Effectivity of insulin leaf extract (Tithonia diversivolia) on mice malondialdehyde (MDA) levels

Tithonia diversifolia popularly known in Indonesia as insulin leaves contain phenolic compounds such as chlorogenic acid and tryptophan. These compounds inhibit oxidative reactions and have a role in prevention of free radicals. Measurement of the malondialdehyd (MDA) level in the blood serum, can indicate the free radical amount in the body, so MDA can be classified as a biomarker of free radicals. The administrating a toxic dose of paracetamol may cause hepatotoxicity which could trigger an increase in free radicals and MDA in the body. The purpose of this study is to identify the effectiveness of insulin leaf extract in preventing free radical escalation on mice induced by a toxic dose of paracetamol by monitoring its MDA levels. 38 mice were divided into 4 groups. A control negative group (not treated), control positive group (Aquadest + paracetamol), treatment group I (Insulin leaf extract 300mg/Kg BW+ paracetamol), treatment group II (Insulin leaf extract 500mg/Kg BW + paracetamol). Extracts were given for ten days and paracetamol induction was done on the eighth, ninth, and tenth day. On the eleventh day, mice blood serum was taken and then the level of MDA was measured using a spectrophotometer with a wavelength of 532 nm. The study showed the highest rate of MDA was obtained in the control positive group (2.97) followed by the treatment group II (2.43), the treatment group I (1.99) and control negative group (1.98). One Way Anova and test Tukey HSD, was found to have a significant difference between the control positive group and control negative group (p=0.025) and between control positive group and treatment group I (p=0.019). To conclude, the Insulin leaf extract with a dose of 300mg/Kg of body weight was found to be the most effective in preventing elevation of MDA levels after a toxic dose of paracetamol was induced.