Effects of Ethanol Extract of Centella asiatica on Acidity (pH) Levels of Rats Model Aerobic Vaginitis

Abstract

<jats:p>Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is an infection in the vagina with a high inflammatory response, decreased Lactobacillus sp., increased pathogenic bacteria, increased parabasal cells, and increased acidity levels (pH). Increased pH levels in AV conditions are associated with reduced Lactobacillus in the vagina due to the dominance of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria that cause AV, including Streptococcus agalactiae, which can cause an increased risk of infection. Antibiotics are the mainstay of AV treatment but are resistant to several antibiotics, causing the need for other alternatives, one of which is the use of medicinal plants. The medicinal plant in this study is Centella asiatica plant which has been proven to have an anti-bacterial property. This study aims to compare pH levels before and after administration of ethanol extract of Centella asiatica on the acidity (pH) levels of Rats in AV model. This research is an experimental study use post-test control group only, consists of six groups Rattus norvegicus female. The first group was the negative control group (K-) rats. The second group was positive control rats (K+). The next are four groups of rats of AV models given various doses of ethanol extract of Centella asiatica, and each group consists of four rats, namely P1 (100 mg/kg). P2 group (200 mg/kg), P3 (400 mg/kg), and P4 (800 mg/kg). Paired T-Test showed results P-value is 0.000 (&lt;0.005), stating that there was a significant difference between pH levels both before and after administration of ethanol extracts of Centella asiatica plant in rats model AV.</jats:p>