Analisis Jumlah Folikel Ovarium Dan Tebal Epitel Tubulus Seminiferus Tikus Pada Uji Toksisitas Subkronis Ekstrak Etanol Kulit Bawang Merah

Abstract

Shallot peel (Allium cepa L.) is an agricultural by-product rich in flavonoid compounds, particularly quercetin, with strong antioxidant activity. However, safety data on shallot peel extract (EKBM) concerning male and female reproductive organs following subchronic exposure remain very limited. This study aimed to analyze the effect of EKBM administration on the number of ovarian follicles in female Wistar rats and the epithelial thickness of seminiferous tubules in male Wistar rats in a subchronic toxicity test. This was a true experimental study employing a post-test only control group design following OECD Test Guideline 407. Animals were divided into four groups: a control group (7% DMSO), P1 (EKBM 731 mg/kgBW), P2 (EKBM 1,462 mg/kgBW), and P3 (EKBM 2,924 mg/kgBW), administered orally for 28 days. Doses were established based on quercetin content equivalence determined by HPLC analysis. Histopathological examination was performed using Hematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) staining and analyzed with ImageJ software. Ovarian follicle count data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test, while seminiferous tubule epithelial thickness was analyzed using One-Way ANOVA. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed no significant differences in the number of primordial, primary, secondary, or de Graaf follicles across groups (p=0.331; p=0.523; p=0.166; p=0.466). One-Way ANOVA also showed no significant difference in seminiferous tubule epithelial thickness (p=0.125). It was concluded that EKBM administration at doses up to 2,924 mg/kgBW for 28 days did not induce significant subchronic toxicity to the reproductive organs of either male or female Wistar rats