This research focused on studying the effects of orally administered pressure-blanched white saffron on the antioxidative properties and lipid profiles of wistar rats. White saffron was blanched in autoclave for 2.

Background: There would be over 600 million people living with diabetes by 2040 as predicted by the World Health Organization. Diabetes is characterized by raised blood sugar and insulin resistance. Insulin regulates the influx of glucose into the cell by upregulating the glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) expression on the plasma membrane. Besides, PPAR-γ also controls the metabolism of glucose in adipose tissues. Curcuma mangga Val., denoted as C. mangga, is a native Indonesian medicinal plant that has many beneficial effects, including an antidiabetic potential. Purpose: In this research, we aimed to disclose the hypoglycemic activity of ethanol extract of C. mangga (EECM) in 3T3-L1 fibroblasts-derived adipocyte cells in regulating glucose uptake as confirmed by the GLUT4 and PPAR-γ gene expression. Methods: The uptake of glucose was determined using radioactive glucose, while the gene expression of GLUT4, PPAR-γ, and β-actin was quantified using mRNA segregation and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: We discovered that EECM interventions (200 and 50 μg/mL) increased glucose uptake in lipid-laden 3T3-L1 cells by 14.75 and 8.86 fold compared to the control noninsulin, respectively (p < 0.05). At the same doses, they also increased GLUT4 mRNA expression by 8.41 and 11.18 fold compared to the control non-insulin, respectively (p < 0.05). In contrast, EECM interventions (200 and 50 μg/mL) showed lower levels of PPAR-γ mRNA expression compared to the control metformin, indicating the anti-adipogenic potentials of EECM. Conclusion: EECM showed hypoglycemic activity in lipid-laden 3T3-L1 cells by improving glucose ingestion into the cells, which was mediated by increased GLUT4 expression and downregulated PPAR-γ expression.

Oxidative stress, the disrupted oxidation-reduction mechanism in our body, is caused by the excessive exposure of free radicals and the impaired antioxidant defenses that can accelerate skin aging. Antioxidants can be obtained from nature, which are available widely in therapeutic-rich plants, such as white saffron ( Curcuma mangga Val., denoted as C. mangga ). Although many pieces of evidence reveal that C. mangga contains an abundance of phenolic compounds and has antioxidative effects, its cosmeceutical potentials remain unclear. The present study aimed to disclose the unexplored antiaging potentials of C. mangga extract (CME) in oxidative stress-induced human BJ fibroblasts with a focus on collagen protection against pro-inflammatory mediators MMP1, MMP3, and MMP13. The oxidative stress-induced cells were treated with CME and curcumin at different doses. The results showed that treatment using CME (25 μg/mL) could maintain the collagen contents up to 18.45 ± 0.68 μg/mL in H 2 O 2 -treated fibroblasts (only ~26.63% reduction in collagen contents), while the figure for the negative control was the lowest (12.79 μg/mL), showing a significant reduction in collagen contents by 49.13%. In addition, the gene expression of pro-inflammatory MMPs arose significantly in BJ fibroblasts after oxidative stress induction using 200 μM H 2 O 2 , in which the expression for MMP1, MMP3, and MMP13 increased by 7.10, 38.96, and 2.69 times, respectively. Interestingly, CME treatment (100 μg/mL) could effectively inhibit MMP1, MMP3, and MMP13 gene expression by 3.65, 34.62, and 2.02 times, respectively. In conclusion, CME showed favorable antiaging activities in H 2 O 2 -treated human BJ fibroblasts as confirmed by the low levels of gene expression of MPP1, MMP3, and MMP13 after treatment with CME.

Black saffron (Curcuma aeruginosa Roxb.) belongs to the family of Zingiberaceae is one of rhizomes widely used as raw material in Indonesian Traditional Medicines. Black saffron (BS) contains some bioactive compounds responsible for certain biological activities including antioxidant. Blanching has been reported to increase the antioxidant activity of BS. This study aims to formulate BS containing high antioxidant activity. This research was performed by varying blanching medium (citric acid and aquadest) and blanching time (0; 2.5; 5; 7.5 and 10 min). The fabrication stage of BS powder included peeling, cleaning, blanching, slicing drying, grinding, and sieving. After that, the treated BS was analyzed for the antioxidant activity, total phenolic, total flavonoid, tannin, crude fiber, and water contents. BS powder subjected to blanching process showed better antioxidant activity than that without blanching process. Blanching using citric acid media 0.05% for 5 min showed the best antioxidant activities, as indicated by high contents of total phenolic, total flavonoid, and tannins. Powdered BS is potential to be used as materials to be applied as fortifying agents in food products.

Diabetes is the most common endocrinal disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and long-term complications. Recently, the development of antidiabetic drugs have focused on natural products with various mechanisms such as the inhibition of α-amylase. White turmeric (Curcuma mangga Val) from Zingeb eraceae family has been reported to have antidiabetic activities, thus the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of C. mangga extracts and fractions as antioxidant and antidiabetic agents through scavenging activities and inhibition of α-amylase. In this study, the antidiabetic activities of four fractions of C. mangga extracts (water, hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol), a C. mangga extract and butylated hydroxytoluene/antioxidant standard were measured using α-amylase activity assay, while the antioxidant activities of the fractions were measured using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. These fractions were also compared to an antidiabetic drug, acarbose, as a control and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a synthetic antioxidant. For the antioxidant assay, the butanol fraction of C. mangga (BCM) showed the highest ABTS-reducing activity (IC50=24.23 ±2.77 μg/mL), while with the DPPH assay, the ethyl acetate fraction (EACM) had the highest activity (IC 50 =83.95±2.89 μg/mL) as compared to the other fractions and C. mangga extract, but the activities were lower than that of BHT. For the antidiabetic assay, C. mangga extract (CME) had the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity (IC50=363.67 µg/mL) among other fractions, although lower than acarbose. Curcuma mangga fractions (BCM and EACM) had antioxidant activities, while C. mangga extract (CME) had a potential as an antidiabetic by in vitro studies. Further in vivo studies is needed to confirm these findings.

Background: With the increase of diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence, natural product emerged as complementary source on the development of new drug for this disease. White saffron (Curcuma mangga Val.) is a widely available plant found in Indonesia which often used traditionally as medicine for various ailment. Unfortunately scientific evidence of its antidiabetic activity has not been described very well. Present study was trying to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of white saffron based on the change of lipid accumulation.Materials and Methods: Cells viability assay was done using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) reagent to determine the safe concentrations of C. mangga Val. extract and its fractions including hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, ethanol, water fractions and curcumol for the further assay. The preadipocyte cells (3T3-L1) were grown and differentiated into adipocyte cells using 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), dexamethasone and insulin. The adipocyte cells were treated with C. mangga Val. extract (CME) (the safest fraction at all concentrations) for 24 h. Oil red O staining was used to measure the lipid accumulation in adipocyte cells.Results: The CME was not toxic and able to decrease the lipid droplets of the 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells.Conclusion: The CME has potential antidiabetic activity due to ability to decrease the lipid droplet without disturbing the viability of the 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells.Keywords: white saffron, Curcuma mangga Val., antidiabetic

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Jack bean as a source of vegetable protein had not been popular. Seed germination had been known to improve its nutritional quality, especially protein and amino acid profile. This study determined the effect of germination on the color, beany flavor, protein content, functional properties, and amino acid profile of jack bean flour. A complete randomized design was used for this experiment. Germination was carried out for 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The seed (control) and germinated jack bean flours were analyzed for oil absorption, water absorption, emulsifying and foaming capacities, as well as the soluble protein content to determine the best germination time. Furthermore, the amino acid profile of the jack bean flour produced from the best germination time was analyzed. The results of this study indicated that the total and soluble protein of the seed and germinated jack bean seeds for 0, 24, 48, 60, and 72 hours were 23.30 and 5.95; 22.61 and 7.61; 21.18 and 10.68; 23.26 and 10.22; 23.98 and 10.81%, respectively. Germination of jack bean improved the functional properties. A germination time of 72 hours increased the oil capacity, water absorption capacity, foaming capacity and decreased the emulsion capacity significantly. The hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids of the germinated jack bean flour increased to 3.21 and 2.12% of the seed flour, respectively. The increase of the foaming capacity was related to the increase in hydrophobic amino acids of germinated jack bean flour compared to seed flours, that were glycine 1.23 and 1.01; alanine 1.29 and 1.01; valine 1.16 and 1.00; leucine 1.84 and 1.09%, respectively. Germination of jack bean for 72 hours increased significantly the essential amino acids, namely: leucine, lysine, and valine.