Hepatoprotective Activity and Nephroprotective Activity of Peel Extract from Three Varieties of the Passion Fruit (Passiflora Sp.) in the Albino Rat

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Passion Fruit (Passiflora sp.) that grows in the Indonesian region generally has three varieties, namely purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims.), red passion fruit (Passiflora ligularis Juss.), and yellow passion fruit (Passiflora verrucifera Lindl.). The passion fruit peel is an economic waste that has not been utilised optimally, but has many efficacious phytochemical contents.

AIM: The objectives of this research are to examine scientifically hepatoprotective activity (with paracetamol-induced hepatotoxic) and nephroprotective activity (with gentamicin-induced nephrotoxic) from three varieties of the passion fruit (purple passion fruit peel extract, red passion fruit peel extract and yellow passion fruit peel extract) in the albino rat (Rattus norvegicus).

METHODS: Three varieties of passion fruit peels were extracted by maceration method. The experimental animals used were the albino rat (Rattus norvegicus). Hepatoprotective activity was done by the liver biochemical (alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase) analysis with paracetamol (hepatotoxic compound) induced after 10 days of treatment with extract. Nephroprotective activity was done by the kidney biochemical (urea and creatinine) analysis with gentamicin (nephrotoxic compound) induced after 10 days of treatment with extract.

RESULTS: The hepatoprotective activity for positive control was similar to the 250 mg of purple passion fruit peel extract per kg of body weight, 250 mg of red passion fruit peel extract per kg of body weight, and 500 mg of yellow passion fruit peel extract per kg of body weight. The nephroprotective activity for positive control (50 mg of silymarin per kg of body weight) was similar to the 250 mg of purple passion fruit peel extract per kg of body weight, 500 mg of red passion fruit peel extract per kg of body weight, and 500 mg of yellow passion fruit peel extract per kg of body weight.

CONCLUSIONS: The extracts were shown hepatoprotective activity and nephroprotective activity with a dose-dependent activity. The hepatoprotective activity and nephroprotective activity of purple passion fruit peel extract were the best compared to red passion fruit peel extract and yellow passion fruit peel extract.