Effectiveness of Gracilaria verrucosa Seaweed Extract on Hemoglobin Levels, Hematocrit, and Erythrocyte Count in White Rats with Hyperlipidemia: Efektivitas Ekstrak Rumput Laut Gracilaria verrucosa Terhadap Kadar Hemoglobin, Hematokrit dan Jumlah Eritrosit pada Tikus Putih dengan Kondisi Hiperlipidemia

Fitria Nur Fadilah (Program Studi Teknologi Laboratorium Medis, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo)
Puspitasari (Program Studi Teknologi Laboratorium Medis, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo)

Indonesian Journal Health Science and Medicine
Vol. 3 No. 3 (2026): Desember

General Background: Hyperlipidemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood lipid levels that may trigger oxidative stress and alter hematological parameters, including hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte count. Specific Background: Gracilaria verrucosa is a red seaweed containing antioxidant compounds that may support hematological parameters under hyperlipidemic conditions. Knowledge Gap: The response of hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte count to Gracilaria verrucosa extract at different doses in hyperlipidemic white rats requires further evaluation. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate Gracilaria verrucosa extract administration on hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte count in hyperlipidemic white rats. Results: A laboratory experimental study using a pretest-posttest control group design was conducted from April to May 2026 with 25 male Wistar rats divided into five groups: negative control, positive control receiving simvastatin 0.18 mg/200 g body weight, and three extract groups receiving 25, 35, and 45 mg/200 g body weight. Hyperlipidemia was induced using a high-fat diet and 0.01% propylthiouracil. Hematological parameters were measured using a Hematology Analyzer and analyzed using Two-Way ANOVA. Significant differences were observed among groups for hemoglobin (p=0.011), hematocrit (p=0.025), and erythrocyte count (p=0.002), as well as between pre- and post-treatment measurements for hemoglobin (p=0.041), hematocrit (p=0.044), and erythrocyte count (p=0.001). Novelty: The study identifies different responses across hematological parameters and extract doses in hyperlipidemic rats. Implications: Gracilaria verrucosa extract increased all measured hematological parameters, with 45 mg/200 g body weight showing the highest erythrocyte increase, while simvastatin showed the highest increases in hemoglobin and hematocrit. Key Findings Highlights Simvastatin produced the highest increases in hemoglobin and hematocrit. The 45 mg/200 g body-weight dose produced the highest erythrocyte increase. Significant pre–post treatment differences occurred across all three measured parameters. Keywords : Gracilaria Verrucosa, Hyperlipidemia, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Erythrocyte