Krim ekstrak metanol biji mengkudu (Morinda citrifolia) sama efektifnya dengan krim hidrokuinon dalam mencegah peningkatan jumlah melanin kulit marmut (cavia porcellus) yang dipapar sinar ultraviolet B

Ultraviolet B (UVB) ray may cause skin hyperpigmentation due to increased melanin level. Noni seeds (Morinda citrifolia) extract was a strong candidate as an antioxidant and whitening agent. This study was aimed to prove the effect of noni seeds extract cream in prevention the increase of melanin in UVB-exposed guinea pig (Cavia porcellus). This was a true experimental study using posttest only control group design. Subjects were 30 guinea pigs divided into 3 groups, each of 10 guinea pigs. Group 1, the control group, was treated with UVB exposure and basic cream; group 2 was treated with UVB and 4% noni seed cream; and group 3 was treated with UVB and 4% hydroquinone cream. A total of 390 mJ/cm2 ultraviolet B dosage was given for 2 weeks. Histopathological examination with Masson-Fontana staining was performed to evaluate the melanin areas with black color. The amount of melanin was calculated by the percentage of pixel areas of melanin and was compared with the pixels of all epidermal tissues. The results showed that the highest number of melanin was in group 1 (10.61±5.33%), while in group 2 was 1.4±0.65%, and in group 3 was 0.45±0.23%. There was a significant difference between the control group and group 2 as well as group 3 (P <0.05) whereas no significant difference was found between group 2 and group 3 (P >0.05). Conclusion: The 4% noni seeds extract (Morinda citrifolia) cream could prevent the increase of skin melanin in UVB-exposed guinea pig as effective as 4% hydroquinone cream. Keywords: noni seeds extract cream, melanin, ultraviolet B, guinea pigs Abstrak: