Cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica/I. cylindrica) of the Gramineae family is found abundantly in nature, and the roots of this plant possess several beneficial biological properties. The present study aimed to isolate and identify flavonoid compounds from cogon grass roots and examine their potential as hypocholesterolemic agents. The flavonoid compound was isolated using a maceration method, followed by gravity column chromatography until a pure compound was obtained. The molecular structure of the isolated compound was determined using 1 H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and 13 C-NMR spectroscopy. An in vivo lipid-lowering test used a randomized post-test only control group experimental design in rats with hypercholesterolemia. The animals were divided into four groups: K0, negative control; K1, positive control; K2, ethanol extract treated group; and K3, ethyl acetate fraction treated group, and the lipid profiles were examined at the end of the study. The isolated compound, 7,3' ,5'-trimethoxyflavonol, was collected in yellow powder form; was shown to be a flavonoids and was comprised of 18 carbon atoms and 16 hydrogen atoms. In vivo tests demonstrated that 15 mg/200 g body weight (BW) of an ethanol extract significantly lowered total cholesterol levels (P= 0.001) but did not lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P= 0.109) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels (P=0.003). The fraction of ethyl acetate administered at 15 mg/200 g BW was capable of lowering the total cholesterol levels significantly (P=0.002) and lowered LDL levels (P=0.006) but was unable to increase HDL levels (P=0.190). The in vivo tests showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of I. cylindrica reduced total cholesterol and LDL levels more effectively than the ethanol extract, but did not affect HDL levels in rats with hypercholesterolemia.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases that occur due to abnormalities in insulin secretion and/or insulin action. In type 2 diabetes mellitus there is a decrease in glucose absorption by the body due to insulin resistance. Energy metabolism from glucose is processed through the synthesis of fatty acids in the liver (cytosol). The process that occurs continuously causes the accumulation of lipids in the liver or "fatty liver" so it is necessary to check the levels of transaminase enzymes which include SGOT and SGPT. The purpose of this study was to analyze the levels of SGOT and SGPT enzymes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus using the analytical observational method. The results of the examination of SGOT and SGPT levels from 30 patients who were taken randomly at Dr. Soetomo Surabaya will be analyzed with bar graphs and diagrams. Of 30 random samples, 20 samples (66.67%) had SGOT levels above the normal value, and 12 samples (40%) had SGPT with results above normal values. This study concludes that there is an increase in the levels of SGOT and SGPT enzymes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Oxidative stress has been considered as a mechanism involved in the pathogenesis and progression of many diseases such as:hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. The objective of this current study was to know the potential antioxidant role of ethanol andethyl acetate extract of reeds (Imperata cylindrica) by investigation in rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet. Imperata cylindrica is richin antioxidants and has a cholesterol-reducing effect. A group of twenty four male albino Wistar rats was divided into four subgroups: anormal diet group (K0), a high-cholesterol diet group (K1), the same diet with ethanol extract of Imperata cylindrica group (K2), and thesimilar diet with ethyl acetate fraction of Imperata cylindrica group (K3),. After the treatment period, the hepatic antioxidant enzymeactivity (Superoxide dismutase/SOD) was determined. The rats fed on high-cholesterol diet with supplementation exhibited a significantelevation in SOD activity (p<0. 05), 61.6±12.4% inhibition, compared to normal animals 37.44±12.2%. The treated animals withethanol and ethyl acetate extract of Imperata cylindrica showed a significantly reduced the level of SOD activity (p<0.05, 29.90±5.6%as well as a 33.49±7.4% inhibition). The level of SOD activity when restored was closer to that in normal animals, signifying reversalof the oxidative stress. The study results showed that the treatment with Imperata cylindrica positively changed the hepatic antioxidantenzyme activities in high fat-diet rats, and thus had potential hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant effects. Imperata cylindrica couldprotect against oxidative stress linked to atherosclerosis and also decrease the atherogenic index.

Introduction: Infectious diseases have always been a problem, especially in the third-world countries. Due to the uncontrolled prescription of antibiotics, several bacteria developed resistance to some antimicrobial agents. One of them is Staphylococcus aureus. There is local wisdom in Indonesia to use natural products as potent antimicrobial agents. Curcuma heyneana and Graptophyllum pictum had been used by the locals in past centuries and seemed to be an effective agent for combatting infectious diseases. Therefore, we want to evaluate the activity of the combined extract of Curcuma heyneana and Graptophyllum pictum against Staphylococcus aureus.. Material and Methods: An in-vitro test by using the test tube dilution. The test tubes consisted of seven tubes; 2 control tubes and 5 experimental tubes. We used 1000mg/ml of each extract component at the highest (i.e., 1000mg/ml for Curcuma heyneana and Graptophyllum pictum, respectively). Five-times replication was conducted for each treatment. MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) were investigated after being streaked at the agar plate and incubated at 370C for 24 hours. Results: We could not determine the MIC because the colour of the combination of the extract was cloudy. The bacteria grew at all concentrations from five-times replication, except for the negative control, therefore MBC could not be obtained. Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus was not inhibited effectively by combined extract of Curcuma heyneana and Graptophyllum pictum.

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