DEVELOPMENT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LEAF EXTRACT CAPSULES TO PREVENT ANEMIA AMONG WOMAN WITH POSTPARTUM ANEMIA

Background: Anemia is the leading cause of high maternal mortality and it occurs due to postpartum hemorrhage. Moringa oleifera leaf can prevent anemia. The aim of this study was to determine the physical characteristics, stability, contamination, and the effect of Moringa oleifera leaf extract capsule among women with post-partum anemia. Methods: The first step of this study was physical properties test: the drying process of Moringa leaf, extraction process, and capsule formulation. Then we also conducted water moisture test, uniformity of weight and size test, disintegration time, and microbiological contamination tests using total plate count (TPC). The second step of this study was to determine the effect of the capsule among women with post-partum anemia using control and experiment groups. The experiment group was given Moringa leaf extract capsules and the control group used iron supplements, each twice a day. Results and Discussions: The results showed that the physical characteristics of capsules were water: 5.33%, a uniform weight of 500.44 mg, size of 2.25 cm, a disintegration time of 4 minutes 41 seconds, and had authentic powder fragments. The capsules were physically stable when stored at room temperature for three months and not contaminated with microbes. Also, Moringa leaf extract capsules increased hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and it equivalent with iron suplements. Conclusions: Moringa leaf extract capsules meet the physical requirements for capsules, stable, safe from bacteria, and can increase hemoglobin and hematocrit among post-partum anemia. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, anemia.