Abstract:
Undernourished interferes with the synthesis of antioxidants enzymes,
causing oxidative stress in the brain. They will damage the
cellular components of the brain and result in decreased intelligence.
Pasak bumi (Eurycoma longifolia. Jack) is an endemic plant
in Kalimantan that has potential as an antioxidant so it is thought
to increase intelligence after undernourished through antioxidant
mechanisms. This study aims to prove that the pasak bumi root
can improve the spatial memory of Rattus norvegicus after undernourished
through antioxidant mechanisms. The study design was
post test only with control design. Four treatment groups: normal
(KN), P1 ¼ undernourished rat þ placebo, P2 ¼ undernourished
rat þ 70% ethanol extract pasak bumi (EPB) 7.5 mg/kgBW,
P3 ¼ undernourished rat þ EPB 15 mg/kgBW. The brain oxidative
stress parameters examined were SOD activity, H2O2 level, catalase
activity and MDA level. Spatial memory of rats was measured by
the Morris Water Maze method. Data analysis used Anova and
Kruskal Wallis test with a confidence level of 95%. The results
showed that the group given EPB 15 mg/kgBWhad higher SOD and
catalase activity and lower H2O2 and MDA levels than the other
groups. Spatial memory of mice given EPB 15 mg/kgBW tended to
be better than other groups even though not statistically significantly
different. Conclusion: the administration of EPB 15 mg/
kgBW in undernourished rats was able to improve the brain
