Comparing Anti Aging Potential Between Centella asiatica and Acalypha indica: Focus on Forelimb Muscle Strength

Abstract

<jats:p>Decreasing muscle strength is one of the age-related declined. We evaluated the forelimb muscle strength of old rats treated with <jats:italic>Centella asiatica</jats:italic> (CA) and <jats:italic>Acalypha indica</jats:italic> (AI), both are known for anti inflammation, which made them potentials as anti aging. Sprague-Dawley rats (18 months old) were divided into the following groups: (1) receiving only solvent, (2) AI extract 250 mg/kgBW, (3) CA extract 300 mg/kgBW, and young group (3 months old) as control. Body weights were measured before and after treatment while the forelimb muscle strength was measured using handgrip test and muscles weight at the end of the study (one month). The time rats were able to hold on their grip was determined in seconds. All data were analyzed using ANOVA and LSD post hoc analysis. The solvent group achieved the shortest time in handgrip test, followed by AI and CA. The young group has the longest time as expected. The time last for the young (30,13 ± 5.98) and CA (29.47 ± 9.61) group were not statistically different (p = 0.873) while the young were significantly longer than AI (p = 0.038) and the old (p = 0.001). The old rats unsurprisingly loss their body weight but the CA group showed the least while the young still gained their weight. Meanwhile there were no muscle weight differences between groups. <jats:italic>Centella asiatica</jats:italic> may have anti aging activity by showing similar forelimb muscle strength in aged rats as the young, possibly due to its inhibition in age related body weight loss.</jats:p>

Preliminary Phytochemical Analysis and Assessment of Antioxidant and Anti Cholesterol Activity of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Acalypha indica linn

“…The study showed that the in vitro antioxidant property Acalypha indica extract is Ic50 = 290 ug/ml which is similar with [38,39,40]. The study also found that in vitro anti cholesterol potential of ethanolic extract of Acalypha Indica., which is slightly lower than that of standard simvastatin i.e.…”

Comparing the effect of Centella asiatica L. and Acalypha indica L. treatment to carbonyl and glutathione level in the brains of old rats

“…We examined brain homogenates from male Spraque Dawley rats aged 18 and 2 months. Brain samples from 24 Sprague Dawley rats were were derived from the previous study [20]. As biological material, the homogenate of the rat brain was stored at -80 o C in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, until the parameters were measured.…”

“…Three groups of 18-monthold rats were given the following treatments: 7 rats received 150 mg/kg body weight of AI, 6 rats received 300 mg/kg body weight of CA, and 4 rats received 15 UI/kg body weight of vitamin E. In addition, six 2-month-old rats in the fifth group were not given any treatment. The AI, CA, and vitamin E (as a positive control) were administered orally for 29 days in a row as described in previous study [20].…”

Effects of Centella asiatica Administration on NT-3 and CDKN2A Levels in Adult Rat Brains

“…Giving CA and/or Acalypha indica (AI) related to its effect as a neuroprotective has been carried out by several researchers [7][8][9]. In addition, a combination of CA and AI has also been studied which shows an antioxidant effect in hypoxic rats [10,11]. The main chemical components of CA that play a role in its pharmacological activity are triterpenes, mostly asiaticoside, asiatic acid, madecassoside, and madecassic acid.…”