Bioactivity of Ethyl Acetate Fraction from the Leaves of “Sukun” (Artocarpus Altilis (Parkinson) Fosberg) in Preventing Atherosclerosis

Artocarpus altilis(Parkinson) Fosberg), a tropical tree, belonging to Moraceae family has been known in folk medicine to have some health benefits in particular for inflammation, infection, diabetes and even some cardiovascular problems. One of risk factors of some cardiovascular diseases is hypercholesterolemia. Previous in vitro works showed that ethyl acetate fraction of A. altilis exhibited cytoprotective effect in human U937 cells treated with oxidized LDL. This current work aimed to investigate the effect of ethyl acetate (EA) fraction from the leaves of Sukun, on serum total cholesterol level and on lipid deposition in aorta in vivo.The EA fraction was administered in 8-weeks-Wistar rats fed with high cholesterol diet for 30 days. The serum total cholesterol was dosed using enzimatic test and lipid accumulation in aorta was examined by histology of parafin-blocked aorta stained with hematoxilin-eosin. Antioxidant capacity of flavonoids contained in EA fraction was examined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) method. The result showed that EA fractions at doses 150 and 300 mg/kg BW were able to lower significantly serum total cholesterol and to prevent lipid accumulation in rat aorta. DPPH examination of flavonoids which were cyclocommunol, 1-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3-[8-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-5-yl]-1-propanone or AC-31 and 2-geranyl-2′,3,4,4′-tetrahydroxydihydrochalcone or AC-51 showed IC50 value 1548.8±486.8, 275.3±10.0 and 94.1±1.4 μM respectively. It is concluded that the EA fraction is able to lower serum total cholesterol and to prevent lipid accumulation in rat aorta, therefore, has the potential medicinal effect to prevent atherosclerosis. Furthermore, its content of flavonoid especially 2-geranyl-2′,3,4,4′-tetrahydroxydihydrochalcone is suggested to contribute to this effect by acting as antioxidant.