BACKGROUND: Normal metabolism of oxygen and exogenous factors constantly generate free radicals which could be harmful to the human body. Human need antioxidants to provide protection against free radicals, thus plants are a good source of natural antioxidants. Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri) has been known to possess several medicinal properties and contain numerous active phytochemical. In this research, we conducted phytochemical screening and antioxidant assay of P. niruri extract along with the compounds rutin and quercetin, which are flavonoids possessing medicinal properties. This study was conducted to determine P. niruri, rutin and quercetin as antioxidant. METHODS:In this study, qualitative phytochemical screening was performed to detect phenol, flavonoid, saponin, tannin, steroid/triterpenoid, terpenoid and alkaloid in P. niruri extract. Antioxidant analysis of P. niruri, rutin and quercetin was conducted using total measured phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. RESULTS:The study revealed that P. niruri extract contained saponin, phenol, flavonoid and tannin based on phytochemical screening. In DPPH and ABTS assays quercetin possessed highest antioxidant activity with IC 50 value of 0.55 and 1.17 µg/ml respectively. Meanwhile, P. niruri extract showed the highest FRAP activity which was 373.95 µM Fe(II)/µg extract. Rutin possessed the lowest antioxidant activity in all antioxidant assays. CONCLUSION:This study confirmed that P. niruri extract and quercetin have great potential as a natural antioxidant source. KEYWORDS

Introduction: Aerobic training has a beneficial effect on enhancing liver functions. Autophagy might potentially play a role in preventing excessive lipid accumulation, regulating oxidative stress, and inflammation in the liver. Objective: To investigate the potential linking role of autophagy-related gene expressions and protein levels with histopathology changes in Wistar rat livers after treadmill training under different intensities. Methods: 20 rats were divided into 4 groups (control, low intensity, moderate intensity, and high intensity). 8 weeks of treadmill training was conducted with a frequency of 5 days per week, for a duration of 30 min per day. Liver histopathology was studied using hematoxylin-eosin, and oil red O staining. RNA and protein from the liver tissues were extracted to examine the autophagy-related gene (LC3, p62) and protein levels (Beclin, ATG5, LC3, p62). The gene expressions of CPT1a, CD36, FATP 2,3,5, GLUT2, and FGF21 were also studied. Results: Different intensities of training might potentially modulate autophagy-related gene expressions in rat livers. LC3 and p62 mRNA expressions in moderate and high intensities decreased compared to control. Beclin, ATG5, and LC3 protein level increased compared to control, while p62 protein level decreased compared to control. Whereas for the other genes, we found an increase in CPT1a, but we did not observed any changes in the expression of the other genes. Interestingly, autophagy-related gene expressions might be correlated with the changes of sinusoidal dilatation, cloudy swelling, inflammation, and lipid droplets of the liver tissues. Conclusion: Moderate and high intensities of training induce autophagy activity, combined with a shift in metabolic zonation in liver that might be potentially correlated with lipophagy. Our results showed the potential interplay role between autophagy and liver histopathology appearances as a part of the adaptation process to training.

Background: Diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by glucose levels and results in impaired insulin secretion. This disorder has triggered oxidative stress and excess free radicals condition. Smallanthus sonchifolius is a traditional medicine that acts as a diabetic therapy. This research aims to bring out the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of S. sonchifolius extract (SSE). Materials and Methods: This study was conducted to measure the qualitative phytochemical identification, antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity of SSE. The antioxidant assay was carried out using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine (DPPH)-scavenging activity, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)-scavenging and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-reducing activity assays, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) potency, while anti-diabetic activity of SSE assay was carried out using inhibitory of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and Glucose-6-Phosphatase (G-6-Pase). Results: SSE contained phenols, flavonoids, steroids/triterpenoids, saponins, tannins, and alkaloids. The antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of samples were calculated based on median inhibitory concentration (IC50). The IC50 values of SSE antioxidant, respectively, were DPPH (IC50 = 62.72 μg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 61.03 μg/mL), H2O2 (IC50 = 438.36 μg/mL), the highest FRAP activity was 125.31 μM Fe(II)/μg extract at a concentration level of SSE 50 μg/mL. The IC50 values of SSE antidiabetic were α-amylase inhibition (IC50 = 37.86 μg/mL), α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 90.41 μg/mL), and G-6-Pase inhibition (IC50 = 98.07 μg/mL), respectively. Conclusions: SSE has antidiabetic potential through antioxidant activities and α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and G-6-Pase inhibition activities.

Background: The mechanism for cardiac hypertrophy process that would be a benefit for improvement of cardiovascular endurance needed to be investigated throughly. Specific intensity of training may play a role for homeostasis process in cardiac during training. In the present study, we examine the effect of different intensity of treadmill training on cardiac hypertrophy process and autophagy related gene expression in male wistar rats. Methods: Three different intensities of treadmill training were conducted on 15 male wistar rats (Low Intensity: 10 m/ minute, Moderate Intensity: 20 m/minute, and High Intensity: 30 m/minute) compared to 5 sedentary rats as control. Training duration was 30 min per day, frequency was 5 days per week, during 8 weeks period. Heart weight and heart weight/body weight ratio were measured after the experiments. Left ventricle myocardium was taken for microscopic analysis with HE staining. mRNA was extracted from left ventricle myocardium for examining αMHC and autophagy related gene expression (PIK3CA, mTOR, LC3, p62) using semi quantitative PCR. Results: We observed that altered training intensity might stimulate cardiac hypertrophy process. MI and HI training increased heart weight and heart weight/body weight ratio. This finding is supported by microscopic result in which cardiac hypertrophy was found in MI and HI, with focal fibrosis in HI, and increased αMHC gene expression in MI (p < 0.05) and HI (p = 0.076). We also observed decreased PIK3CA (LI 0.8 fold, MI 0.9 fold), mTOR (LI 0.9 fold, MI 0.9 fold), LC3 (LI 0.9 fold, MI 0.8 fold, HI 0.8 fold), and p62 (LI 0.8 fold, MI 0.9 fold) compared to control. Interestingly, we found increased mTOR (HI 1.1 fold) and p62 (HI 1.1 fold) compared to control. Conclusion: Training with different intensity creates different cardiac hypertrophy process based on heart weight and heart weight/body weight ratio, microscopic examination and autophagy related gene expression.

Tranexamic acid (TSA) is widely used as an antiaging treatment for reducing melasma and wrinkles. There are various mechanisms for wrinkle formation, and one of them is due to damage of the mitochondria. Research on mitochondria in the skin is very limited, so we are interested to see the changes that occur after application of TSA cream. We explored the effect of TSA on mitochondrial protein levels (PGC1α, Tom20, COX IV), which had affected to skin histological structure. Thirty male, 6‐week‐old, Balb/C mice were divided into five groups (negative control, positive control, TSA 3%, TSA 4% and TSA 5%). After 10 days of acclimatization, four groups of mice were exposed to UVB light, of which three groups were given TSA cream for 10 weeks. The skin tissue was excised for protein and histological studies. H&E staining was performed for evaluating histological changes in epidermal thickness and dermal elastosis. TSA treatment on the mice skin increased mitochondrial marker levels and epidermal thickness while decreasing dermal elastosis for all the treatment groups. Topical application of TSA significantly increased mitochondrial biogenesis which may cause alteration in epidermal thickness and reduced dermal elastosis in the histology of mice skin.