Expression of TNF-α on Wistar Rat (Rattus norvegicus L.) with Extract of Pletekan Leaves (Ruellia tuberosa L.)

Abstract

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Alcoholic drink produced traditionally by Maluku-Indonesia is called sopi, if consumed in excessive doses, it causes kidney damage. The ability of pletekan leaf extract (<i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> L.) is used as an alternative pharmacy because it has strong antioxidant activity. This study aimed to determine the expression of TNF-α in the kidney of Wistar rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus </i>L.) exposed to sopi alcoholic beverages after being treated with a pletekan herbal extract (<i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> L.). <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Thirty Wistar rats with an average weight of 200 g, divided by group I control (-) were given demineralized water, group II control (+) only given sopi, group III-V were given sopi 2.5 mL/head/body weight and pletekan leaf extract with a concentration of 5.04 mg/100 mL water, 10.08 mg/100 mL water and 12.12 mg/100 mL water for each group. This treatment is done for 24 days by giving sopi 3 times a week, then taking the kidney organ to make kidney histology. Observation of TNF-α expression by immunohistochemistry methods. <b>Results:</b> Wistar rats (<i>R. norvegicus </i>L.) exposed to sopi had decreased creatinine levels then were treated with ethanol extract of pletekan leaf (<i>R. tuberosa </i>L.) at a dose of 6% (12.12 mg/100 mL water) which was more effective in reducing creatinine levels and decreased the expression of TNF-α kidney Wistar rats. <b>Conclusion:</b> Pletekan leaf (<i>Ruellia tuberosa</i> L.) ethanol extract has the potential to prevent/repair kidney damage which is characterized by a decrease in the expression of TNF-α kidney Wistar rats (<i>Rattus norvegicus</i> L.) in line with an increase in the extract dosage in all treatments of sopi.

Keywords: Pletekan leaf extract; TNF-α expression; antioxidants; immunohistochemistry; methanol; multi-focal inflammatory cells; sopi.