In vivo Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Activity of Soft Coral Nephthea sp. from Southeast Sulawesi.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Nephthea</i> sp., has various biological activities. The study on anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory of <i>Nephthea</i> sp., from Southeast Sulawesi is still limited. Hence, this study aims to determine the content of secondary metabolite compounds and their pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> <i>Nephthea</i> sp., was collected from Saponda Island and extracted using ethyl acetate. The chemical contents were analyzed by a phytochemical screening test, anti-inflammatory activity by xylene-induced ear edema and immunomodulatory activity using macrophage phagocytic activity (SPA) in experimental animals. <b>Results:</b> The ethyl acetate extract of <i>Nephthea</i> sp., contains flavonoids and steroids. According to the result obtained, the ethyl acetate extract of <i>Nephthea</i> sp., exhibited anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity <i>in vivo</i>. The EAN 0.2 demonstrated the highest potency and showed no significant difference compared to diclofenac sodium at a concentration of 0.15 mg mL¹ (p>0.05) with the highest percentage edema inhibition as in xylene-induced ear edema. In addition, EAN 0.2 exhibited a similar result in increasing SPA compared to control (p>0.05). Both assays showed significant differences with negative control in this study (p<0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> Soft coral <i>Nephthea</i> sp., can be a potential candidate as an anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agent.

Effects of Tectona grandis L. Extract in Diabetic Rats on Nitric Oxide and Malondialdehyde Levels.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Diabetes mellitus is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by disturbances in pancreatic ß cells resulting in the formation of reactive oxygen species which in this study was characterized by increased levels of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde in male Wistar rats with diabetes mellitus models. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Animal modeling of diabetes mellitus using 40 mg kg¹ b.wt. streptozotocin intraperitoneally. The antioxidant activity is based on the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. Determination of nitric oxide and MDA levels using the Griess method and Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) Assay, respectively. The animal models were divided into six treatment groups, normal control (KN), positive control (K⁺) (glibenclamide), negative control (K) (Na-CMC 0.5%), teak leaf ethanol extract group at a dose of D₁ (100 mg kg¹ b.wt.), D₂ (200 mg kg¹ b.wt.) and D₃ (300 mg kg¹ b.wt.). <b>Results:</b> The antioxidant activity showed that the IC₅₀ values of vitamin C and the ethanol extract of <i>Tectona grandis</i> leaves were 18.208 and 62.236 µg mL¹, respectively. The NO levels in KN = 83.133 µmol L¹, K⁺ = 118.300 µmol L¹, K = 317.467 µmol L¹, D₁ = 210.133 µmol L¹, D₂ = 184.467 µmol L¹ and D₃ = 129.300 µmol L¹. The MDA levels at KN = 3.767 µmol L¹, K⁺ = 8.854 µmol L¹, K = 31.032 µmol L¹, D₁ = 27.010 µmol L¹, D₂ = 20.166 µmol L¹ and D₃ = 15.512 µmol L¹. <b>Conclusion:</b> The ethanol extract of teak leaves <i>Tectona grandis</i> L. at a dose of 300 mg kg¹ reduces nitric oxide levels and plasma malondialdehyde levels in rats through the activity of antioxidant compounds.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ethanol Extract Stem of Etlingera rubroloba A.D. Poulsen.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i>Etlingera rubroloba</i> A.D. Poulsen (<i>E. rubroloba</i>) is a plant endemic to South-East Sulawesi which is used empirically by local people as a pain reliever for joints and to increase endurance after typhoid fever. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanol extract stem of <i>E. rubroloba</i>. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The stem of the ethanol extract of <i>E. rubroloba</i> with evaluated for antioxidants using the FRAP method and anti-inflammatory activity with the parameter level of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) <i>in vivo</i> by using 6 groups of rats, namely the normal, the negative (Na-CMC 0.5%), the positive control (Diclofenac sodium) and the ethanol extract group at doses of 200, 300 and 400 mg kg¹ b.wt. <b>Results:</b> The results of this study indicated that the antioxidant activity value of the IC₅₀ ethanol extract was 12.720±0.12 µg mL¹ and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as a standard control was 3.14±0.12 µg mL¹. The TNF- α normal group (7.83 pg mL¹), negative control (250.92 pg mL¹), positive control (123.66 pg mL¹), treatment group dose 200 (192.20 pg mL¹), 300 (97, 95 pg mL¹) and 400 mg kg¹ b.wt. (28.78 pg mL¹). <b>Conclusion:</b> This study concluded that the ethanol extract of the stem of <i>E. rubroloba</i> has a very strong antioxidant activity and is an anti-inflammatory which is the best in reducing levels of TNF-α at a dose of 400 mg kg¹ b.wt.

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.