Hepatoprotective properties of Avicennia alba leaves
Leaves of api-api (Avicennia spp) proved to have the best antioxidant properties, which is curable to oxidative damage in rat liver. This report, as the result of the study by researchers from the Department of Aquatic Product Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University (FPIK IPB), was published by the Jurnal Pengolahan Hasil Perikanan Indonesia. The team of the researchers were: 1. Safrina Dyah Hardiningtyas; 2. Sri Purwaningsih, and 3. Ekowati Handharyani, and the title of their study was “Aktivitas Antioksidan dan Efek Hepatoprotektif Daun Bakau Api-api Putih” ("Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effects of Avicennia alba leaves").
Safrina explained that the objectives of her study was to obtain crude extract of Avicennia alba leaves which contain the best antiaoxidant. In addition, the study was also to determine the phytochemicals content and in vivo selection of crude extracts for its hepatoprotective effects.
Api-api putih or Avicennia alba species are among the most commonly seen species in our mangroves. Avicennia alba has historically provided useful products to indigenous peoples living near or in the coastal and estuarine mangrove forests, as source of foods and medicine. Traditionaly, fruits of this species are universally used as vegetables, as well as the traditional medicinal uses. It is utilized to treat various types of diseases, such as hepatitis, leprosy, rheumatism, smallpox, ulcers and burnt. Additionally Avicennia alba leaves has hepatoprotective properties, which are capable to normalize various biochemical parameters of oxidative stress.
Further, Safrina explained prior to the extraction, the Avicennia alba leaves were collected and were rinsed thoroughly using distilled water, then they were dried. The drying process was done under the sun for four days. Then they were grounded into powder with the aid of pestle and mortar using a sieve of 100 mesh. Avicennia alba leaves powder is then extracted with a solvent treatment. (Wied)
