Mae Sri Hartati Wahyuningsih

Antidiabetic Effect of Rosella-Stevia Tea on Prediabetic Women in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

ABSTRACT Background: Rosella tea (Hibiscuss sabdariffa. Linn) with stevia sweetener (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is a combined herbal drink that is expected to have antidiabetic effect by lowering glucose levels in people with diabetes and prediabetes. This research investigates the effect of rosella-stevia tea to decrease fasting blood glucose (FBG) and 2 hours postprandial blood glucose (2-hour postprandial BG) level in prediabetic women. Method: This is quasi-experimental research with control and treatment (rosella-stevia tea) group. Each group consists of 12 prediabetic women aged 30–60 years. Rosella-stevia tea (5 g rosella powder, 125 mg stevia sweetener) was administered to the treatment group twice a day for 14 days. Result: Rosella-stevia tea consumption affects blood glucose levels. Rosella-stevia tea consumption significantly lowered the FBG level (from 111.25 ± 7.20 mg/dL to 88.58 ± 13.19 mg/dL; p < 0.01) but not the 2-hour postprandial BG level (from 123.25 ± 37.61 mg/dL to 106.92 ± 18.82 mg/dL). There are no significant differences in the control group (FBG level from 106.00 ± 5.27 mg/dL to 102.08 ± 8.36, and 2-hour postprandial BG level from 119.83 ± 16.43 mg/dL to 128.00 ± 23.54 mg/dL). Conclusion: Rosella-stevia tea consumption can lower the FBG level but not the 2-hour postprandial BG level in prediabetic women.

The effect of combined doxorubicin and Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burk. on apoptosis induction in human breast cancer cell

Chemotherapy for breast cancer is largely ineffective, but innovative combinations of chemotherapeutic agents and natural compounds represent a promising strategy. In our present study, the combination of Doxorubicin (Dox) and ethanol extract of Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burk. tuber was found to have a synergistic effect on T47D human breast cancer cell line. In this study, we investigated the apoptotic effect of the combination on T47D human breast cancer cells and normal fibroblasts cell line and its effects on the expression of Caspase-3 and cleaved poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 (cPARP-1) protein. Methods: T47D cell lines and fibroblasts cells were treated with the combination of Dox and ethanol extract of Dioscorea esculenta (Lour.) Burk. Apoptotic effect of the combination was determined using flow cytometry assay. Protein expressions were determined by immunocytochemistry staining. Results: The percentage of apoptotic cells were significantly higher in T47D cell lines (77.78 %) than that of in fi...