Neuroprotective Effect of Syzygium Polyanthum Extract on TNF Alpha and Dopamine Levels in Benzene-induced Rats

Benzene is a hydrocarbon type chemical compound which is colorless, odorless, and quickly evaporates. In addition, it is widely used in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries to produce rubber, lubricants, dyes, detergents, and insecticides, as well as an unleaded gasoline additives. Benzene is also known to have neurotoxic effects. Syzygium polytanthum is traditionally used by Indonesian people as effective herbal therapy. Thus, an experimental study with post-test only control group design was carried out to identify the neuroprotective outcome of the ethanolic extract Syzygium polyanthum in rats exposed to benzene. This study involved 44 male Wistar rats which were divided into 11 groups, namely Normal, Benzene every 3 and 6 days, vitamin C as positive control and the extracts of 400, 600, and 800 mg/kgbw. The TNF Alpha levels were significantly lower (10,3964 ± 2,1562 pg/mL) with 800mg/kgbb extract in the benzene-induced rats than in benzene-treated rats only (97,8028 ± 2,5554 pg/mL) (P<0.05), while dopamine levels were significantly higher (28,1260 ± 1,1665 pg/mL) in the 800mg/kgbw extract in the benzene-induced rats than in the rats given only benzene (5,9778 ± 1,0071 pg/mL) (P<0.05). It can be concluded that the ethanolic extract of Syzygium polyanthum has neuroprotective effect and protects against benzene neurotoxicity.