The present study was conducted to correlate between the phytochemical constituents in the extract of C. mangga rhizomes and its immunomodulatory effect on phagocytosis of mice leukocytes. The phytochemical screening was performed using the standard method, while qualitative analysis of curcumin in C. mangga extract was examined using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The n-hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts of C. mangga were introduced to carbon clearance method for their immunomodulatory potential. The phytochemical screening on nhexane and ethanol extracts of C. mangga rhizomes revealed the presence of steroids and terpenoids. Meanwhile, glycosides, saponins and flavonoids were detected in ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts. The TLC analysis led to the identification of curcumin in all extracts. All the samples tested demonstrated the immunostimulatory effect on phagocytosis ability of mice leukocytes. Of all the extracts, n-hexane extract displayed the strongest stimulation on phagocytosis effect but there was no significantly different (P>0.05). The results suggest that the immunostimulatory activity of extract on phagocytosis ability was due to the presence of its major constituents although other constituents may also contribute.

BACKGROUND: CMC is one of the water-soluble polysaccharide derivatives obtained from cellulose. Alkalization and carboxymethylation process will influence the quality of the CMC. The use of a combination of mixed solvents and varying alkali concentrations in the synthesis process of CMC needs to be studied so that CMC can be synthesized with the proper characteristics. AIM: This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of carboxymethyl cellulose synthesized using various solvents and NaOH concentrations. METHODS: Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) was synthesized using solvent mixture, namely isopropanol: isobutanol (30: 70) and isopropanol:ethanol (50: 50) with varied concentration of NaOH of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, respectively. Synthesized CMC was characterized by an organoleptic test, pH, infrared analysis, and degree of substitution (DS). RESULTS: The result showed that characteristics of synthesized CMC were different from one another. The organoleptic test showed that synthesized CMC uses isopropanol: isobutanol (30: 70) was coarse powder, odourless and tasteless, ivory until burlywood along with increasing NaOH concentration; while the synthesized CMC with isopropanol: ethanol (50: 50) was a colourless, odourless, tasteless and fine powder. The pH of synthesized CMC was neutral. Infrared profile of synthesized CMC indicated the existence of carboxyl functional groups in 1600-1640 cm-1 region. The degree of substitution value of formula II-5, II-10, II-15, II-20, II-25, IE-5, IE-10, IE-15, IE-20, and IE-25 were 0.885;0.757; 0.685; 0.592; 0.575; 0.611; 0.906; 0.603; 0.671; 0.751, respectively. CONCLUSION:  Characteristics of CMC vary depending on the type of solvent mixture and NaOH concentrations used in synthesis. The more polarity of a solvent mixture the more colourless and higher DS value of synthesized CMC. On the other hand, the more alkali concentration in synthesis CMC the more colour and higher DS value was acquired.

BACKGROUND: North Sumatra is one of the regions in Indonesia that produce bananas. Banana stems and peels contain cellulose and it can be isolated in nanofiber form. Carboxymethylcellulose is a cellulose derivative that undergoes an alkalization and etherification process AIM: This research was conducted to evaluate the alkalization effect on synthesis of carboxymethyl cellulose from stem and peel cellulose of banana. METHODS: Stem and peel of banana was extracted with NaOH 17.5% and the extract was synthesized to carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The synthesis of CMC was beginning with alkalization process in variation of NaOH concentration and the reaction was then etherificated with sodium monochloroacetate. CMC was characterized by FTIR and DS values ​​were determined. RESULTS: FTIR spectra of synthesized CMC had different pattern compared to cellulose. It showed that an etherification reaction had been occurred in the cellulose compound. Spectra of CMC with variation in alkali concentration was not much different from one another. The synthesized CMC from stem and peel cellulose of banana had different degree of substitution (DS) values ​​due to variate concentration of NaOH in alkalization. CONCLUSION: Alkalization on CMC synthesis affects the DS value of synthesized CMC. The increase DS value is proportional to the rise in NaOH concentration even though there is a boundary concentration to obtain the optimum DS value.

Objective: The aim of this study is to observe the activity of ethanol extract of Curanga fel-terrae leave in preventing the damaged of liver which is induced by high dose of paracetamol. Methods:This research was conducted using Wistar rat divided into six groups. Group 1 was the normal group. Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 received carboxymethyl cellulose-Na 0.5% (negative control), C. fel-terrae ethanolic extract (CFEE) at the doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg, catechin 2 mg/kg (positive control), respectively, during 7 days continued and followed by given paracetamol dose of 2.5 g/kg 8 hrs. After that, hepatoprotective activity was carried out toward parameter of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) as well as histopathology of the liver. Results:The results showed that high dose paracetamol dose of 2.5g/kg bw can cause liver damaged which can be seen by the increasing of the level of AST and ALT compared to the normal group (p<0.05). The usage of three doses of CFEE for 7 days showed the prevention of the increasing of the level of AST and ALT compared to negative control group (p<0.05). Furthermore, the histopathology study revealed that the three doses of extract could protect the liver. Conclusion:The CFEE at the doses of 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg bw which was given for 7 days can prevent the liver from the damage caused by a high dose of paracetamol.

Objective: The study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of ethanolic extract of Curanga fel-terrae leaves (EECFL) against acetylcholine (ACh)-induced contraction of the ACh-muscarinic-3 receptor. Materials and Methods:The study of the inhibitory effect of the ethanolic extract on the contraction by ACh concentration series (10 −8 -10 −3 M) was conducted in vitro using isolated guinea pig tracheal organ in the Krebs solution.Results: Early incubation of tracheal organ with EECFL (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 mg/ml) before contracted by the series of ACh concentration produces the decrease of ACh contraction. The concentration series of ACh sigmoid curve rightward shift without decreasing the maximal contraction. The results of double-reciprocal plot of ACh shows the mean value of the 1/y-intercept of each extract was not different with the control. Conclusion:The EECFL showed competitive antagonist effect on ACh-muscarinic-3 receptors.