Objective: This study aims to document ethnomedicinal plants used in the traditional treatment of malaria in some areas of Malaka District in West Timor, Indonesia. Methods: Semi-structured questionnaire interviews and focused group discussion were used to gather ethnomedicine data from traditional healers and people who know about traditional medicines. The study involved 38 informants, 30 women and 8 men, aged between 32-90 years, from 10 villages in 4 sub-districts. Results: A total of 44 plants species belonging to 25 families used for the treatment of malaria in some area of Malaka. Calotropis gigantea, Cleome rutidosperma, and Physalis angulata were the most cited for oral administration. Jatropha curcas, Garuga floribunda, and Calotropis gigantea were the most used by massage method. For the bathing method of treatment, Tamarindus indica was the most cited. Conclusion: Indigenous people of Malaka in West Timor have a culture of ethnomedicine for malaria treatments that is mainly based on local plants, and is transmitted from one generation to the next by oral instructions.

Traditional medicine is a term imposed on pre-scientific medical systems, and defines as a sum total of knowledge, skills and practices based on theories, beliefs and experiences of different cultural customs used in health care, disease prevention and increased physical and mental performance, which have been used for generations from one generation to the next [3,4]. Malaria is an ancient disease that has not been fully eradicated until this time [5]. Since long time ago, malaria was the main infectious disease that often attacks Timorese people, especially in Belu and Malaka Districts in West Timor (Indonesia). Several old manuscripts noted that Timorese people in early of 19 th century were suffered from malaria which caused many deaths [6,7]. Until this time, Belu and Malaka Districts are still hyper-endemic areas of malaria. According to the Global Fund report, in 2014, Belu and Malaka Districts were classified as high malaria endemic areas, with the Annual Parasite Insidence (API) of 12.87o/oo and 11.58o/oo respectively, higher than Indonesian average API 1.38o/oo. Various programs for malaria prevention and eradication sponsored by the Indonesian Ministry of Health and World Health Organization such as insecticide-impregnated net, fogging, mass blood survey for early diagnosis and prompt treatment, and treat malaria patient using Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) have been implemented, but decreasing of the API value is still not too convincing [8].Cultural factors that influence public attitudes and acceptance on the programs of prevention and treatment of malaria are estimated to be one of the obstacles to the success of these programs. The implementation of various disease control programs and strategies often faces major challenges stemming from the social and cultural

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Anti retroviral drugs for HIV has problems with uncomfortable side effects and that endanger the lives of HIV sufferers. Several herbs have been empirically proven to have an effect on HIV eradication through inhibition of reverse transcriptase. One of such antiviral herbs is Justicia gendarussa (J. gendarussa). The aim of research is to evaluate anti-HIV activity of 70% fractionated-ethanol extract (with releasing alkaloids) and 70% ethanol extract (without releasing alkaloids) of J. gendarussa leaves on in vitro HIV-infected of MOLT-4 cells. The effect of the extracts in inhibiting viral replication and fusion process on acute HIV infection was identi- fied through syncytia formation assay. Effect of the extracts on HIV p24 antigen was evaluated using HIV-1 p24 ELISA kit. It was found that 70% fractionated-ethanol extract and 70% ethanol extract of J. gendarussa leaves significantly inhibited of HIV replication by inhibition of syncytia formation, where the 50% effective concen- tration (EC50) values of the 70% fractionated-ethanol extract and 70% ethanol extract are 70.5 μg/mL and 228.7 μg/mL, respec- tively. Both of the extracts were also significantly inhibited HIV replication by decreasing HIV p24 antigen level where the EC 50 values of the 70% fractionated-ethanol extract and 70% ethanol extract are 88.8 μg/mL and 540.7 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, it was found that 70% fractionated-ethanol extract of J. gendarussa leaves has anti-HIV activity since its EC50 values less than 100 μg/mL. It was concluded that J. gendarussa could be potentially developed into a phytopharmaceutical product due to its anti-HIV activity.

Studies of in vitro cytotoxic activity of Sungkai leaf (Peronema canescens Jack) using a human colon and cervical cancer cells have not been reported to date; the report was still limited to bioactivity in seawater shrimp larvae. The leaves of this plant contain many secondary metabolites with potential cytotoxic activity. Plants were a source of natural medicinal ingredients for cancer treatment are known as herbal medicines. Anticancer activity of a natural substance, in vitro cell line assays, can be used. This study aimed to determine the cytotoxicity (IC50) of P. canescens leaf of the chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extract against HT-29 colon cancer and HeLa cervical cancer cells. The P. canescens leaf was extracted by the maceration method using methanol solvent. The dried sample was separated by the liquid-liquid method and successive polarity gradient eluents: chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol. Cell line to used HT-29 and HeLa cells, Cytotoxicity test with MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl azole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) method. The concentration used was from 1.5µg/mL to 200.0 µg/mL. The cytotoxic activity values (IC50) of each extract on HT-29 and HeLa cells were chloroform (10.353 µg/mL and 38.913µg/mL), ethyl acetate (48.635µg/mL and 28.186µg/mL), and ethanol (42.017µg/mL), and 253.190µg/mL), respectively. The results showed that the cytotoxic activity of chloroform extracts had a strong cytotoxic effect and a moderate effect on HeLa cervical cancer cells. Anticancer research opportunities are wide open for further studies.