Improvements of Vaginal Atrophy in Menopause with the Utilization of Natural Ingredients of Ambones Banana Blossom Extract (Musa acumintacolla) in Ovariectomy Rats

The menopausal period causes vagina atrophy due to a decrease in estrogen. This condition is associated with symptoms such as dryness, burning, irritation, discomfort, pain during sex, and impaired sexual function. The use of natural ingredients as therapy in menopause is currently being widely developed. Flavonoids can bind to estrogen receptors because they have a similar structure and activity to endogenous estrogens. Banana Ambones blossom (Musa acuminata Colla) contains flavonoid compounds that have phytoestrogenic activity. This study evaluated the improvement of vaginal atrophy with the use of natural ingredients in menopausal rats. This study used female Wistar rats aged 10-12 weeks, weighing 200-250 g, 25 rats were divided into 5 groups, and the rats were subjected to ovariectomy. The normal group (KN), and negative control group (K-) were given standard food and drinking water; the positive control group (K+) received 0.01125 mg/day of conjugated estrogen. The P1 group was given banana blossom extract 200 mg/kg b.w, and the P2 group was given banana blossom extract 400 mg/kg b.w. After 21 days, vaginal tissues were collected and examined immunohistochemically. The results showed that banana flowers (Musa acuminata Colla) increased the expression of actin (p=0.036), Claudin-1 (p=0.029), TGF-β (p = 0.018), and collagen (p=0.001). The use of natural ingredients as an alternative therapy to correct vaginal atrophy should be further developed because phytoestrogens can reduce the negative effects of synthetic estrogen use which adversely affects health during menopause.