Pluchea Indica Research Articles

Formulation and Antibacterial Activity Test of Foot Spray with Beluntas Leaf Ethanol Extract (Pluchea Indica L.)

Foot odor is one of the things that is quite disruptive to appearance, the 2014 American Podiatric Medical Association studied a significant increase in the prevalence of foot odor in the community. One of the causes of foot odor is the presence of bacteria, especially the bacteria Bacillus Subtilis. This study used the ethanol extract of beluntas leaf (Pluchea Indica L.) as the active ingredient because the ethanol extract of beluntas leaf has been widely used and proven to have antibacterial activity besides the ethanol extract of beluntas leaf has a high enough compatibility to be used as a cosmetic product, including spray preparations. The spray form was chosen because of its easy and pleasant use. This study aims to make a foot odor control product in the form of a spray with 3 concentrations of beluntas leaf ethanol extract, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% to study the antibacterial activity using the well diffusion method. The results showed that the ethanol extract of beluntas leaf can be formulated into foot spray preparation with the results of the organoleptic examination of the three formulas are clear liquid, and yellow slightly green color. The pH of the preparation is in the range 5.10 -5.92. In formula 3 (F3) with a concentration of 1.5% beluntas leaf ethanol extract, it has a strong bacterial inhibition zone with an average inhibition zone diameter of 12.5 mm.

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on the Bioactive Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Microbial Contamination of <i>Pluchea indica</i> Leaves

Pluchea indica (L.) Less. leaf has a long history of being used as a food and in traditional medicines. Although gamma irradiation is an effective decontamination method, it must be performed appropriately to preserve the bioactive constituents and biological activities of the plant. This study investigated the influence of gamma irradiation on the microbial burden, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant capacity of P. indica leaf. P. indica leaf powder was exposed to gamma rays from cobalt-60 at the absorbed doses of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10 kGy. The total aerobic bacteria count and total yeast and mold were investigated using the Petrifilm method at 0 and 3 months after irradiation. After a maceration of P. indica leaf with 70% ethanol, the content of six caffeoylquinic acid derivatives (CQAs) in the extract was assayed using high-performance liquid chromatography. The antioxidant capacity of the ethanolic extract was also determined using the DPPH, ABTS, and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. Gamma irradiation at 5–10 kGy was sufficient to eradicate bacteria, yeast, and mold in P. indica leaf powder. It also increased the CQA level and the antioxidant activity of P. indica leaf extract significantly (P < 0.05). Thus, 5–10 kGy is recommended as the appropriate irradiation dose for the decontamination of P. indica leaf powder.

Chloroplast genome characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the medicinal plant Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC.

Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., a medicinal plant with high economic value in the Asteraceae family, is widely distributed in China and Southeast Asia. However, studies on the population structure or phylogenetic relationships with other related species are rare owing to the lack of genome information. In this study, through high-throughput sequencing, we found that the chloroplast genome of B. balsamifera was 151,170 bp in length, with a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb) comprising 24,982 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region comprising 82,740 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region comprising 18,466 bp. A total of 130 genes were identified in the chloroplast genome of B. balsamifera, including 85 protein-coding, 37 transfer RNA, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes; furthermore, sequence analysis identified 53 simple sequence repeats. Whole chloroplast genome comparison indicated that the inverted regions (IR) were more conserved than large single-copy and SSC regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that B. balsamifera is closely related to Pluchea indica. Conclusively, the chloroplast genome of B. balsamifera was helpful for species identification and analysis of the genetic diversity and evolution in the genus Blumea and family Asteraceae.

Chloroplast genome characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the medicinal plant Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC

Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC., a medicinal plant with high economic value in the Asteraceae family, is widely distributed in China and Southeast Asia. However, studies on the population structure or phylogenetic relationships with other related species are rare owing to the lack of genome information. In this study, through high-throughput sequencing, we found that the chloroplast genome of B. balsamifera was 151,170 bp in length, with a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb) comprising 24,982 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region comprising 82,740 bp, and a small single-copy (SSC) region comprising 18,466 bp. A total of 130 genes were identified in the chloroplast genome of B. balsamifera, including 85 protein-coding, 37 transfer RNA, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes; furthermore, sequence analysis identified 53 simple sequence repeats. Whole chloroplast genome comparison indicated that the inverted regions (IR) were more conserved than large single-copy and SSC regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that B. balsamifera is closely related to Pluchea indica. Conclusively, the chloroplast genome of B. balsamifera was helpful for species identification and analysis of the genetic diversity and evolution in the genus Blumea and family Asteraceae.

Pelatihan Pembuatan Keripik dan Nugget Daun Beluntas Beserta Pengemasan dan Pemasarannya di RT.05 RW.01 Wiyung Surabaya

Wiyung is a district in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. A long time ago, this district used to be an agricultural area. However, currently some of the area used to agricultural land has been used for the construction of residential and commercial activity areas. One of the areas in the wiyung district is RT.05 RW.01 where this area is known as quite densely population. Based on the situation analysis, in the midst of crowded housing in narrow alleys at RT.05 RW.01 Wiyung, many beluntas plants (Pluchea indica) were found growing wild in people's yards. In fact, this beluntas plant has the potential to be used as various food products which can indirectly improve the economic level of the surrounding community. Therefore, a community service program is needed to provide training on how to use the beluntas plants into processed food products, especially beluntas chips and beluntas nuggets, along with how to package and its market. The method used in this community service includes a participatory approach with survey activities and training both theoretical and practical. At the end of this community service activity, it was seen that the participants were able to process beluntas leaves into chips and nuggets along with their packaging and labeling.

The Effect of AUDI Technology with Improvement Ration on Productivity of Arab's Hen 2nd Phase

This study used the AUDI’s technology application with repair rations, aimed at increasing the productivity of Arab’s hens in the 2 nd phase. The repair ration is focused on the addition of calcium minerals. AUDI technology is a combination of water filtering technology with extract beluntas (Pluchea indica L.). The research used seventy two Arab’s hen with homogenous body weight. The study used a completely randomized design with 3 treatments, 6 replications, each replication consisting of 3 chickens. The research was conducted in 6 weeks of treatment. The parameters measured in this study were ration consumption, calcium consumption, hen day production (HDP), eggshell weight, and thickness. The results showed that the use of AUDI technology on rations significantly improved (p &lt;0.05) affected ration consumption, calcium consumption, and increased hen day production (HDP), but did not affect weight, and thickness of an eggshell. Feed intake and calcium consumption significantly influenced by differences in calcium and crude protein in the rations. Based on these results, it was found that the use of AUDI technology was able to shorten the clutch cycle in laying hens so that production still reached 60-70% equivalent with phase I. Weight and thickness of eggshells were not affected by the use of AUDI technology and improved rations because the hens used as subject had reached peak production.

PENGUJIAN EFEKTIFITAS FORMULA GEL EKSTRAK DAUN BELUNTAS (Pluchea indica (L.) Less) DENGAN VARIASI KONSENTRASI GELLING AGENT SEBAGAI KANDIDAT SEDIAAN ANTI JERAWAT

Beluntas (Pluchea indica (L.) Less) is a plant that is often used in traditional medicine because of the presence of several substances that have activity as antimicrobial compounds. Beluntas leaves contain secondary metabolite compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, steroids, terpenoids and saponins which can function as antibacterial. This experimental research aimed at obtaining beluntas leaf extract gel and to determine the physical stability and the effectiveness of beluntas extract gel against Propionibacterium acnes. The first step is drying the beluntas leaves and and extracted by maceration method with 70% ethanol solvent. The extract obtained was then formulated into a gel and evaluated, the evaluation results show that formula 1 is the most stable. The results showed that beluntas leaf extract gel was effective in inhibiting the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, the inhibition zone obtained was categorized as strong, where the average diameter before the accelerated stability test was 12.02 mm and 11.58 mm after the accelerated stability test.

OPTIMASI HPMC DAN KARBOPOL DALAM FORMULASI SEDIAAN GEL ANTISEPTIK EKSTRAK ETANOL DAUN BELUNTAS DAN AKTIVITAS ANTIBAKTERI TERHADAP Staphylococcus aureus

Beluntas leaf (Pluchea indica, L.) is one of the plants that has potential as an antibacterial, Where the leaves of Beluntas have several compounds, one of these is a flavonoid which has antibacterial activity. The aim of this research is to determine the optimum composition of HPMC and carbopol which will be formulated in the preparation of antiseptic gel ethanol extract of beluntas leaf using the SLD method. The extraction method used in this study is Maseration with ethanol as a solvent. Antiseptic gel manufacturing is done by optimizing the base of HPMC and Carbopol, Then testing the quality of the gel preparation and the results obtained that meet the requirements of the homogeneity, pH, dispersion, viscosity, consistency and stability test of the gel preparation. The optimum formula of antiseptic gel based on the simplex lattice design method is on a combination of a 4.5% HPMC base and a 0.5% carbopol. Antibacterial activity test found inhibition zone, this shows that the antiseptic gel preparation of the ethanol extract of beluntas leaves has the ability to inhibit against Staphylococcus aureus bacteria with an average diameter of the zone of inhibition by 17,66 mm.

EFFECT OF METHANOL CONCENTRATION AS A SOLVENT ON TOTAL PHENOLIC AND FLAVONOID CONTENT OF BELUNTAS LEAF EXTRACT (Pulchea indica L.)

Background: Beluntas (Pluchea indica L.) is an Indonesian plant that grows wild and is used as traditional medicine. Beluntas leaves are reported to contain phenolic, and flavonoid is a part of phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds other than flavonoids include 1,3,4,5-tetra-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and ferulic acid. Flavonoid compounds in beluntas leaves are quercetin, apigenin, luteolin and chrysoeriol. Methanol solvents are reported to be able to extract higher polyphenol and flavonoid contents than other solvents. Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of 20%, 50% and 75% solvent concentration of methanol on total phenol and total flavonoid levels of beluntas leaf extract. Methods: In this study, the extraction process was carried out by maceration, the determination of total phenol content was carried out by the Follin-Ciocalteu method. Determination of total flavonoid levels was carried out by the Colorimetric method. Data on phenol and flavonoid levels were analyzed statistically. Results: The yield of beluntas leaf extract in this study was respectively from the lowest methanol concentration of 24.094% w/w, 31.126% w/w, 24.838% w/w. The value of total phenol levels increased with increasing methanol concentration, namely 124.84 mg GAE/g, 138.3 mg GAE/g, and 147.91 mg GAE/g. The highest total flavonoid value in 75% methanol extract is 69.72 mg QE/g, followed by 20% methanol extract at 46.29 mg QE/g and the lowest is found in 50% methanol extract at 32.80 mg QE/g. The results of statistical analysis using the Kruskal-Wallis test showed that there were significant differences (p&lt;0.05) in the value of total phenol levels and total flavonoids of the three extracts. Conclusion: The difference in the concentration of methanol solvents affects the value of total phenol levels and total flavonoids with the highest value produced by a 75% methanol solvent.&#x0D; Keywords: Beluntas Leaves (Pluchea indica L.), Total Phenol Content, Total Flavonoid Content, Gallic Acid, Quercetin.

Komposisi Asam Lemak dan Kadar Malondialdehida Daging Itik Lokal yang diberi Antioksidan Alami

Cihateup duck is one of the local Indonesian poultry from West Java. These ducks are raised inTasikmalaya and Garut. Cihateup duck has the potential to produce meat, but duck meat has beenconsidered to have off-odor. components off-odor formed when the fatty acids are oxidized. A studywith the aim to protect unsaturated fatty acids in local duck meat from oxidation using Pluchea indicaLess (beluntas) and Cosmos caudatus (kenikir) in feed as the source of natural antioxidants. The studyused was complete randomized design (RAL) with 7 treatments and 5 replications. The treatment wasPluchea indica Less or Cosmos caudatus powder with the duration of administration 1, 2 or 3 weeksbefore the age of harvest (10 weeks). Ducks used were 35 heads of Cihateup duck. Variables observedwere moisture content, fat content, Malondialdehyde (MDA), composition of fatty acid, and sensorycharacteristic of duck meat. The results showed that the effect of Pluchea indica Less or Cosmos caudatuswere not significant on moisture content and fat content. The effect of Pluchea indica Less or Cosmoscaudatus on MDA, composition of fatty acid, and and off-odor intensities of duck meat during cookingwas significantly different (P&lt;0.05). It was concluded that this addition of Pluchea indica Less for 3 weeksor Cosmos caudatus for 2 weeks could lower off-odor on local duck meat.

Antibacterial Activity of Beluntas (Pluchea indica L.) Leaves Extract using Different Extraction Methods

Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis are bacteria that cause disease in the digestive tract. Pluchea indica L. had the pharmacological activity of antiseptic power against bacteria that cause digestive tract infections because of contained antibacterial compounds. The study on the comparison of extraction methods will enable the public to choose a better extraction method to use as an antibacterial agent. This study aimed to identify the content of antibacterial compounds in Pluche indica L. and to determine the antibacterial ability of Pluche indica L. extract using maceration, percolation, and soxhletation methods. The results showed that Pluchea indica L. contains flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and tannins. The highest diameter inhibition of Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis was obtained from Pluchea indica L. leaves extract extracted by using the Soxhletation method.

The Free Radical Scavenging and Anti-Isolated Human LDL Oxidation Activities of Pluchea indica (L.) Less. Tea Compared to Green Tea (Camellia sinensis).

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Camellia sinensis tea (CST) or green tea is widely regarded as a potent antioxidant. In Thailand, Pluchea indica (L.) Less. tea (PIT) has been commercially available as a health-promoting drink. This study focused on free radical scavenging activities of PIT, and its ability to protect isolated human low-density lipoproteins (LDL) from oxidation by chemical agents. A preliminary study to investigate the antioxidant nature of PIT was undertaken. These included common antioxidant assays involving 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), hypochlorous acid (HOCl), and its potential to scavenge peroxynitrite. In separated experiments, isolated human LDL was challenged with either 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH), copper (Cu2+), or 3-Morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1) to induce LDL oxidation. PIT exhibited antioxidant activity in all test systems and performed significantly better than CST in both DPPH (P < 0.05; IC50PIT = 245.85 ± 15.83 and CST = 315.41 ± 24.18 μg/ml) and peroxynitrite scavenging assays. PIT at 75 μg/ml almost fully prevented the peroxynitrite over a 5 h period. Moreover, it displayed similar properties to CST during the antioxidation of isolated human LDL using AAPH, Cu2+, SIN-1, and hypochlorous acid scavenging assays. However, it revealed a significantly lower ABTS scavenging activity than CST (P < 0.05; IC50PIT = 30.47 ± 2.20 and CST = 21.59 ± 0.67 μg/ml). The main constituents of the PIT were identified using LC-MS/MS. It contained 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4-CQ), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQ), 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,4-CQ), 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-CQ), and 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4,5-CQ). In conclusion, caffeoyl derivatives in PIT could play an important role in potent antioxidant properties. So, it may be further developed to be antioxidant beverages for preventing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Pengamatan hasil olahan daun beluntas (Pluchea indica L.) terhadap sifat fisika dan kimianya

This study was carried out to determine some bioactive phytochemicals in beluntas commonly consumed in Java, Indonesia. It is also to know the effect of fruit processing forward its phytochemicals content. This research comprised two steps including qualitative and quantitative test. The result of qualitative test showed that Pluchea indica L containing of alkaloid and polyphenols. Based on its polyphenols content, Pluchea indica L boiled was the best treatment. The light green variety has total polyphenol value 83,113 mg/g with the brightness (L*) and the greeness (a) value are 46,400 and 2,967. Furthermore, the fresh pluchea indica leaf has total polyphenol value 39,135mg/g with the brightness (L*) and the greeness (a) value are 46,067 and 2, respectively. Fruit processing intervariety of Pluchea indica L did not give significant effect on water content. Besides, variety and fruit processing did not give significant effect on colour (b). The solute n-hexane to analize with thin layer chromatography indicated that this bolied pluchea iindica leaf content terpenoid compound. Bioactive phytochemicals are widely distributed in these foods, although their concentrations are variable among the different types of fruits. These results indicate that this fruits may provide a potential source of dietary antioxidant as a functional food.

Biological Activities and Optimal Conditions for Making Khlu Tea

This research aims to study the biological activities of Khlu (Pluchea indica (L) Less) for the development of herbal tea. The leaves of Khlu were analyzed, including proximal composition using the AOAC method, antioxidant by DPPH radical scavenging assay, and total phenolic content by Folin-Ciocalteu's method. The sensory quality assessment of Khlu tea with randomized complete block design (RCBD). The mean was analyzed for the variance of ANOVA and analyzed for the difference of mean values using LSD method. The results showed that the fresh and dried leaves of methanol extract were showed the optimal of the DPPH values and the highest of total phenolic content. The optimal condition for the process of making Khlu tea was the temperature at 70 °C for 7 hours. The scores of sensory evaluation in terms of appearance, color, aroma, flavor (astringent) and overall were 7.37 ± 1.22, 7.23 ± 1.16, 6.97 ± 1.30, 7.00 ± 1.14 and 7.63 ± 1.10, respectively. These represent the potential of food crops for food sustainable use of biodiversity.

Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities in ‘Beluntas’ (Pluchea indica), Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Their Mixtures

Traditional medicine provides us essential guidance on herbal remedies with approaching health preservation methods. In this paper, we present the relevant prescriptions related to ‘Beluntas’ (Pluchea indica) and Turmeric (Curcuma longa) ingredients mentions in Malay Manuscript Code MSS 2802. In this study, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in the mixture of P. indica and C. longa and their individual plants were studied based on prescription captured. Antimicrobial activities were performed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in vitro by micro dilution method and disk diffusion method. The observation from MIC and MBC show that the mixture of both plants has the highest ability to inhibit S. aureus followed by P. indica and C. longa. Meanwhile, at concentration of 2000 mg/mL, the inhibition zone of P. indica, C. longa, and mixture of both plants showed significantly different (p <0.05) with the values of 12.67±0.58, 6.33±0.58 and 10.16±0.58 mm, respectively. In this study, the antioxidant activities of P. indica, C. longa, and their mixture was measured the DPPH scavenging activity, FRAP and TPC. The DPPH scavenging activity showed that P. indica has significantly highest antioxidant ability among all the samples as it IC50 is the lowest with 379.822 µg/mL. In FRAP and TPC methods, P. indica also exhibited the significant highest antioxidant followed by their mixture and C. longa. In conclusion, this herb remedy may be considered as an alternative medicinal treatment that have competent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. However, the formulation for the mixture of both plants need to further investigate.

Treatment with Pluchea indica (L.) Less. leaf ethanol extract alleviates liver injury in multiple low‑dose streptozotocin‑induced diabetic BALB/c mice

Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and inflammation are hallmarks of liver damage in diabetes mellitus. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that Pluchea indica leaf ethanol extract (PILE) possesses strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, studies of its effects on liver damage in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic animals remain insufficient. To the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to illustrate that PILE mitigated liver injury in STZ animals. Mice were first pretreated with PILE at either 50 mg/kg (PILE 50) or 100 mg/kg (PILE 100) 2 weeks prior to the induction of hyperglycemia by multiple low doses of STZ. The mice were then fed with PILE 50 or PILE 100 for 4 or 8 weeks, following which liver weight, pathological changes, oxidative stress parameters, inflammation-related markers and caspase-mediated apoptosis were measured at each time point. Untreated STZ mice exhibited abnormal increases in liver weight and severe pathological changes. However, PILE 100 reduced the severity of the STZ-induced diabetic phenotype at both time points. A significant decrease in the levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase, in addition to an increase in malondialdehyde, were observed in the livers of untreated STZ mice, all of which were significantly reversed by treatment with PILE 100 for 8 weeks. Western blot analysis revealed reduced levels of liver inflammatory markers, including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, NF-κB p65, transforming growth factor-β1 and protein kinase C following PILE 100 treatment. Additionally, changes in the levels of apoptotic markers indicated that PILE 100 significantly attenuated caspase-9 and -3 expression, whilst preserving that of the Bcl-2 protein. In conclusion, the present study revealed that PILE alleviates hyperglycemia-induced liver injury by normalizing the various mediators of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Prominent genetic structure across native and introduced ranges of Pluchea indica, a mangrove associate, as revealed by microsatellite markers

AbstractAimsPluchea indica is a mangrove-associate species, known for its medicinal properties in its native range and being invasive in part of its introduced range. This study aimed to assess geographic distribution of genetic variation of this species across its distribution range, identify the factors influencing its genetic structure and use this information to suggest conservation and management strategies in its native and introduced ranges, respectively.MethodsWe assessed the genetic diversity and population structure of 348 individuals from 31 populations across its native (Asia) and introduced (USA) ranges for 15 nuclear microsatellite loci. The spatial pattern of genetic variation was investigated at both large and regional spatial scales with the hypothesis that geographic distance and natural geographic barriers would influence the population structure with varying levels of differentiation across spatial scales.Important FindingsWe found relatively high genetic diversity at the population level and pronounced genetic differentiation in P. indica, as compared with the genetic diversity parameters of mangroves and mangrove associates in this region. Most of the populations showed heterozygote deficiency, primarily due to inbreeding and impediment of gene flow. Analysis of population structures at large spatial scale revealed the presence of two major clusters across the species’ natural range separating populations in China from those in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Philippines, and that the USA population might have been introduced from the population cluster in China. Genetic differentiation between populations was also observed at the regional scale. A large number of populations showed evidence of genetic bottleneck, thereby emphasizing the risk of local extinction. Based on these findings, our study recommends in situ conservation strategies, such as to prioritize populations for conservation actions and to maintain genetic diversity.

The Identification of Morphological and Anatomical Structures of Pluchea indica

This current research aimed at identifying the morphological and anatomical structures of Pluchea indica, specifically in root, stem, leaf, and flower of its. A descriptive approach was applied to this research and was conducted at Biology Laboratory of University of Muhammadiyah Malang from July to August 2019. The identification of morphological structure, furthermore, was focused on the characteristics of root, stem, leaf, and flower organ. In addition, the identification of anatomical structure was through a transverse incision in each organ by means of fresh preparation, safranin coloration, and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The collected data were analyzed descriptively and quantitatively. The identification of morphological structure in the organs was referred to a book entitled Morfologi Tumbuhan (Plant Morphology) by Tjitrosoepomo (2007); while the anatomical identification was referring to a book of Anatomi Tumbuhan (Plant Anatomy) by Fahn (1995). The result of the identification has indicated that Pluchea indica possesses the following morphological characteristics: 1) the leaves are light green, with trichomes in their upper and lower sides; 2) the length of branches signifies 1 cm in average, located at crisscrossing points and in a form of abovatus; 3) the tip of the leaves (apex folli) is sharp-formed (acanthus), with serrated pattern at the edge of the leaves (margo folli); 3) the base of the leaves (basic folli) is blunted (obsitus) and the structure of the leaf bones (nervatio) is pinnate-formed (penninervis), with oval-shaped leaf blades and parchment-like intervenium; and 4) the stem is in a round form with monopodial branches, taproot, and capitulum inflorescent. Further, with the reference to the anatomical structure of the stem and root, there have been found epidermal tissue, cortex, xylem and phloem, sclerenchyma, and pith. The modification on stomatal epidermis is in a form of kidney with two buffer cells of 13.6 μm in length and 9.82μm in width. Meanwhile, the porous length and width consecutively signify 9.02 μm and 1.32 μm, with glandular trichomes of 551 μm long in average and 39.6 μm wide in average.

Structure-based discovery of novel inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis CYP121 from Indonesian natural products

Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a serious global health threat with the emergence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extremely drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). There is an urgent need to discover new drugs to deal with the advent of drug-resistant TB variants. This study aims to find new M. tuberculosis CYP121 inhibitors by the screening of Indonesian natural products using the principle of structure-based drug design and discovery. In this work, eight natural compounds isolated from Rhoeo spathacea and Pluchea indica were selected based on their antimycobacterial activity. Derivatives compound were virtually designed from these natural molecules to improve the interaction of ligands with CYP121. Virtual screening of ligands was carried out using AutoDock Vina followed by 50 ns molecular dynamics simulation using YASARA to study the inhibition mechanism of the ligands. Two ligands, i.e., kaempferol (KAE) and its benzyl derivative (KAE3), are identified as the best CYP121 inhibitors based on their binding affinities and adherence to the Lipinski’s rule. Results of molecular dynamics simulation indicate that KAE and KAE3 possess a unique inhibitory mechanism against CYP121 that is different from GGJ (control ligand). The control ligand alters the overall dynamics of the receptor, which is indicated by changes in residue flexibility away from CYP121 binding site. Meanwhile, the dynamic changes caused by the binding of KAE and KAE3 are isolated around the binding site of CYP121. These ligands can be developed for further potential biological activities.

Pluchea indica (L.) Less. Tea Ameliorates Hyperglycemia, Dyslipidemia, and Obesity in High Fat Diet-Fed Mice.

Pluchea indica (L.) Less. (P. indica) tea has been used for a health-promoting drink, especially in Southeast Asia. The effect of P. indica tea (PIT) on amelioration of hyperglycemia; dyslipidemia that was total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG); and obesity in high fat diet-induced (HFD) mice was investigated. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) displayed that PIT at 400 and 600 mg/kg orally ameliorated hyperglycemia with a dose-dependent manner compared to the untreated group. Moreover, PIT at these dosages exhibited significantly lower TC, LDL-C, TG, and perigonadal fat weight in HFD treated mice compared to HFD mice (P < 0.05) with a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, HDL-C was higher than in the HFD group, but not a significant difference (P > 0.05). The PIT chemical analysis results demonstrated that PIT contained total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid (4-CQ), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQ), 3,4-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,4-CQ), 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (3,5-CQ), 4,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid (4,5-CQ), beta-caryophyllene, and gamma-gurjunene that may play an important role in inhibiting hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. Also, histological analysis expressed that the mean area and amount of perigonadal fat adipocytes of PIT treated groups were significantly lower and higher than the HFD group (P < 0.05), respectively. The toxicity test of PIT at 600 mg/kg/day in mice showed that serum creatinine, alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and complete blood count (CBC) levels of HFD and PIT treated groups were not significantly different compared to the normal control diet group (NCD) (P > 0.05). These results suggest that PIT does not become toxic to the kidney, liver, and blood. In conclusion, PIT has the potential to develop into healthy food supplement or medicine for the prevention and treatment of hyperglycemic, hyperlipidemic, and obese patients.