IPB Student: Mangrove Snail Can Cure Hepatitis
The mangrove snail, or horn snail, is one of the animals that is often found in abundance. This type of snail is believed to have a high nutritional content and is often used as food by coastal communities. Previous studies have shown that mangrove snail has a high protein content and has very strong antioxidant activity.
Hepatitis is an inflammation of liver cells caused by viruses, bacteria, and parasites. This disease can also be caused by the consumption of medicines in toxic doses that can lead to hepatic damage. Antioxidant compounds are known to inhibit the occurrence of oxidative damage by free radicals, so it can be used to repair damaged liver cells.
Utilization of mangrove snail is currently not done optimally whereas the potential is very good to be developed. This motivates Winda Aspika Reski Ananda, a student of Department of Aquatic Product Technology, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), to conduct a research related to the further utilization of mangrove snail.
The title of the study was the Hepatoprotective Activity of Mangrove Snail Extract (Telescopium sp.) on Paracetamol-Induced Sprague Dawley Rats. Winda conducted this research under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Sri Purwaningsih and Prof. Drh. Ekowati H.
"Currently hepatitis medicines are still hard to get and the price is quite expensive. On the other hand, we have great potential from the mangrove snail. With its high antioxidant activity, I am motivated to do this research," said Winda.
Winda conducted her research by exploring the effect of mangrove snail extract on enzyme levels of Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT), Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT), malondialdehyde level (MDA), and liver tissue depiction in rats.
The results showed that the extract of mangrove snail contains bioactive compounds, namely alkaloids, saponins, triterpenoids, and steroids. Treatment of mangrove snail extract in rat’s liver induced by paracetamol causes the decrease of MDA levels. Results of histopathologic analysis of rat’s liver tissue showed a protection and improvement effects in 75 mg/kg BW dose.
Winda hopes the results of this research can provide information about the ability of the mangrove snail as a hepatoprotector, so the economic value of mangrove snails in Indonesia will increase. "I also hope the results of this study can be commercialized for the benefit of the wider community", she concluded. (TK)
