The effect of curcuma (Curcuma xanthorrizha roxb.) extract as an adjuvant of captopril therapy on cardiac histopathology of male mice (Mus musculus) with hypertension

Background Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease which has become a major health problem in Indonesia. Left ventricle hypertrophy is one of the cardiac complications of hypertension that is characterized by thickening of the left ventricle and increasing the mass of cardiac muscle. Methods This study was an experimental study with a posttest group design. Twenty-four mice were divided into four groups. The normal group was given distilled water, the negative control group was given L-NAME 1.75 mg/25 g BW/day, the positive control group was given L-NAME 1.75 mg/25 g BW/day + captopril 0.04875 mg/30 g BW/day, and the adjuvant captopril group was given L-NAME 1.75 mg/25 g BW/day + captopril 0.04875 mg/30 g BW/day + curcuma extract 31.25 mg/30 g BW for 30 days. Results The results of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test analysis on the adjuvant treatment of the captopril group revealed no significant effect on cardiac muscle mass (p > 0.05), while the thickness of the left ventricle was significant (p < 0.05). Conclusions Captopril-Curcuma group resulted in a decrease of cardiac muscle and the thickness of the left ventricle in male mice with hypertension.