Antioxidant and Anti-Hypercholesterolemia Activities of Bohadschia vitiensis Extract In vitro and In vivo

Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with oxidative stress and high cholesterol levels as key contributing factors. Natural marine-derived compounds are increasingly explored as alternative therapeutic agents.This study aimed to analyse the antioxidant activity and anti-hypercholesterolemia potential of brown sea cucumber (Bohadschia vitiensis) extract in vitro and in vivo. The ABTS (2, 2-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) method was used as the antioxidant test model, while the Liebermann-Burchard method was applied for in vitro anti-hypercholesterolemia testing. Antioxidant activity was assessed by measuring the free radical scavenging capability of the brown sea cucumber extract, which demonstrated an IC₅₀ value of 27.69 ppm, indicating very strong antioxidant activity compared to ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ of 16 ppm). The in vitro anti-hypercholesterolemia test revealed that the extract could reduce cholesterol levels by up to 65.566% at a concentration of 500 ppm, with an EC₅₀ value of 369.42 ppm. The saponins content in brown sea cucumber plays a role in cholesterol binding, contributing to its cholesterol-lowering effects. Additionally, statistical analysis using ANOVA and Duncan's post-hoc test showed that cholesterol levels in test animals (mice) after administration of the extract were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.01). This study highlights the potential of brown sea cucumber (B. vitiensis) extract, sourced from Indonesian marine ecosystems, as a natural antioxidant with significant anti-hypercholesterolemic effects both in vitro and in vivo.