Kepel (Stelechocarpus burahol) Synbiotic Supplementation Improves Oxidative Stress in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

Background: Synbiotic contains antioxidant that has been suggested to improve oxidative stress induced by high-fat diet (HFD) consumption. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of synbiotic supplementation consisting of kepel (Stelechocarpus burahol) with the addition of Lactobacillus casei and L. plantarum on oxidative stress in HFD-fed rats. Methods: Twenty-five Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n=5) for eight weeks of treatment. The HFD control (HFD alone) group and three different groups supplemented with three various doses of kepel synbiotic (Syn 1.2 mL, Syn 1.8 mL, and Syn 2.4 mL) were fed HFD for the first four weeks and continued supplemented kepel synbiotic for the second four weeks. Meanwhile, the normal diet (ND) control group was given regular food alone throughout the study. The serum, liver, heart, and brain oxidative stress markers were assessed. Results: Kepel synbiotic supplementation consistently improved oxidative stress by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity inhibition rate in serum, liver, heart, and brain in the HFD group compared to the ND group. This improvement effect occurred in a dose-dependent manner, increasing in higher kepel synbiotic doses. Conclusion: Kepel synbiotics showed a beneficial effect in improving oxidative stress in the serum, liver, heart, and brain of HFD-fed rats. Supplementation of kepel synbiotic can be considered a complementary therapeutic agent in improving oxidative stress, especially due to HFD consumption.