Background:The effects of tylophorine, a natural alkaloid found in Tylophora indica, administered as a single compound or in combination with doxorubicin on cell cycling and apoptosis were assessed in T47D breast cancer cells, selected as a model system for breast cancer.Methods:Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were examined by flow cytometry. Caspase 3 and 9 expression was determined by immunocytochemistry.Result:We found that tylophorine did not significantly influence the cell cycle distribution of T47D cells. However, the alkaloid did prevent accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase. In addition, tylophorine increased the number of apoptotic cells. Expression of proapoptotic proteins (caspases 3 and 9) was up-regulated upon administration of tyloporine alone or in combination with doxorubicin.Conclusions:Tylophorine alone or in combination with doxorubicin induced apoptosis in T47D breast cancer cells through modulation of the cell cycle and affecting the expression of caspases 3 and 9.

Development of medical plants as an alternative treatment needs support in terms of scientific evidence to increase public confidence in its efficacy and to ensure the safety of its use. Recent research on Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f) Ness dan Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr show that the combination of these two extracts has a potential to be developed into antihyperglycemic agent, through the mechanism of action as an antioxidant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant effect of these two extracts combination. Extraction was done by maceration method. Testing of free radical capture activity was carried out by the DPPH method. The results of the antioxidant activity test showed that the combination of soluble ethanol extract of A. paniculata herbs and G. procumbens leaves 50:50 had the best IC50 value of 91.418 µg/mL, the combination of soluble ethanol extract 75:25 had IC50 value 117,059 µg/mL, and the combination combination of soluble ethanol extract 25:75 had the weakest IC50 of 142,277 µg/mL. The three comparisons of the combination were weaker in antioxidant activity compared to the standard vitamin C which had IC50 3,546 µg/mL. Statistical analysis using one-way ANOVA obtained significant differences in antioxidant activity of the three comparison groups.

Azadirachta indica A.Juss. and Gynura procumbens (Merr.) are medicinal herbs widely used in traditional medicine. Recent research on the combination of these two plants showed aggressive antioxidant activity. The combination results can improve insulin and beta-cell morphology and can increase insulin expression. The variety of activities performed is the basis for conducting acute toxicity tests on the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss. and Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. to increase public confidence in its efficacy and ensure the safety of its use. The acute toxicity test on the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss. and Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. was carried out on female Wistar rats by following the 423 procedures of OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Guideline with five groups of experimental animals, namely normal treatment, aquadest solvent treatment and 0.5 Na-CMC 0.5%, a separate treatment of the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss., a separate treatment of the ethanol extract of Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr., and combination treatment of the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss. and leaves of Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. Furthermore, it was proceeded by observing the liver of the experimental animals histopathologically. The acute toxicity test results utilizing the 423 procedures of the OECD did not confirm any death or signs of toxicity in the experimental animals, and histopathological observations did not show any major histopathological damage. Based on these results, according to Globally Harmonized Classification System (GHS), the combination of the ethanol extract of Azadirachta Indica A. Juss. and Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr. is included in the unclassified category ( 2,000 mg/kg BW.

Penelitian terkait tanaman cengkeh di Indonesia selama ini fokus menggunakan bagian daun.  Masih sedikit penelitian terkait senyawa fitokimia pada bunga cengkeh.  Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh sifat pelarut terhadap kandungan flavonoid dan mengetahui kandungan flavonoid total masing-masing fraksi.  Tiga fraksi pelarut yang digunakan antara lain fraksi air bersifat polar, etil asetat bersifat semipolar, dan n-heksana bersifat nonpolar. Ekstraksi bunga cengkeh (Syzygium aromaticum) dilakukan dengan metode maserasi menggunakan etanol 70%.  Pemisahan senyawa berdasarkan tingkat kepolaran dilakukan dengan metode fraksinasi.  Penentuan senyawa flavonoid dilakukan secara kualitatif dengan Kromatografi Lapis Tipis (KLT) menggunakan kloroform: metanol: asam asetat glasial (9: 1: 0,5) sebagai fase gerak dan silika gel F254 sebagai fase diam dengan kuersetin sebagai pembanding.  Analisis kuantitatif dilakukan dengan metode Spektrofotometri UV-Vis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan kadar flavonoid total pada ekstrak etanol bunga Cengkeh (EEBC) sebesar 7,818% ± 0,270; pada fraksi etil asetat sebesar 10,458% ± 0,516; pada fraksi air sebesar 6,137% ± 0,427; dan pada fraksi n-heksan sebesar 2,251% ± 0,239.  Berdasarkan hasil tersebut dapat disimpulkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh yang signifikan antara sifat pelarut ekstrak etanol dan 3 fraksi bunga cengkeh (S. aromaticum) terhadap kandungan flavonoid total.  Kandungan flavonoid total tertinggi berturut-turut adalah fraksi etil asetat, EEBC, fraksi air, dan fraksi n-heksan.

Rosella (Hibiscus sabdariffa L) is a plant belonging to the Malvaceae family. This plant is widely used as herbal medicine. Rosella leaves have many compounds that can function as antioxidants and antibacterials. As a crude material for traditional medicine, it is necessary to know the content of secondary metabolites contained in rosella leaves both quantitatively and qualitatively as one of the standardization parameters. The objective of this study was to determine the content of secondary metabolites contained in the ethanolic extract of rosella leaves through phytochemical analysis and Thin Layer Chromatography. Rosella leaf extraction was carried out by maceration method using 70% ethanol as solvent. Testing the content of secondary metabolites in the ethanolic extract of rosella leaves was carried out by phytochemical screening. Furthermore, the TLC test was carried out to confirm the presence of a positive group of compounds on phytochemical screening. Phytochemical screening from rosella leaves extract revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. The TLC system used in this study was able to separate the phytochemical content and gave positive results confirming the phytochemical screening results. The eluent used was chloroform:methanol:acetic acid with a ratio of 14:2:1 obtained spots with an Rf of 0.737 which is similar to the Rf standard of quercetin which is 0.762.