Modulatory Effect of Guava Leaf Extract on Liver Tissue in Hypercholesterolemic Rats (Rattus norvegicus)
Abstract
Background: Hypercholesterolemia is a global health issue with high prevalence, contributing to conditions such as Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) & Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Conventional therapies, although effective, have side effects. Guava leaf extract (Psidium guajava) is known for its hepatoprotective & antioxidant effects, but research on its impact on liver histopathology in the context of hypercholesterolemia remains limited. Objectives: To investigate the effect of Psidium guajava leaf extract on the histopathological picture of the liver in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) with a hypercholesterolemia model. Methods: This experimental study used a post-test only control design. The experiment utilized a completely randomized design with four groups. Data analysis was performed univariately &bivariately. The research sample consisted of 28 Wistar rats, divided into 4 groups of 7 rats each. The rats were induced with a high-fat diet for 2 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia, followed by treatment with guava leaf extract via gavage for 2 weeks. After termination, histopathological scoring of the liver was performed. Bivariate analysis was conducted using One-Way ANOVA & post hoc LSD tests. Key findings: Univariate analysis showed the highest mean liver damage score in the sick control group (4.00 ± 0.632) &the lowest in the group receiving guava leaf extract before hypercholesterolemia induction (1.33 ± 1.366). Bivariate analysis revealed significant differences between the healthy control &sick control groups (p = 0.00), as well as between the sick control & the guava leaf extract treatment group (p = 0.00). Guava leaf extract was found to reduce liver damage due to hypercholesterolemia, supporting its potential as an ameliorative & hepatoprotective agent. Conclusions: The administration of Psidium guajava leaf extract significantly influenced the histopathological score of the liver in Wistar rats induced with hypercholesterolemia. This result is supported by significant statistical differences in the histopathological liver scores across the four groups overall.
