The word “senile” is familiar for the elderly, and it can also occur at a young age or called early senility. The senile disease is a symptom of dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease), which is characterized by a decreased ability of the brain to remember, think and behave. Memory certainly plays an important role in the protection system of the human body, as well as maintaining productivity and a better quality of life.
In the book written by Sani & Wijoto (2015) states that memory loss is the most disruptive condition of daily activities and it can affect the patient’s family condition. This opinion supported by Mace & Rabins (2006) which states that the loss of a person’s memory can have a very large impact such as the caregiver burden that harms the physical, emotional condition, to social economy and the country.
The causes of memory decline are various, including cells involved in memory storage in the brain (dentate gyrus cells) gradually begin to die, reduced power elasticity of the blood vessels of the brain, reduced synaptic plasticity, heavy metal poisoning, and due to exposure to cigarette smoke by chronic. Several studies in experimental animals (white mice) given cigarette smoke show decreased memory function and tissue structure (histology) in the brain changes shape. Decreased memory due to chronic cigarette smoke caused by the content of chemical compounds in cigarette smoke can poison the brain. Continual exposure to cigarette smoke can cause a buildup of calcium ions (Ca2 +) in the cytosol, which results in damage or death of neurons/nerve cells.
Some programs that have been promoted by the government to reduce the adverse effects caused by exposure to cigarette smoke are World No Tobacco Day, a non-smoking area, special areas for smokers, socialization and posters, putting a label for the dangers of cigarettes on the packages. These various efforts are still not maximal because there are still many people who are less aware of the dangers of exposure to cigarette smoke. One effective way that can be done is through the development of new research that has the potential to prevent adverse effects on health, the Dutch eggplant.
The plant has oval-shaped fruit characteristics such as eggs and purplish red. Although not from the Netherlands, this eggplant was first brought and developed by the Dutch at that time in Indonesia. Several studies report that Dutch eggplants have phytochemical components for antioxidants and good for health. The results showed Dutch eggplant ethanol extract could prevent decreased brain memory due to exposure to cigarette smoke, and it is shown by the experiment using white rat reach the target on Y-maze in a faster time. Y-Maze is a measurement method to assess the memory function in recognizing targets. The longer an animal tries to reach the target indicates, the worse memory function will be.
Scientifically, the results of the study’s analysis suggest the mechanism of the ethanol extract of Dutch eggplants can prevent memory loss through activation of CAMP transcriptional factor Factor Binding (CREB) in the hippocampus which further increases the formation of neurotrophic factors involved in maintaining synaptic plasticity in the brain, namely Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). Increased BDNF positively correlated triggering glia activation, which are cells that function to support and protect against brain cell damage and prevent a decrease in brain memory due to exposure of cigarette.
The results of this study can be used as a reference source in recognizing, cultivating and utilizing Dutch eggplant as a deterrent to memory loss due to exposure to cigarette smoke which can indirectly contribute to the prevention of dementia that can be proven and explained scientifically. This research considered toward standardized herbal medicines for further clinical research.
Author: Dr. Siti Khaerunnisa, M.Si
Detail information from this research can be seen in our writing at:
https://innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijap/article/download/34861/20431
S. Khaerunnisa, K. Kusumastuti, N. . Aminah, A. Mustika, and Suhartati, “Mechanism of Solanum betaceum to Prevent Memory Impairment in Cigarette Smoke Exposed Rat,” Asian J. Pharm. Clin. Res., vol. 11, no. Special Issue 3, 2018.
