The Effect of Euphorbia milii and Propolis (EMP) Tea on the mRNA of NF-kB Level and the Number of Foam Cells in The Aorta of High Fat Diet Rats

The combination of Euphorbia milii (E. milii) flowers and Propolis (tala) of Apis cerana in tea form or EMP tea evidently acts as an immunomodulator, likewise a nontoxic agent for liver and renal in animal model and healthy people during Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, total cholesterol and MMP-8 level in high fat diet (HFD) rats decreased in relation to the EMP tea. Thus, this study aimed to prove EMP tea in preventing atherosclerosis through molecular aspect in the mRNA of NF-kB and histology aspect in the number of foam cells at HFD rats.

A total of 28 male rats, 100-200 grams in weight (g BW), were sorted into four groups (K0, P1, P2, and P3). After adaptation for a week, K0 were given standard diet; P1 were given standard diet and EMP tea 40 mg/100 g BW daily, while P2 were given HFD 2 g/200 g BW daily; P3 were given HFD 2 g/200 g BW daily and EMP tea 40 mg/ 100 g BW daily for 30 days. Rats were sacrificed at day 31, aorta was collected then subjected to qRT-PCR to measure NF-kB and histological examination to evaluate foam cells. Data are shown in mean and standard deviation (SD).

The mRNA of NF- kB level at K0 (0.48 ± 0.28) fg/μl; P1(0.54 ± 0.05) fg/μl; P2 (0.66 ± 0.13) fg/μl; P3 (0.16 ± 0.07) fg/μl. There was a significant difference in the mRNA of NF- kB level (p<0.05) between K0 vs P3; P1 vs P2; P1 vs P3; and P2 vs P3. While the number of foam cells at K0 (0.43 ± 0.2) cells/fv; P1 (0.57 ± 0.2) cells/fv; P2 (54 ± 2.34) cells/fv and P3 (17 ± 2.05) cells/fv. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) in foam cells between K0 vs P2; K0 vs P3; P1 vs P2; P1 vs P3; and P2 vs P3.

The mRNA of NF-kB and the number of foam cells in the rat aorta were lower in the administration of EMP tea with doses of 40 mg/100 g BW daily for 30 days in HFD rats.