The Effect of Caulerpa racemosa Diet to Cholesterol Level Of Wistar Rats

Abstract

Caulerpa racemosa has been commonly eaten by people of Jepara coast as vegetables, however there are few reports on the nutritional value.C. racemosa seaweed can be categorized as nutricious foodsince its contain fatty acids that is needed by body and others nutrition such as protein, dietary fiber, vitamin and minerals. The objectives of this research was to analysediet from C. racemossa especially on it effect in lowering cholesterol. This research was conducted on August – November 2012.Samples were taken fromthe coastal waters of Jepara, Central Java province.Rats animalsmodel wereobserved individually.The treatments applied on the research were as follow: control; ½ ODH (Optimal Dose of Human); 1 x ODH (ODH=0,09 gr/kg/day of C.racemosa ) and 2 x ODH (0,18 gr/kg/day of C. racemosa). The dose of seaweed flour of C racemosa in the amount of ½ optimal Dose of Human which is 0,045gr/kg/day able to decrease the cholesterol level for 58,13% in 2 weeks. A highly significant effect (P <0,01) on the cholesterol level between treatments. Triglyceride and LDL were significant different (P <0,05) between treatments. Howeverthere was no significant effect (P>0,05) on HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) between treatments.