given EPB 15 mg/kgBW had higher SOD and catalase activity and lower H2O2 and MDA levels than the other groups. Spatial memory of mice given EPB 15 mg/kgBW tended to be better than other groups even though not statistically significantly different. Conclusion: the administration of EPB 15 mg/kgBW in undernourished rats was able to improve the brain oxidative stress and tended to improve the spatial memory of rats compared to the EPB dose of 7.5 mg/kgBW.