The influence of mountain papaya and bitter melon extract supplementation on aspartate transaminase enzyme in diabetic rats models

The present study aimed to investigate mountain papaya fruit extract (MFE) and bitter melon fruit extract (BFE) supplementation on aspartate transaminase enzyme in diabetic rat models. Aspartate transaminase (AST) is one of the enzymes produced when liver damage occurs by free radicals. MFE and BFE contain flavonoids that have antioxidant activity to neutralize free radicals. Forty rats were divided into 8 groups (n=5) such as normal control, 0.25 % CMC-Na as negative control, silymarin at dose 100 mg/kg body weight (b.w) as positive control, and treatment groups by 174 mg/kg b.w MFE, 380 mg/kg b.w BFE, MFE:BFE (75:25)%, MFE:BFE (50:50)%, MFE:BFE (25:75)% orally. Alloxan at dose 150 mg/kg b.w used intraperitoneally for induction. AST level measured before the induction of alloxan (pretest), on day 7^th, 14^th, and 21^st after treatment. The data of AST levels were analyzed statistically using One Way ANOVA and Post Hoc LSD. The results showed that all combined extract and single-dose could significantly reduce AST levels (p < 0.05) compared to the negative control group. The effect of a single extract dose was not significantly different (p > 0.05) with combination to reduce AST levels.