Review of the pharmacological properties of marine macroalgae used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus in Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, with 70% of its territory covered by oceans that are rich in various types of biological resources. Indonesia's biodiversity has made it possible to develop natural medicine. Marine algae have enormous potential, but the types of marine algae used still need to be more varied. Research on the pharmacology of marine macroalgae has been conducted in Indonesia, but studies on such topic related to diabetes mellitus (DM) still need to be completed. This study provides a comprehensive dataset of pharmacological anti-diabetic potential of marine macroalgae used for managing DM and reports on preclinical trials that provide pharmacological evidence. Data on the Indonesian marine macroalgae used to lower blood glucose were obtained from online sources. The bioactive chemicals of marine macroalgae have been found efficient at blocking several diabetes enzymes in in-vivo and in-vitro studies, and such chemicals have anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antioxidant, and other therapeutic benefits. The Google Scholar was used to search for the pharmacological literature with the keywords marine AND macroalgae AND diabetes AND Indonesia. Pharmacological research on the anti-diabetic activity of marine macroalgae has been carried out on five major Indonesian islands, including Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Sulawesi, and Papua, which encompassed 12 provinces: Southwest Papua, South Sulawesi, West Kalimantan, Riau Archipelago, Banten, West Java, North Sulawesi, East Java, Yogyakarta, Maluku, Jakarta, and Bengkulu. Articles on preclinical tests (in vitro and in vivo) were also used for the phytochemical problem section. The results briefly describe which class of algae has been widely used in Indonesia as an anti-diabetic. The findings of this research can be utilized to help find DM treatment drugs based on natural resources from marine macroalgae.

Acute and Subchronic Oral Toxicity Evaluation of Herbal Formulation: Piper crocatum Ruiz and Pav., Typhonium flagelliforme (Lodd.) Blume, and Phyllanthus niruri L. in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Background

The product combination of Piper crocatum Ruiz. and Pav., Phyllanthus niruri Linn., and Typhonium flagelliforme (Lodd.) BL ethanolic extract (SKM) exerts immunomodulatory activity. However, the toxicity profile of the combination has never been investigated.

Objective

This study aimed to establish the acute toxicity profile of the SKM product on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and its subchronic toxicity profile on female SD rats.

Method

The acute and subchronic toxicity tests were conducted in accordance with OECD 423 and OECD 408, respectively.

Result

The SKM product was safe up to 5000 mg/kg b.w. in male and female SD rats. In repeated doses of SKM for 90 days, the administration of 22.5, 45, and 90 mg/kg b.w. per day of the SKM product to female SD rats did not affect clinical signs, body weight, food and water consumption, hematological parameters, clinical chemical parameters, urinalysis, relative organ weights, and gross pathological and histopathological features compared with the control group.

Conclusion

Analyses of these results suggest that the long-term oral administration of the SKM product for 90 days does not cause subchronic toxicity.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Cermai Leaves (Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels) Ethanol Extract on Normal Male Rats and Cyclophosphamide Induction

BACKGROUND: Ethanol extract of Phyllanthus acidus (L.) Skeels leaf contains flavonoids and saponins that were widely used as herbal medicinal plant. The present study focused on exploring the biological potential as well as immunomodulatory effects. AIM: The present study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of P. acidus extract on total and differential leukocyte count, antibody titer, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in normal male rats, and immunosuppressed male rats. METHODS: P. acidus extract was obtained by maceration technique by using ethanol as a solvent. Standardization of P. acidus and phytochemical screening includes examination of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, and steroids/triterpenoids. The trial animals were male rats which were divided into two large groups, namely normal group and immunosuppressed group. All animals were given extract on the 1st day until day 14, on 4th day the animals were infected with 2% sheep red blood cells. Immunosuppressed rats were injected by 70 mg/kg bw cyclophosphamide on 8th and 13th day. The immunomodulatory effect was analyzed by evaluating total leukocytes, leukocyte differential, antibody titer, and DTH. RESULTS: Phytochemicals screenings were showed alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, and steroids/triterpenoids from P. acidus extract. P. acidus extract showed an immunomodulatory activity on normal male rats and immunosuppressed male rats. The result was shown from the increasing of total leukocyte count and leukocyte differential, antibody titer value, and the volume of rat paws were higher than negative control (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the P. acidus extract had immunomodulatory effects and its potential to be developed as immunomodulator agent.

Jujube Powder Enhances Cyclophosphamide Efficiency against Murine Colon Cancer by Enriching CD8+ T Cells While Inhibiting Eosinophilia

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is widely applied in cancer treatment. However, the outcome is often compromised by lymphopenia, myelosuppression, and gut dysbiosis. Here, we used jujube powder to enhance CTX efficiency through nurturing gut microbiota in order to facilitate favorable metabolisms. It was observed that the oral administration of jujube powder enriched CD8⁺ T cells in mouse MC38 colon tumor microenvironment and increased the diversity of gut microbiota and the abundance of Bifidobacteriales, which is helpful to the production of butyrate in the cecum content. The application of jujube powder also stimulated the production of white blood cells, especially CD8⁺ T cells in peripheral and bone marrow, while inhibiting the growth of eosinophils in peripheral blood and the production of IL-7 and GM-CSF in serum. All these are conductive to the significant inhibition of the tumor growth, suggesting the high potential of nurturing gut microbiota with natural products for improving the efficiency of chemotherapy.