Penggunaan tanaman herbal untuk pengobatan dan pencegahan penyakit semakin populer sehingga penelitian mengenai senyawa aktif dari tumbuhan yang berkhasiat semakin menjadi perhatian. Umbi sarang semut (Myrmecodia pendens) mengandung senyawa aktif berupa terpenoid, tanin, fenol, flavonoid, dan saponin yang memiliki efek antijamur pada Candida albicans. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengukur konsentrasi hambat minimum (KHM) dan konsentrasi bunuh minimum (KBM) fraksi air M. pendens dan menguji perbedaan efek antijamur antara fraksi air M. pendens dan nistatin pada C. albicans ATCC 10231. Penelitian dilaksanakan pada bulan Juni-Juli 2015 di Laboratorium Penelitian Jurusan Kimia Fakultas MIPA Universitas Padjadjaran. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode mikrodilusi dan nilai KHM diukur dengan enzyme linked immunosorbent assay reader dan nilai KBM diukur dengan pengujian pada media agar. Data dianalisis menggunakan uji-t dengan level signifikan p<0,05 untuk menentukkan perbedaan efek antijamur fraksi air M. pendens dengan nistatin pada C. albicans. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa nilai KHM ialah 1.250 μg/mL dan nilai KBM ialah 2.500 μg/mL. Simpulan penelitian ini ialah nilai KHM serta KBM fraksi air M. pendens ialah 1.250 dan 2.500 μg/mL dan terdapat perbedaan efek antijamur antara fraksi air dan nistatin terhadap C. albicans.

AbstrakHipertensi disebabkan oleh banyak faktor, di antaranya aktivitas enzim konversi angiotensin, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), dan reactive oxygen species (ROS). Ekstrak metanol akar Imperata cylindrica (alang-alang) terbukti mempunyai aktivitas antihipertensi. Studi menunjukkan berbagai terapi antioksidan dapat menurunkan tekanan darah. Senyawa polifenol dari tumbuh-tumbuhan mempunyai banyak manfaat, di antaranya sebagai antioksidan, oleh karena itu dilakukan studi ekperimental untuk mengukur kandungan polifenol total menggunakan metode spektrofotometri sinar tampak pereaksi Folin-Ciocalteu, dan uji aktivitas antioksidan dengan metode 1,1-difenil-2-pikrilhidrazil (DPPH). Penelitian dilakukan periode Juli sampai Desember 2014. Hasilnya, ekstrak mempunyai kandungan total polifenol sebesar 1,53% ekivalen asam galat (EAG) dan aktivitas antioksidan IC 50 sebesar 0,32 mg/mL. Senyawa fenol mempunyai kemampuan mendonorkan atom hidrogen pada radikal bebas DPPH yang menyebabkan DPPH tereduksi dan ditandai dengan perubahan warna DPPH dari ungu menjadi kuning. Dengan demikian, aktivitas antioksidan ekstrak metanol akar Imperata cylindrica didukung oleh senyawa polifenol. Simpulan, ekstrak mempunyai kandungan polifenol total 1,53% (EAG) dan aktivitas antioksidan IC 50 0,32 mg/mL. Hypertension is caused by many factors, including by the activity of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), reactive oxygen species (ROS). Methanol extract of Imperata cylindrica (alang-alang) root has been proven as having anti-hypertensive activities. Study shows various antioxidant therapies can decrease blood pressure. Polyphenol compounds of plants have many benefits, including as an antioxidant. Therefore, an experimental study was performed to measure the total polyphenol content using visible spectrophotometry method-FolinCiocalteu reagent as well as to test the antioxidant activity using 1,1-diphenyl-method 2-pikrilhidrazil (DPPH) from July to December 2014. The results showed that the extract had a total polyphenol content of 1.53% galad acid aquevalent (GAE) and antioxidant activity IC50 0.32 mg/mL. The polyphenol compounds have the ability to donate hydrogen atom to DPPH free radical, which leads to reduced DPPHmarked by the color change of DPPH from purple to yellow. Thus, antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Imperata cylindrica root was supported by the presence of polyphenol compounds. In conclusion, the extract has a total polyphenol content of 1.53% (GAE) and antioxidant activity IC50 0.32 of 0.32 mg/mL. The presence of polyphenol compounds supports the antioxidant activity of the extract. [MKB. 2015;47(1):60-4]

Imperata cylindrica L. extract was studied for its effect on cholesterol absorption rate in mice (Mus muscularis). Male mice (20-25g) were divided control and pre-treated group. Pretreated group was further divided into two groups that received different dose of Imperata cylindrica L. extract gavage (90mg/KgBW and 115mg/KgBW) for 2 weeks. Mice were fasted 12 hour before acutely given olive oil gavage with dosage of 10 µl/g, and blood was collected at 0, 2, and 6 hour-time points on the indicated day. Blood was collected from the retroorbital plexus at indicated time points. Total cholesterol level was significantly (p<0.05) decreased in both pretreated groups at 6 hours after acute olive oil gavage. In conclusion, there is a significant effect of Imperata cylindrica L. extract to reduce cholesterol level in serum, suggesting its potential effect as an antihypercholesterolemia therapy.   Key words: Imperata cylindrical L.; cholesterol absorption; antihypercholesterolemia; lipid absorption; herbal medicine

Masyarakat di Sulawesi Tenggara telah memanfaatkan akar alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica) sebagai obat hipertensi. Ekstrak methanol akar alang-alang dari Kendari terbukti mempunyai aktivitas antihipertensi. Studi menunjukkan senyawa-senyawa fenolat dapat menurunkan tekanan darah. Aktivitas penurunan tekanan darah dikarenakan senyawa-senyawa fenolat mempunyai aktivitas antioksidan dan kemampuan menghambat angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE). Berdasarkan penelitian yang dilaporkan, tujuan penelitian ini menentukan adanya flavonoid, dan mengukur kandungan flavonoid total dengan menggunakan metode aluminium klorida. Hasil analisis menunjukkan bahwa ekstrak mengandung flavonoid, dengan kandungan total flavonoid 1,17%. Berdasarkan hasil diatas, dapat disimpulkan bahwa ekstrak mengandung flavonoid, and kadar total flavonoid 1,17%.   People in Southeast Sulawesi have used alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica) root as anti-hypertension.Methanol extract of alang-alang from Kendari has been found to have anti-hypertensive activity. Previous studies reported that phenolic compounds could decrease blood pressure. The anty-hipertensive actvity might be due to anti-oxidant activity and inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) of those phenolic compounds.  Based on the previous studies, this research aimed to evaluate the presence of flavonoid and determine the total flavonoid content using Aluminium Chloride method.The results showed that the extract contained flavonoid with total flavonoid content was 1.17%. Based on the result, it can be concluded that the extract contained flavonoid and the total flavonoid content was 1.17%.

Sinensetin showed vasorelaxant effect in in vitro on the aortic ring through several pathways included the nitric oxide/guanyl cyclase/cyclic 3',5'-guanosine