Objective: The objective of this study to investigate the effect of simvastatin on kidney fibrosis in mice with a 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy.Methods: Thirty adults (3 mo old) male Swiss mice were submitted to a 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy and studied after 14 d. Animals were divided into five groups: 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy (SN, n=6), sham operation (SH, n=6), simvastatin 5.2 mg/kg body weight (SIM-1, n=6), simvastatin 10.4 mg/kg body weight (SIM-2, n=6), and simvastatin 20.8 mg/kg body weight (SIM-3, n=6) groups. At sacrifice, kidneys were harvested for morphology (glomerulosclerosis (GS), tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis), immunostaining (α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGF-Rβ) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) (MCP-1, ICAM-1, nephrin, and podocin) analysis.Results: Glomerulosclerosis, tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis in the simvastatin group was significantly lower than SN group (p<0.05). Simvastatin significantly reduced α-SMA expression (3.61±1.06 vs 7.91±1.26, p<0.05, SIM-1 vs SN; 2.86±0.61 vs 7.91±1.26, p<0.05, SIM-2 vs SN; 1.71±0.50 vs 7.91±1.26, p<0.05, SIM-3 vs SN), MCP-1 was markedly expressed in the 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy kidneys and was reduced with simvastatin (1.4±0.64 vs 0.57±0.23, p<0.05, SN vs SIM-1; 1.4±0.64 vs 0.6±0.26, p<0.05, SN vs SIM-2; 1.4±0.64 vs 0.52±0.21, SN vs SIM-3, p<0.05). Simvastatin did not increase nephrin expression, but it increased podocin expression significantly in the SIM-3 group.Conclusion: Simvastatin significantly attenuated GS, tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis through the downregulation of myofibroblast expansion and inflammatory mediators in mice with a 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy.

Kaempferia galanga (K. galanga) atau yang dikenal sebagai "kencur" di Indonesia digunakan sebagai salah satu bahan makanan. Tanaman ini sering dijadikan pasta karena dipercaya dapat mengatasi kelelahan. Berdasarkan hasil review, secara tradisonal tanaman ini sering digunakan untuk pengobatan diare, migrain dan meningkatkan energi, dan mengatasi kelelahan.1 Rimpang K. galanga selama ini digunakan oleh untuk menghilangkan sakit gigi, sakit perut, pembengkakan pada otot dan rematik. K. Galanga secara luas juga digunakan di Thailand untuk pengobatan hipertensi, asma, rematik, gagngguan pencernaan, demam, sakit kepala dan mengurangi rasa nyeri abdomen.2,3 Kaempferia galanga termasuk dalam kingdom: Plantae,  sub kingdom: Phanerogamae, divisi: Spermatophyta, sub divisi: Angiospermae, kelas: Monocotyledonae, seri: Epigynae, ordo: Scitaminales, keluarga: Zingiberaceae, genus: Kaempferiam, spesies : galanga. Bagian tanaman yang sering digunakan adalah rimpang, akar, daun.1 Komponen utama yang terkandung dalam K. galanga antara lain ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate (31.77%), methylcinnamate (23.23%), carvone (11.13%), eucalyptol (9.59%) dan pentadecane (6.41%). Ekstrak K.galanga dilaporkan memiliki efek antinflamasi, analgetik, antidiare, antibakteri, sedatif, sitotoksik, insektisidal, antihelmint, dan antioksidan.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the ways and objectives of the use of turmeric by Balinese, as well as the phytochemical content and antioxidant capacity of turmeric extract which is traditionally processed in Bali. Research methods: The method and purpose of utilizing turmeric were obtained through observation and interviews with 900 Balinese respondents. Quantitative phytochemical tests include starch, protein, flavonoid, tannin, phenol and vitamin C levels and qualitatively for the presence of triterpenes, steroids, alkaloids, and saponins. Antioxidant capacity was measured using the DPPH method. Findings: Through this research, we found there were only 36.8% of respondents had ever used turmeric as a traditional medicine. Utilization of turmeric was mostly in the form of loloh or traditional drinks. Phytochemical test results showed turmeric extract had 67.38% starch, 3.42% protein, 2709.39 mg/100 gr flavonoids, tannins 291.64 mg/100gr, phenol 1584.04 mg/100 gr, and vitamin C 0.06 mg/100gr. Qualitatively, turmeric extract contained triterpenes, alkaloids, and saponins, but did not contain steroids. The antioxidant capacity of turmeric extract was 70.9 mg/L GAEAC. Implications: Turmeric extract is a traditional medicine made from nature that is most commonly used by Balinese and very potential to be developed as an antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or other benefits that still need further investigation.

Objective: This study aims to assess the condition of cardiac histopathology through hematoxylin-eosin staining in 5/6 subtotal nephrectomyconditions.Methods: Fifteen male Swiss mice aged 3–5 months will be grouped into 3 treatment groups, namely the nephrectomy group (JSN, n=5), shamoperation (JSO, n=5), and simvastatin 20 mg/kg body weight (JSIM, n=5). The histopathology of the heart will be assessed blindly. Severity is assessedbased on scoring using a scale (−) no damage, (+) mild, (++) medium, and (+++) heavy. Assessment of severity refers to the irregularity of the heartmuscle, increased amount of connective tissue, myofibril hypertrophy, myofibril swelling, sarcoplasmic fragmentation, sarcoplasmic vacuolization,bleeding in a myofibril, myofibril degeneration, cardiomyocyte damage, and the presence of acidophilic cytoplasm.Results: The results showed no morphological changes in heart muscle tissue in the JSO group except for fragmentation and vacuolization in minimalamounts of sarcoplasm (+), whereas in the JSN and JSIM groups, there was moderate damage to sarcoplasm (++) and minimal changes in myofibrils(hypertrophy and bleeding) (+). The JSN group also found severe damage (+++) to the irregularity of the heart muscle, whereas in JSIM, only moderatedamage was found (++) to the irregularity of the heart muscle.Conclusion: Simvastatin seems to be able to correct the irregularity of the heart muscle in the condition of 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy.