Doctor of Medical Sciences Studies the Potential of Beluntas Leaf Extract to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk

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• Rabu, 16 April 2025
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Doctor of Medical Sciences Studies the Potential of Beluntas Leaf Extract to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk

Located in the Postgraduate Hall, 3rd Floor of the Postgraduate Building, Udayana University, the Doctoral Program in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University held an open Doctoral Promotion examination with the candidate promovendus, Ns. Putu Wira Kusuma Putra, S.Kep., M.Kep., with the dissertation title, "The Effect of Giving Beluntas Leaf Extract (Pluchea Indica L) on Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Levels, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Silent Information Regulatortype 1 (SIRT 1), Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB), and Histopathology of the Aorta in Wistar Rats (Rattus Norvegicus) with a High Fat Diet." (14/4/2025)

High-fat diet is a major risk factor for endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis through the induction of hypercholesterolemia, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation. This study aims to explain the molecular mechanism of preventing endothelial damage to blood vessels due to a high-fat diet by ethanol extract of Beluntas leaves.

The experimental study used 28 male Wistar rats (8-12 weeks) divided into 4 groups: normal control (standard feed), negative control (high-fat diet), treatment 1 (high-fat diet + ethanol extract of Beluntas leaves 2 mg/BW), and treatment 2 (high-fat diet + ethanol extract of Beluntas leaves 4 mg/BW). The intervention was carried out for 90 days. The parameters measured included LDL levels, SOD activity, SIRT1 expression, NF-κB activation, and histopathological changes in the aorta.

The results showed that ethanol extract of Beluntas leaves at a dose of 2 mg/BW significantly prevented an increase in LDL and NF-κB levels, and increased SOD and SIRT1 levels compared to negative controls. Histopathological examination showed that the 2 mg/BW dose treatment minimized the formation of foam cells, lipid infiltration, and fibrosis in the aortic wall (p = 0.012). A dose of 4 mg/BW also showed a protective effect but was not as optimal as a dose of 2 mg/BW. Path analysis revealed that the total effect of LDL on NF-κB was 62.5% (direct effect 38.6%, indirect through SIRT1 23.9%), and the total effect of SOD on NF-κB was 36.4% (direct effect 26.1%, indirect through SIRT1 10.3%). This indicates that SIRT1 is a central mediator connecting the antioxidant pathway and lipid metabolism with the regulation of vascular inflammation. The cardioprotective mechanisms of ethanol extract of Beluntas leaves include decreasing LDL levels through inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and increasing LDL receptor expression; increasing antioxidant activity through activation of Nrf2 which increases SOD expression; activation of SIRT1 which deacetylates p65 thereby inhibiting NF-κB; and inhibition of the NF-κB inflammatory pathway which prevents the expression of adhesion molecules and proinflammatory cytokines. A dose of 2 mg/BW shows a hormesis phenomenon with optimal effectiveness in preventing cardiovascular pathological changes.

In conclusion, ethanol extract of Beluntas leaves (Pluchea indica) has a cardioprotective effect through an integrated molecular mechanism that prevents endothelial damage to blood vessels due to a high-fat diet, providing a scientific basis for the development of preventive phytopharmaceuticals based on Beluntas leaves.

This examination was led by the Vice Dean for General Affairs and Finance of the Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Prof. Dr. dr. I Made Sudarmaja, M.Kes., with the examination team:

1. Prof. Dr. dr. A.A. (Co-Promoter)

2. Prof. drh. I Nyoman Mantik Astawa, Ph.D (Co-Promoter I)

3. Dr. dr. Agung Wiwiek Indrayani, M.Kes (Co-Promoter II)

4. Prof. Dr. dr. I Made Jawi, M.Kes

5. Prof. Dr. dr. I Wayan Putu Sutirta Yasa, M.Si

6. Prof. Dr. dr. A.A. Wiradewi Lestari, Sp.PK, Subsp.BDKT(K), Subsp KV(K)

7. Prof. Dr. dr. Bagus Komang Satriyasa, M.Repro

8. Prof. Dr. dr. I Made Sudarmaja, M.Kes

9. Dr. dr. I Nyoman Wande, S.Ked., Sp.PK(K)

10. Dr. dr. I Gusti Ayu Artini, S.Ked., M.Sc.

With academic invitation:

1. Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Ketut Sukadarma, S.Kp., M.Kes

2. Dr. Ns. Ni Ketut Guru Prapti, S.Kep., MNS

3. Dr. dr. Kadek Mulyantari, Sp.PK, Subsp.BDKT(K)

4. Dr. Ns. Desak Made Widyanthari, S.Kep., M.Kep., Sp.Kep.MB

5. Dr. I Gede Widhiantara, S.Si., M.Biomed

In this exam, Dr. Ns. Putu Wira Kusuma Putra, S.Kep., M.Kep was declared to have passed as the 456th Graduate Doctor of the Doctoral Program in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University with the predicate CUMLAUDE

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