Curcuma species (family: Zingiberaceae) are widely utilized in traditional medicine to treat diverse immune-related disorders. There have been many scientific studies on their immunomodulating effects to support their ethnopharmacological uses. In this review, the efficacy of six Curcuma species, namely, C. longa L., C. zanthorrhiza Roxb., C. mangga Valeton & Zijp, C. aeruginosa Roxb. C. zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe, and C. amada Roxb., and their bioactive metabolites to modulate the immune system, their mechanistic effects, and their potential to be developed into effective and safe immunomodulatory agents are highlighted. Literature search has been carried out extensively to gather significant findings on immunomodulating activities of these plants. The immunomodulatory effects of Curcuma species were critically analyzed, and future research strategies and appropriate perspectives on the plants as source of new immunomodulators were discussed. Most of the pharmacological investigations to evaluate their immunomodulatory effects were in vivo and in vitro experiments on the crude extracts of the plants. The extracts were not chemically characterized or standardized. Of all the Curcuma species investigated, the immunomodulatory effects of C. longa were the most studied. Most of the bioactive metabolites responsible for the immunomodulating activities were not determined, and mechanistic studies to understand the underlying mechanisms were scanty. There are limited clinical studies to confirm their efficacy in human. Of all the bioactive metabolites, only curcumin is undergoing extensive clinical trials based on its anti-inflammatory properties and main use as an adjuvant for the treatment of cancer. More in-depth studies to understand the underlying mechanisms using experimental in vivo animal models of immune-related disorders and elaborate bioavailability, preclinical pharmacokinetics, and toxicity studies are required before clinical trials can be pursued for development into immunomodulatory agents.
Red onion is known as one of spices, and it also benefits for human health evidently. Previous study that red onion has a beneficial for cardiovascular disease, including hypocholesterolaemic Red onion contains flavonoids. The extract of red onion decreased serum total cholesterol level of rats, which is mediated by quercetin. Quercetin could be increased by fermentation as one of the new methods in drug discovery, so the biological activity also increases through fermentation. This study aimed to antihypercholesterolaemic activity of red onion fermented extract. Twenty five rats were divided in 5 groups; 2 controls [negative and positive control (atorvastatin)] with treatment groups (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg bw of fermented red onion extract. Rats were given atherogenic feed until hypercholesterolaemic All groups were given an atherogenic feed until hypercholesterolaemic. Total cholesterol of rats measured on the 7th, 14th and 21st day after they rats were treated by red onion fermented extract. Data analysed by ANOVA and continued by post hoc Duncan. All doses of red onion fermented extract decreased total cholesterol level of rats and dose of 200 mg/kg showed the strongest effect. Write the expectation for future fermented red onion has potential as a new agent cardiovascular health.
Zingiber and Alpinia species (family: Zingiberaceae) are popularly used in food as spices and flavoring agents and in ethnomedicine to heal numerous diseases, including immune-related disorders. However, their ethnomedicinal uses have not been sufficiently supported by scientific investigations. Numerous studies on the modulating effects of plants and their bioactive compounds on the different steps of the immune system have been documented. This review aimed to highlight up-to-date research findings and critically analyze the modulatory effects and mechanisms of the extracts and secondary compounds of several Zingiber and Alpinia species, namely, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Z. cassumunar Roxb., Z. zerumbet (L.) Roscoe ex Sm., Alpinia galanga Linn., A. conchigera Griff, A. katsumadai Hayata, A. oxyphylla Miq., A. officinarum Hance, A. zerumbet (Pers.) Burtt. et Smith, and A. purpurata (Viell.) K. Schum. on the immune system, particularly via the inflammation-related signaling pathways. The immunomodulating activities of the crude extracts of the plants have been reported, but the constituents contributing to the activities have mostly not been identified. Among the extracts, Z. officinale extracts were the most investigated for their in vitro, in vivo, and clinical effects on the immune system. Among the bioactive metabolites, 6-, 8-, and 10-gingerols, 6-shogaol, and zerumbone from Zingiber species and cardamomin, 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate, yakuchinone, rutin, 1,8-cineole, and lectin from Alpinia species have demonstrated strong immunomodulating effects. More experimental studies using cell and animal models of immune-related disorders are necessary to further understand the underlying mechanisms, together with elaborate preclinical pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, bioavailability, and toxicity studies. Many of these extracts and secondary metabolites are potential candidates for clinical development in immunomodulating agents or functional foods to prevent and treat chronic inflammatory disorders.
Introduction: Allium cepa extract has been reported to have anti-hypercholesterolemic activity in rats. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of standardized fermented A. cepa L. var aggregatum extract on cholesterol levels and HMG-CoA reductase enzyme. Methods: The fermented A. cepa extract was standardized by the presence of quercetin using a validated high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The activity of the extract on HMG-CoA reductase was determined using HMG-CoA Assay kits, then measured by Nano spectrophotometry. In vivo study was conducted in hypercholesterolemic rats. The extract was administered orally at doses of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight (bw) to rats for 21 days and the cholesterol levels were measured every week. Results: All doses of fermented A. cepa extract and its marker compound, quercetin, ameliorated the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as compared to those of negative control (P<0.05). Of all the doses, fermented A. cepa extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg bw displayed the highest reduction in LDL-C levels. In addition, the extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg bw showed the strongest enhancement in HDL-C levels. The fermented A. cepa extract and quercetin also inhibited the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme with inhibitory activity of 61.78%. Conclusion: The ethanol extract of fermented A. cepa shows anti-hypercholesterolemic activity. The strong anti-hypercholesterolemic activity of the extract might be due to the high amounts of quercetin, although other constituents may also contribute.
Lack of understanding of hypertension and its prevention in the community and still lack of health checks such as blood pressure and cholesterol checks so that the need and importance of community service in order to prevent comorbid diseases Covid-19. One way to prevent Covid-19 comorbid disease is to educate about hypertension, symptoms / signs and prevention against hypertension so that the public knows more about hypertension and can prevent suffering from hypertension, as well as free health checks that include blood pressure and cholesterol checks in the community in Jati Karya village, North Binjai sub-district and this is the purpose of this community service activity. Active Participant Community Based conducted in the form of training with the Active Participants Learning method and conducted health examinations including blood pressure and cholesterol checks, as well as monitoring and evaluation activities of community service. The results of the pre-test and post-test analysis based on the T-test showed a significant increase in patient knowledge (p<0.05).
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