Effect of Kepok Banana Peel Extract (Musa spp.) on the Number of Pituitary Basophil Cells in Rats (Rattus norvegicus) with High-Fat Diet

Banana peels are the outer envelopes of banana fruits as the by-product of household consumption and banana processing. Kepok banana peel contains bioactive compounds that function as antioxidants which reduce the effects of free radicals. This research was conducted to determine the effect of giving Kepok banana peel extract on the number of basophilic cells in rats with a high-fat diet. The study used 25 male rats aged 2.5-3 months old, which alloted into 5 groups with 5 rats each. The first group was fed on standard feed (K1, positive control), while the second group given high-fat diet (K2, negative control). The rats in group 3, 4, and 5 were given high-fat diet + vitamin C (K3), high-fat diet + 100 mg/kg BW banana peel extract (K4), and high-fat diet + 200 mg/ kg BW banana peel extract (K5), respectively. A sample of the pituitary gland was collected after 60 days of the treatment. The data were analyzed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Duncan test. The results of this study indicated that the administration of Kepok banana peel extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg BW can maintain the number of basophilic cells, whereas at dose of 200 mg/kg BB has the potential to reduce the number of basophilic cells in rats fed high-fat feed.