The Effect of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil Administration towards the Malondialdehyde and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Levels on the Hypertensive Pregnant Rats

Abstract

Background: Hypertension and pregnancy cause placental ischemia which will produce the toxic free radicals that cause the oxidative stress and increase the malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Oxidative stress also decreases the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) level. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) contains antioxidants that can break free radical chain reactions. This study aims to determine the effect of the EVOO administration on the MDA and VEGF levels on the hypertensive pregnant rats. Methods: A post-test only control group design study was conducted on 30 pregnant rats consisting of a negative control group (K-), a positive control group (K+) and 3 treatment groups as a hypertension model (Pl, P2, P3), NaC1-induced hypertension model 6 % on day 6 to day 12 of pregnancy. All treatment groups were given EVOO except K+, from day 13 to day 19. On day 20, all the rats were executed. The MDA examination used a spectrophotometer and the VEGF examination used ELISA. The data was tested by using the one way ANOVA test which was statistically significant if p < 0.05. Results: The results of this study showed that there was a significant decrease on the mean of the MDA level after the EVOO administration, especially in the P3 group, which was 1,532 mmol/l (p 0.000) and a significant increase on the mean of the VEGF level after the EVOO administration, especially in the P3 group, which was 68,892 ng/l. (p 0.000). It means that there is an effect of the EVOO administration on the MDA and VEGF levels of hypertensive pregnant rats. Conclusion: The conclusion of this study is that the EVOO administration can decrease the MDA level and increase the VEGF level on hypertensive pregnant rats. Keywords: EVOO, MDA, VEGF, Hypertension.