Analisis Kadar Flavonoid Total Ekstrak Daun Afrika (Vernonia amygdalina Del.) sebagai Inhibitor pada Pelepasan Ion Nikel Kawat Ortodonti Stainless Steel

Abstract

Stainless steel orthodontic wire has the potential to corrosion occurs or release of the metal elements constituting the alloy due to continuous interaction and contact with conditions in the oral cavity, especially physiological fluids such as saliva. The ethanol extract of African leaves (Vernonia amygdalina Del.) contains antioxidant compounds called flavonoids which acts as an inhibitory agent in the corrosion process on metals. The aim of this study was to determine the differences in total flavonoid levels in the ethanol extract of African leaves at concentrations of 1.56 mg/mL, 3.125 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL before and after immersion with stainless steel orthodontic wires. This type of research is a laboratory experiment with a Pretest and Posttest Control Group Design. The research sample was stainless steel orthodontic wires which were divided into six groups, each group containing 4 samples. The immersion was carried out for 7 days and stored in an incubator (37oC). Total levels of flavonoids were measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The result of Paired Sample T-Test shows the difference in the average score of total flavonoid levels in African leaf ethanol extract of a concentration of 1.56 mg/ mL was 3.81 mg QE/ g extract, concentration 3.125 mg/ mL was 3.81 mg QE/g extract and concentration 6.25 mg/L was 11.86 mg QE/g extract. In conclusion, there were differences in total flavonoid levels in the ethanol extract of African leaves at concentrations of 1.56 mg/mL, 3.125 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL between groups before and after immersion with stainless steel orthodontic wires for 7 days. The greater the concentration of the extract used, the greater the flavonoid levels that react with stainless steel orthodontic wires, so the more effectively acts as an inhibitor in the release of nickel ions on stainless steel orthodontic wire.