Combination Effect of Cecendet (Physalisangulata L.) Extract and Methylprednisolone in Reducing Inflammation and Improving Renal Functions in Pristane-induced Lupus Rat Models

Abstract

Cecendet (Physalis angulata L.) is a herbal plant commonly used for traditional remedies in Indonesia to prevent inflammation in rheumatic disease. Several studies have determined that cecendet has an immunosuppressant activity towards pristane-induced lupus animal model. A preliminary study has proven that its use is safe in animals based on acute and sub-chronic toxicity tests. In management of lupus, methylprednisolone is used for primary immunosuppressant agent. This study aimed to investigate the effect of cecendet ethanolic extract in combination with methylprednisolone on inflammation, urinalysis, and serum creatinine level of rats as pristaneinduced lupus animal models. This study was conducted at the Pharmacology Laboratory of Pharmacy Faculty of Jenderal Ahmad Yani University in January 2016. Four groups of female rats were used i.e. normal group, control group, 62.5 mg/kg body weight (BW) cecendet ethanolic extract group, and group receiving 62.5 mg/kg bw cecendet ethanolic extract combined with 0.36 mg/kg body weight methylprednisolone for six weeks, followed by thirty days of 0.5 mL pristine-induced. Examinations on anti-inflammation effect, urinalysis, and serum creatinine level were performed in week 3 and 6 during the intervention. The results showed that the administration of cecendet ethanolic extract alone and in combination with methylprednisolone could inhibit inflammation and reduce proteinuria and serum creatinine level when compared to the control group.

Drug Interactions in Autoimmune Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

“…In a review of drug interactions for SLE therapy with herbs, 3 pieces of literature were obtained that analyzed the interactions. In a research study by Sheba (2019), it is explained that there are plants that can be used as herbal medicine that can help the Lupus treatment process, one of which is cecendet or Physalis angulata L. It is explained in this article that this cecendet plant contains Withangulatin A (WA) which has the ability as a good immunosuppressant so it can be used to control autoimmune diseases. In addition, WA has been proven to reduce the expression of BAFF, BAFF-R, and lymph-related genes so that it has the potential to be used to treat SLE more effectively if combined with methylprednisolone.…”