The Effect of Butterfly Pea (Clitoria Ternatea) Extract on Reducing Total Cholesterol Levels in Rattus norvegicus with the Hypercholesterolemia Model

Abstract

Hypercholesterolemia is a metabolic disorder disease characterized by increased blood cholesterol levels above normal limits. Many studies support the use of statins as cholesterol-lowering agents that work by inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase so that cholesterol secretion decreases. The use of statins is often prescribed in the long term which results in side effects such as myotoxicity, myopathy, myalgia, myositis, and rhabdomyolysis. A study is needed on butterfly pea flower or Clitoria ternatea which is known to contain secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, triterpenoids and phytosterols. This content can work as an antioxidant that helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of butterfly pea flower extract (Clitoria Ternatea) on reducing total cholesterol levels in Rattus norvegicus with the hypercholesterolemia model. This research is based on laboratory experiments with pre and posttest control group design. The sample used in this study was male white rats (Rattus norvegicus), 2-3 months old, weighing ± 200 grams. It was found that the average difference in cholesterol levels in the control group (C) was 10.34 ± 0.06 which indicated that there was a not too significant increase. In the simvastatin group (S), treatment group 1 (G1), treatment 2 (G2), and treatment 3 (G3) had a mean difference in total cholesterol levels which showed a decrease with the results S = -62.17 ± 4.4 G1 = -52.33 ± 3.08 G2 = -55.17 ± 2.13 and G3 = -59.34 ± 0.49. The One Way Anova test a significance value of p <0.05 was obtained which indicated a significant difference. It can be concluded that, administration of ethanol extract of butterfly pea flower (Clitoria ternatea) can reduce total cholesterol levels in the blood.