Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius Linn.) Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptotic in Breast Cancer Cell Lines T47D.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Safflower (<i>Carthamus tinctorius</i> Linn.) is one of the medicinal plants that contain secondary metabolites that have the potential to as anti-cancer by inducing apoptosis. This study aims to determine the content of secondary metabolite compounds and the induction activity of apoptosis from ethanol extract of safflower in the T47D breast cancer cell line. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Safflower was extracted using 96% ethanol and assayed for phytochemical screening, cytotoxic tests by cell counting kit-8 to determine inhibitory concentration and apoptosis induction activity by flow cytometry to determine the ability of samples induce the programmed cell cancer in death. The data collected was analyzed with the PRISM GraphPad version. <b>Results:</b> The ethanol extract of safflower contains flavonoid compounds, alkaloids, saponins, tannins and terpenoids. The results of the anticancer activity test showed an IC₅₀ value of 479 µg mL¹ and the best percentage of apoptosis at a concentration of 200 µg mL¹ was 16.61% at the beginning of apoptosis and 10.52% at the end of apoptosis. <b>Conclusion:</b> The safflower can be developed as a breast anticancer agent that works through the induction of apoptosis to improve the effectiveness of breast cancer treatment.

Suppression of Proinflammatory Cytokines by Etlingera alba (A.D.) Poulsen Rhizome Extract and Its Antibacterial Properties.

Etlingera alba is one of the Etlingera plants that has not been studied intensively. Plants that belong to the same genus have similar constituents and pharmacological activities. Thus, we aim to investigate the chemical composition and pharmacological activities, namely, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, of E. alba rhizome extract (EA). The chemical constituent was detected using the test tube method. The inflammatory model rats were obtained by inducing them with 1% carrageenan, and their palm edema volume and cytokine levels, namely, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α, were measured. Antibacterial activity was performed with broth microdilution. The phytochemical screening of EA was detecting alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, and phenols. The EA has anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the palms' edema volume and cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α), and the optimal concentration was 400 mg/kg body weight (BW). On the other hand, EA also exhibited antibacterial properties against E. coli and S. enterica. In conclusion, similar to other Etlingera plants, EA also demonstrates pharmacological activities, namely, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Determination of Cassiarin A Level of Cassia siamea Leaf Obtained from Various Regions in Indonesia Using the TLC-Densitometry Method.

Cassia siamea leaf has been proven in vitro and in vivo to have a strong antimalarial activity with Cassiarin A as its active compound. To obtain a source of C. siamea medicinal plant with high level of active antimalarial compound (Cassiarin A), a valid method for determining Cassiarin A level is needed. For this reason, this research conducts the validation of the Cassiarin A content with determination method using thin-layer chromatography (TLC) densitometry which includes the determination of selectivity (Rs), linearity (r), accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantification (LOQ). Cassiarin A was chromatographed on silica gel 60 F254 TLC plate using chloroform : ethanol (85 : 15 v/v) as a mobile phase. Cassiarin A was quantified by densitometric analysis at 368 nm. The linear regression analysis data for the calibration plots showed good linear relationship with r = 0.9995. The method was validated for precision, recovery, repeatability. The minimum detectable amount was found to be 0.0027 µg/spot, whereas the limit of quantitation was found to be 0.008 µg/spot. The results of this validation are then used to determine the Cassiarin A level of C. siamea leaf from various regions in Indonesia. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that the TLC-densitometry method can be used to determine level of the Cassiarin A compound with the advantages of being fast, easy, accurate, and inexpensive. In addition, it showed that C. siamea leaves from Pacitan have the highest level of Cassiarin A compared to other areas studied.