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.

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.

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.