Effect of Extract Piper nigrum and Cymbopogon citratus on LDL and HDL Levels in Rattus norvegicus with Hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is the most common cause of noncommunicable diseases, which are a public health concern because they cause significant morbidity and mortality. Hypercholesterolemia is a condition in which blood cholesterol levels are excessive, with LDL levels too high and HDL levels too low, thereby increasing the risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Black pepper (Piper nigrum) contains the active compound piperine, which may reduce cholesterol absorption. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) contains flavonoids that may lower cholesterol. Based on this description, this research aims to determine the effect of ethanol extract of black pepper (Piper nigrum) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) on LDL and HDL levels in white rats (Rattus novergicus) with hypercholesterolemia. This research method is a laboratory experimental study using 6 groups of samples, each group of 5 mice. The sample group consisted of a negative control group (given only standard chow), a positive control group (given only standard chow and high-fat chow), the treatment group was given standard chow, high-fat chow and extract (group P1, given black pepper extract at a dose of 200 mg/kgBW, group P2, given black pepper extract at a dose of 500 mg/kgBW, group P3, given lemongrass extract at a dose of 200 mg/kgBW, group P4, given lemongrass extract at a dose of 500 mg/kgBW). The results of the study showed that ethanol extract of black pepper and lemongrass were effective in reducing LDL levels in hypercholesterolemic white rats (Rattus norvegicus). The dose of black pepper ethanol extract that is most effective in reducing LDL levels is 500 mg/kgBB and the dose of lemongrass ethanol extract that is effective in reducing LDL levels is 200 mg/kgBB p-value = 0,013 < 0,05. The results of this study also showed that the ethanolic extract of black pepper and lemongrass had no effect on increasing HDL levels p-value = 0,665 > 0,05.

Keywords: black pepper extract, lemongrass extract, hypercholesterolemia, LDL, HDL