The effect of Centella asiatica to the vascular endothelial growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 on the rotenone induced zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio) stunting model

Abstract

Stunting is a condition of obstructed body length growth in the first two year of life. Rotenone as a pesticide specimen which trigger stunting condition, inhibits the mitochondrial complex I causing an increased level of ROS that affects angiogenesis and vasculogenesis process that involve VEGF with VEGFR-2. Centella asiatica serves as antioxidant which inhibits ROS production and revitalize blood vessels. The purpose of this research is to discover the effect of Centella asiatica ethanolic extract to the enhancement of body length through the expression of the VEGF and VEGFR-2 on the rotenone-induced zebrafish larvae stunting model. The result in this study proved that 12.5 ppb rotenone could induce stunting growth in 6 dpf (days post fertilization) zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio). The administration of Centella asiatica ethanolic extract improved the body length, along with the increasing of VEGF [2.5 g/ml] and VEGFR-2 [5 g/ml]. The correlation test showed a positive and strong relevance the levels of Centella asiatica and the expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2. It can be concluded that Centella asiatica ethanolic extract could inhibit stunting and improved the body length through increasing the expression of VEGF and VEGFR-2 in stunting model zebrafish larvae.