Effect of Peperomia pellucida L. Kunt Extract in Inhibiting the Increase of Alanine Aminotransferase Enzyme and Changes in Liver Histopathology of Alcohol-Fed Wistar Male Rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Alcoholic beverages are an addictive substance whose use causes many negative effects on health, such as on the liver, causing an increase in the enzyme alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the blood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethyl acetate extract of Peperomia p. L. Kunt leaves and stems in inhibiting the increase of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) enzyme and liver histopathology changes in alcohol-induced male Wistar rats with pretest posttest control group design. The total of 24 rats were divided into 3 groups: the control group was given distilled water and 25% ethanol as much as 1ml orally, the group of 100 mg suruhan extract and 25% ethanol (S1), and the group of 200 mg suruhan extract and 25% ethanol (S2) for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood was taken to check serum ALT levels, then the rats were euthanized to collect liver organs for histopathological examination. The paired t-test results showed a significant increase in ALT enzymes in the control group (p=0.012) and S1 (p=0.044) while in the S2 group there was no increase (p=0.778). The results of the One Way Anova posttest test showed that S2 ALT levels were significantly lower (p=0.007) than control and S1. Liver histology examination showed that group S2 had focal degeneration while group S1 and control had multifocal degeneration. Administration of Peperomia extract 200 mg prevented the increase of serum ALT and severe liver tissue damage due to ethanol toxicity in Wistar rat model.