Physicochemical analysis for simplicia and extract, respectively: water content 2.12–4% for simplicia; drying losses 3.93–5.47% and 8.51–19.76%; total ash 5.14–9.41% and 6.22–17.07%; total ash acid-insoluble content 0.29–5.41% and 0.52–3.82%; total ash water-soluble content 1.26–7.14% and 1.43–8.54%; water-soluble content 19.60–39.43% and 58.45–77.51%; ethanol-soluble content 13.99–33.76% and 59.79–75.39%. The phytochemical analysis showed that the extracts contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. Total flavonoids and total phenolics content were 9.86–15.74% QE/g and 6.67–7.65% GAE/g, respectively. Based on LC-MS results, the extract contained emodin, kaempferol, kaempferol-3,7-diglucoside, and kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. The extracts possessed antibacterial activity against bacteria tested.

In this study, multifunctional chitosan-pluronic F127 with magnetic reduced graphene oxide (MRGO) nanocomposites were developed through the immobilization of chitosan and an amphiphilic polymer (pluronic F127) onto the MRGO. Physicochemical characterizations and in-vitro cytotoxicity of nanocomposites were investigated through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, particle size analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer, Raman spectroscopy and resazurin-based in-vitro cytotoxicity assay. FESEM observation shows that the magnetic nanoparticles could tethered on the surface of MRGO, promoting the magnetic properties of the nanocomposites. FTIR identification analysis revealed that the chitosan/pluronic F127 were successfully immobilized on the surface of MRGO. Furthermore, α-mangosteen, as a model of natural drug compound, was successfully encapsulated onto the chitosan/pluronic F127@MRGO nanocomposites. According to in-vitro cytotoxicity assay, α-mangosteen-loaded chitosan/pluronic F127@MRGO nanocomposites could significantly reduce the proliferation of human breast cancer (MFC-7) cells. Eventually, it would be anticipated that the novel α-mangosteen-loaded chitosan/pluronic F127@MRGO nanocomposites could be promoted as a new potential material for magnetically targeting and killing cancer cells.

Morinda citrifolia fruit (Noni) has been used as a folk medicine in several countries. Noni possessed various pharmacological activities such as; anticancer, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antarthritic, and antioxidants. The present study evaluated pharmacognostic properties, profiling of active constituent through High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) and Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometer (LC-HRMS) run for quantitative and qualitative phytochemical analysis and determining angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor activity of Noni from three different locations. The physicochemical parameters of crude drugs and extracts met the requirement of Indonesian Herbal Pharmacopeia. Total phenol content was 2.16-3.08 mg GAE/g extract and total flavonoid content was 0.11 - 1.58 mg QE/g extract. HPTLC analysis revealed that scopoletin content in Noni was in the range of 0.44 - 0.51%. The results were also corresponding well with LC-HRMS fingerprint analysis. In addition, Noni fruit extract from Bogor potential exhibited activity in inhibiting ACE with an IC50 value of 206.26 µg/mL.

Dermatomyositis (DM) is an autoimmune disease that is classified as a type of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy, which affects human skin and muscles. The most common clinical symptoms of DM are muscle weakness, rash, and scaly skin. There is currently no cure for DM. Genetic factors are known to play a pivotal role in DM progression, but few have utilized this information geared toward drug discovery for the disease. Here, we exploited genomic variation associated with DM and integrated this with genomic and bioinformatic analyses to discover new drug candidates. We first integrated genome-wide association study (GWAS) and phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) catalogs to identify disease-associated genomic variants. Biological risk genes for DM were prioritized using strict functional annotations, further identifying candidate drug targets based on druggable genes from databases. Overall, we analyzed 1239 variants associated with DM and obtained 43 drugs that overlapped with 13 target genes (JAK2, FCGR3B, CD4, CD3D, LCK, CD2, CD3E, FCGR3A, CD3G, IFNAR1, CD247, JAK1, IFNAR2). Six drugs clinically investigated for DM, as well as eight drugs under pre-clinical investigation, are candidate drugs that could be repositioned for DM. Further studies are necessary to validate potential biomarkers for novel DM therapeutics from our findings.

Dengue fever is widely prevalent in Indonesia and many other tropical countries. There has been no antiviral protection against DENV (dengue virus) due to the scarcity of animal models that replicate the symptoms of its infection in humans. Subsequently, Balb/c mice were used to optimize the animal models that were infected with DENV, and measurements of DENV titer, platelet count and leukocytes counts were taken after six days of CA (Cassia alata leaves extract) treatment to examine the inhibitory activity of viral replication on dengue-infected mice. The results showed that CA significantly reduced DENV titer and increased platelet count compared to the control group (P < 0.05) but had no significant effect on leukocyte counts (P > 0.05). Therefore, it could be implied that Cassia alata could be further investigated for medication against DENV, prospectively.