The Suppression Effect of Kebar Extract on Endometriosis Lesion, MDA and TNF-α, Independent to VEGF:A Study in Endometriosis Mice Model

Objective: To investigate the effects of Kebar grass (Biophytum petersianum) extract administration to MDA serum levels, TNF-α and VEGF expression, and the extension of the endometriotic lesions in mice model. Methods: This study was experimentally designed. It was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Diponegoro and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Airlangga. Twenty-one mice were divided into three groups: the first group is control of 7 untreated endometriosis mice model, the second group consisted of 7 mice injected with leuprolide acetate 1mg/kgBW single dose, and the last group consisted of 7 mice fed with Kebar grass extract 3mg/day for 14 days. MDA serum level was measured by spectrophotometry, TNF-α and VEGF expression by IHC using Rammele Scale Index (Immuno Reactive Score), whereas the extension of the endometriotic lesions was measured using computerize tracing. Results: Both Kebar grass extract and leuprolide acetate administration significantly decrease MDA serum levels in endometriosis mice model, compare with the control group, (0.09±0.02 nmol, 0.11±0.07 nmol, and 0.30±0.06 nmol, respectively; p=0.001). TNF-α expression of the group treated with Kebar grass extract was lower than leuprolide acetate and control group (2.43±1.521%, 4.86±0.458%, and 7.26±2.898%, respectively; p=0.002). However, there was no significant difference in VEGF expression among study groups (4.34±2.40%, 5.11±1.95%, and 7.40±3.49% respectively; p=0.116). Finally, the extension of the endometriotic lesions of the mouse models administered with Kebar grass extract and leuprolide acetate was smaller than the control group (0 mm², 4.54±7.75 mm², and 34.80±13.09 mm²respectively; p=0.005). Conclusions: Kebar grass extract has the effect of decreasing MDA serum levels and reducing TNF-α expression, resulted in smaller endometriotic lesions in mice, even though it does not affect VEGF expression.