The Potential of Sembung Leaf Extract as a Standardized Herbal Medicine for Hypercholesterolemia Leads I Gede Widhiantara to Obtain a Doctorate Degree

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

 

Located in the third floor Postgraduate courtroom, an offline Doctoral Promotion exam was held with promovendus candidate I Gede Widhiantara, S.Si., M.Biomed with the dissertation title "The Provision of Sembung Leaf Extract (Blumea balsamifera) Against Malondialdehyde (MDA) Levels , StAR Expression, Leydig Cell Count and Testosterone Levels in Hypercholesterolemic Wistar Mice (Rattus Novergicus).

 

Hypercholesterolemic conditions play a significant role in increasing the production of free radicals and the inappropriate development of lipid peroxides at the tissue level that triggers oxidative stress. ROS are potentially toxic to cells in the reproductive system such as spermatogenic and Leydig cells. These cells are susceptible to oxidative stress induction because their plasma membranes contain a lot of fatty acids. Oxidative stress reduces spermatogenesis, motility and morphology of spermatozoa, seminiferous tubule diameter and decreases testosterone secretion. Sembung leaf extract (Blumea balsamifera) has the main content in the form of flavonoid compounds which have antioxidant and antihypercholesterolemic activity. Flavonoids in sembung extract are strong antioxidants and work by several mechanisms to reduce the effects of free radicals. This study measured several variables, namely MDA levels as a marker of oxidative stress in testicular tissue, StAR expression, Leydig cell number and testosterone secretion improvement in hypercholesterolemic wistar rats.

 

The results showed that the mean MDA levels were lower in the treatment group, while the variable StAR expression, Leydig cell count and testosterone secretion were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the treatment group of sembung leaf extract at a dose of 4 mg/ml/BW for 30 days. compared to the control group. Variable levels of MDA, StAR expression and number of Leydig cells contributed 94.2% to testosterone levels. Tissue MDA levels have an indirect effect through increasing the number of Leydig cells on testosterone levels. While the expression of StAR has a significant direct effect on testosterone levels.

 

The development of new science (novelty) from the results of this study is that so far research on the effects of sembung leaf extract has not been tested on the function of the reproductive system. The administration of sembung leaf extract in this study was shown to improve testosterone secretion in hypercholesterolemic rats through a direct mechanism of preventing oxidative stress in the testicular organs with markers of lower testicular tissue MDA levels, up-regulation of StAR mRNA and Leydig cell regeneration. Markers of MDA levels, StAR expression and Leydig cells had a significant effect on the secretion of the hormone testosterone.

 

The implication of the results of this study is the potential of sembung leaf extract to be developed into herbal preparations or standardized herbal medicines to treat hypercholesterolemia and improve testosterone secretion in male individuals. In addition, further research on standardization of sembung herbal ingredients and examining several steroidogenic enzymes so as to complete data on the effectiveness of sembung leaf extract on the process of steroidogenesis.

 

The examination was led by the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Dr. dr. Komang Januartha Putra Pinatih, M.Kes with a team of examiners:

1. Prof. Dr. dr. I Wayan Putu Sutirta Yasa, M.Si (Promoter)

2. Prof. Dr.dr. I Made Jawi, M.Kes (Copromotor I)

3. Dr. dr. Bagus Komang Satriyasa, M. Repro (Copromotor II)

4. Prof. Dr. dr. I Nyoman Mangku Karmaya, M.Repro., PA (K)

5. Prof. Dr. dr. I Made Bakta, Sp.PD-KHOM

6. Prof. Dr. dr. J . Alex Pangkahila, M.Sc.,Sp.And (KSAAM)AIFO-K

7. Prof. Dr. Ir. Ida Bagus Putra Manuaba, M.Phil

8. Dr. dr. A A. Ngurah Jaya Kusuma, Sp.OG (K) MARS

9. Dr. dr. I Nyoman Wande, S.Ked., Sp.PK (K)

10. Dr. dr. Dyah Kanya Wati, Sp. A(K)

 

While the academic invitations are:

1. Dr. dr. Gede Wirya Kusuma Duarsa, M.Kes, Sp.U(K)

2. Dr. Ni Wayan Tianing, S.Si. M.Kes

3. Dr. dr. Agung Wiwiek Indrayani, M.Kes

4. dr. I Wayan Sumardika, S.Ked., M.Med.Ed., Ph.D

5. dr. I Made Winarsa Ruma, S.Ked., Ph.D

 

In this exam, Dr. I Gede Widhiantara, S.Si., M.Biomed was declared a graduate of the 346th Graduate Doctoral Program of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University with CUMLAUDE predicate