No abstract

Pegaga or Centella asiatica commonly used in traditional medicine was believed to possess antioxidant effect that can control the generation of free radicals. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of Centella asiatica on antioxidant status in rat lung following formalin exposure. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: (1): control; (2): exposed with 10 % formalin; (3): exposed with 10 % formalin and treated with ethanolic extract of C. asiatica; (4): treated with ethanolic extract of C. asiatica. Exposure of 10 % formalin was performed through inhalation and C. asiatica was given orally. After the treatment, the rat's lungs were harvested for determination of malondialdehye and activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. Exposure to 10 % formalin did not increase the concentration of malondialdehye. However, higher malondialdehye level was noted in group which exposed with 10 % formalin and received ethanolic extract of C. asiatica. A significant decrease of superoxide dismutase activities was observed in rat's lung between all groups as compared to control group, yet no significant difference was observed in catalase activities. In conclusion, exposure 10 % formalin was unable to induced oxidative stress in rat lung but supplementation of C. asiatica are able to increase superoxide dismutase level in rat lung but not for catalase. 