EFFECT OF RED-FLESHED PITAYA (Hylocereus Polyrhizus) TO INCREASE GLUTATHIONE PEROXIDASE LEVELS IN MALE RATS (Rattus Norvegicus): THE INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS

High intensity physical activity requires large amounts of antioxidants. Exhausting physical activity can decrease glutathione peroxides levels in response to
increasing production of free radicals. Glutathione peroxides levels to eliminated free radicals and reduce oxidative damage. This study aims to know effect antioxidant redfleshed pitaya extract to increase glutathione peroxides. The subject of this research are 16 male rats, age 3 months with average weight of 200 gr, divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (OS-RFP) : the induced oxidative stress and given aquadest, group 2 (OS+RFP) : the induced oxidative stress and given 100 mg/kgWB of red-fleshed pitaya extract. Oxidative stress is given was swam for 20 minutes, thrice a week for 3 weeks. The glutathione peroxides levels in the group1higher than the group 2. There were significant differences in the increasing glutathione peroxides levels (p=0.000) between group 2 and group 1. This research shows that glutathione peroxides levels have increased in oxidative stress groups given red-fleshed pitaya extract. Red-fleshed pitaya extract has to increase glutathione peroxides levels that is can eliminate oxidative stress.