Ratu Safitri

Suppression of dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice by zerumbone, a subtropical ginger sesquiterpene, and nimesulide: separately and in combination

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohns disease are inflammatory disorders of unknown cause and difficult to treat, though some synthetic chemicals, including ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), are anticipated to be useful drugs. In contrast, few food phytochemicals have been reported to suppress colitis in animal models. The present study was undertaken to explore the suppressive efficacy of zerumbone (ZER), a sesquiterpenoid present in the rhizome of Zingiber zerumbet Smith that is used as a condiment in Southeast Asian countries and known to be a potent suppressant of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in cell culture systems. Acute colitis was induced by exposing female ICR mice to 5% DSS in drinking water for 1 week. One week prior to DSS administration, the experimental mice were fed ZER alone, nimesulide (NIM, a selective COX-2 inhibitor) alone, or both in combination (1000 ppm each) for a total of 2 weeks. Inflammatory biomarkers, i.e. interleukin (IL)-1alpha and IL-1beta, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and prostaglandin (PG)E(2) and PGF(2alpha) in colonic mucosa were quantified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in conjunction with histological alterations. Oral feeding of ZER significantly lowered the levels of IL-1beta [inhibitory rate (IR)=34%], TNF-alpha (IR=29%), and PGE(2) (IR=73%) and suppressed DSS-induced colitis, whereas NIM suppressed the histological changes induced by DSS without affecting inflammatory biomarkers. However, their treatment in combination was most effective for suppressing these biomarkers. Our results suggest that ZER is a novel food factor for mitigating experimental UC and that use of a combination of agents, with different modes of actions, may be an effective anti-inflammatory strategy.

Chemoprevention of azoxymethane-induced rat aberrant crypt foci by dietary zerumbone isolated from Zingiber zerumbet

The modifying effects of dietary feeding of zerumbone isolated from Zingiber zerumbet on the development of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were investigated in male F344 rats. Expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in colonic mucosa exposed to AOM and/or zerumbone was also assayed. In addition, we assessed the effects of zerumbone on cell proliferation activity of crypts by counting silver-stained nucleolar organizer regions protein (AgNORs) in colonic cryptal cell nuclei. To induce ACF rats were given three weekly subcutaneous injections of AOM (15 mg/kg body weight). They were also fed the experimental diet containing 0.01% or 0.05% zerumbone for 5 weeks, starting one week before the first dosing of AOM. AOM exposure produced 84+/-13 ACF/rat at the end of the study (week 5). Dietary administration of zerumbone caused reduction in the frequency of ACF: 72+/-17 (14% reduction) at a dose of 0.01% and 45+/-18 (46% reduction, p<0.001) at a dose of 0.05%. Feeding of zerumbone significantly reduced expression of COX-2 and prostaglandins in colonic mucosa. Zerumbone feeding significantly lowered the number of AgNORs in colonic crypt cell nuclei. These findings might suggest possible chemopreventive ability of zerumbone, through suppression of COX-2 expression, cell proliferating activity of colonic mucosa, and induction of phase II detoxification enzymes in the development of carcinogen-induced ACF.

Iron chelating activity of Caesalpinia sappan L. extract on iron status in iron overload rats (Rattus norvegicus L.)

Sappanwood (Caesalpinia sappan L.) is already known as an anti chelating iron property by its flavonoids and brazilin compounds in iron overload rats (Rattus norvegicus L.) model. However, its optimal dosage need to be determine of optimizing its effect. The purpose of this study was to determine the dose of sappanwood extract as iron chelating agents. This study was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) of 27 Wistar rats. The rats were divided into nine groups: rats were given aquades as negative control 1 (KN1), CMC as a control 2 (KN2), iron dextran dose of 60 mg · kg−1 bw (body weight) (KP) as positive control, iron dextran with deferiprone dose of 75 mg · kg−1 bw (P1), iron dextran with sappanwood extract dose 100 mg · kg−1 bw (P2), 200 mg · kg−1 bw (P3), 300 mg · kg−1 bw (P4), and 400 mg · kg−1 bw (P5), iron dextran with a dose of 400 mg · kg−1 bw (satellite) (P6) and, administered orally for 28 days treatment. The iron status such as ferritin, transferrin, iron liver, serum iron, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation were measured. The data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) with the level of confidence interval (CI) 95 % (α = 0.05) and difference then tested using Duncan multiple range test (MRT). The results showed that sappanwood extract at dose 200 mg · kg−1 bw can decrease ferritin, iron liver, and iron serum as 24.9 %, 54.08 %, 38.9 % and increased transferrin saturation, transferrin level, and TIBC as 78.22 %, 102.27 % respectively. This dose was evaluated as the most effective iron chelating propertiesSappanwood (Caesalpinia sappan L.) is already known as an anti chelating iron property by its flavonoids and brazilin compounds in iron overload rats (Rattus norvegicus L.) model. However, its optimal dosage need to be determine of optimizing its effect. The purpose of this study was to determine the dose of sappanwood extract as iron chelating agents. This study was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) of 27 Wistar rats. The rats were divided into nine groups: rats were given aquades as negative control 1 (KN1), CMC as a control 2 (KN2), iron dextran dose of 60 mg · kg−1 bw (body weight) (KP) as positive control, iron dextran with deferiprone dose of 75 mg · kg−1 bw (P1), iron dextran with sappanwood extract dose 100 mg · kg−1 bw (P2), 200 mg · kg−1 bw (P3), 300 mg · kg−1 bw (P4), and 400 mg · kg−1 bw (P5), iron dextran with a dose of 400 mg · kg−1 bw (satellite) (P6) and, administered orally for 28 days treatment. The iron status such as ferritin, transferrin, iron liver, serum iron, Tot...

Potency of probiotic bacteria from noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L.) as anti-Helicobacter pylori agent

Helicobacter pylori is often found in patients with chronic gastritis despite standard medical treatment with antacids and antibiotics. Traditionally, noni fruit used for gastritis treatment and as a source of probiotics are able to compete with pathogenic bacteria H. pilory. This study was conducted to characterize the probiotics from noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia L.) as an anti H. pylori caused gastritis and gastric cancer with two stages: I. isolation and identification of candidate probiotic bacteria; and II. characterization of potential probiotic candidates as anti H. pylori. Identification of bacteria is conducted with the API test and analysis of 16S rDNA, while the characterization of anti H. pylori probiotics included acidic pH resistance tests, bile salts resistance test, antimicrobial test (inhibition zone) and the probiotic bacteria adhesion test against H. pylori. The study was descriptive and experimental. The research design used was a completely randomized design factorial pattern and th...