Safety Test of Agarwood Leaves Tea (Aquilaria malaccencis Lamk.) Through Skin Sensitization Test on Albino Rabbit

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Agarwood tree (Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk) is a tree from the Thymeleaceae tribe that has a high selling value. The part that is often used is the sapwood of the agarwood tree, used as a base for perfumes and traditional medicines. Agarwood farmers in Langkat have used their leaves as tea drinks, brewing aloes leaves. Before being widely produced by the community, it is necessary to test the safety of agarwood leaf tea products through skin sensitization test.

AIM: To find out whether steeping aloes leaves irritate the skin or not.

METHODS: The test method using test animals namely albino rabbits as many as 15 tails, consisting of 4 test groups 1 group there were 3 test animals and 1 control group, induced with Freund's Complete Adjuvant (FCA) by intradermal and topical injection with a test position of 1.3%, 2.6%, 3.9% and 5.2% to form an immune response, then a Challenge test. The level and degree of skin reaction were assessed based on the Magnusson and Kligman scales.

RESULTS: From the observation for 72 hours there was no change in the skin of the test animals after exposure to the test doses, indicating that the agarwood leaf tea is safe to consume if the tea is on the skin, the skin will not experience irritation.

CONCLUSION: Testing on albino rabbits with four different doses did not show an irritating effect on the skin. Observation also shows that there is not a single bit that can affect intradermal to challenge testing so it was safe for consumption.