Hepatoprotective effect of ethanolic extract of Syzygium polyanthum in rats induced by rifampicin and isoniazid

Introduction: Syzygium polyanthum (Bay leaf) is one of the species of the family Myrtaceae used as a seasoning and medicine, especially in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia and Indonesia. This leaf is known to have medicinal properties to prevent cholesterol, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gastritis, diarrhea, and gout. This study evaluates the hepatoprotective properties of the ethanolic extract of Syzygium polyanthum in rats induced by rifampicin and isoniazid. Methods: These hepatoprotective properties were evaluated by the assay of liver function parameters, such as total bilirubin, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), the histopathological study of the liver and malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of stress oxidative. Results: Administration of ethanolic extract of Syzygium polyanthum has no significant effect (P>0,05) on total bilirubin, SGOT, and SGPT, but can reduce MDA descriptively. Ethanolic extract of Syzygium polyanthum could not cure the liver tissue of rats in histopathology examination. It means that ethanolic extract of Syzygium polyanthum can help to reduce oxidative stress in liver tissue. Conclusion: In further research, it is recommended to develop other bioactivity tests from bay leaf isolates and conduct more specific studies to explain the mechanism of action of the extract at the cellular and organismal levels that are more complex, as well as toxicity tests to determine pharmacological effects.