Objective: This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxicity, anti-proliferation and anti-migration effect of the ethanol extract of Aaptos suberitoides on trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ breast cancer cell line. Methods: Aaptos suberitoides was collected from Tinjil Island, Banten, Indonesia, and was processed with maceration and ethanol extraction. HCC-1954 cells were treated with the ethanol extract and then followed by 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] -2.5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to assess cytotoxicity, clonogenic assay and three-dimensional (3D) spheroid assay to evaluate anti-proliferative effect in two-dimensional and 3D model, respectively, and wound healing assay to determine anti-cell migration effect. Four parametric regression was used to analyse the IC 50 . Results: This study revealed that the ethanol extract of Aaptos suberitoides suppressed cell viability in correlation with cell death induction. The IC 50 values of the ethanol extract of Aaptos suberitoides using MTT assay and clonogenic assay were 12.0 ppm and 4.36 ppm, respectively. The extract demonstrated an inhibition effect on spheroid growth. In low concentration, the extract of Aaptos suberitoides inhibited cell migration. Furthermore, MS analysis showed that the most abundant compounds in this extract has molecular weight m/z 229.81 [M+H]+. Conclusion: This study revealed that the ethanol extract of Aaptos suberitoides demonstrates cytotoxicity, anti-proliferation and anti-migration effect as well as inhibition effect on three-dimensional spheroid growth in trastuzumab-resistant HER2+ breast cancer cell line.

Objective: Despite advanced treatment options available, drug resistance develops in breast cancer (BC) patients requiring novel effective drugs. Stylissa carteri, a marine sponge predominantly living in Indonesia territories, has not been extensively studied as anti-cancer. Therefore, this study targeted to assess the anti-tumor activity of the ethanol extract of S. carteri in BC cells. Methods: S. carteri was collected from Pramuka Island, at Kepulauan Seribu National Park, Jakarta, Indonesia and extracted using ethanol. Different BC cells including MDA MB 231, MDA MB 468, SKBR3, HCC-1954 and MCF-7 cells were treated with this extract for cytotoxic analysis using MTT assay. Spheroid growth assay and apoptosis assay were conducted in HCC-1954 cells. In addition, cell migration analysis and synergistic activity with doxorubicin or paclitaxel were conducted in MDA MB 231 cells. This extract was subjected also for GC-MS analysis. Results: The results show that ethanol extract of S. carteri demonstrated a cytotoxic activity in BC cells. The IC 50 of this extract was lower 15 μg/ml in MDA MB 231, MDA MB 468, SKBR3, and HCC-1954 cells. Moreover, this extract inhibited spheroids growth and induced apoptosis in HCC-1954 cells. It inhibited cell migration and demonstrated a synergistic activity with doxorubicin or paclitaxel on triggering cell death in MDA MB 231 cells. Furthermore, GC-MS analysis indicated that this extract contained 1,2-Benzenediol, Dibutyl phthalate and 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, ethyl ester. Conclusion: Our preliminary data indicate a potential anti-tumor activity of ethanol extract of S. carteri in breast cancer cells.

Background: Dental caries is an oral disease generated by pathogenic bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis, which is most frequently found in teeth with pulp necrosis. On the other hand, the use of the medicinal plant to treat pathogenic disease, including caries is an alternative option, which consumes synthetic drug having a side effect. Objective: The purpose of this study is to isolate antibacterial agents from Buah Merah (Pandanus conoideus Lam) and to test the antibacterial activity of those compounds against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212. Methods: Isolation of the antibacterial constituents from Buah Merah used a combinational column chromatography technique which include a normal and reversed-phase. The chosen fraction of each separation is based on the most active fraction. The compounds at various concentrations, 1000 - 20000 μg/mL, were assessed against E. faecalis ATCC 29212 by agar disc diffusion method, and chlorhexidine 2000 μg/mL was used as a positive control. Results: Four compounds isolated from Buah Merah were determined as flavonoid 1, diterpenoid 2, and two fatty acid derivatives 3 and 4. The compounds were then tested against E. faecalis cultured to find inhibition zones, and the study found that only compound 1 identified as Quercetin-3-O-glucose showed an inhibited zone 88 mm at 20000 ppm. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that ethyl acetate fraction of Buah Merah contains an antibacterial flavonoid active against E. faecalis. This research gives information for the use of this plant in herbal medicine and contributes to the necessity of a new antibacterial agent for oral infectious disease. Moreover, this data can be based on information to find the substituted antiseptic applied in the dentistry field.

Objective: To evaluate the potency of the fraction of marine sponge Stylissa carteri in inducing cell death, inhibiting spheroid growth, and its impact on pro-apoptotic protein Mcl-1S in breast cancer cells. Methods: Stylissa carteri were collected from Pramuka Island followed by ethanol extraction and ethyl acetate fractionation. To evaluate the cytotoxic effect of fraction, the HCC-1954, MDA MB 231, and MCF-7 cells were treated with the fraction of Stylissa carteri and MTT assay was then performed. The effect on spheroid growth was evaluated in HCC-1954 cells. The combined effect of the ethyl acetate fraction and paclitaxel were analyzed using combination index (CI) and immunoblotting on the pro-apoptotic protein Mcl-1S. Furthermore, compounds in this fraction were identified using GC-MS. Results: Data showed that both the MDA MB 231 and HCC-1954 cells were interestingly more sensitive to the fraction as compared with MCF-7 cells. The IC 50 of the ethyl acetate fraction on HCC-1954, MDA MB 231 and MCF-7 were 4.1 µg/ml, 3.9 µg/ml, and 123.8 µg/ml, respectively. In addition, the fraction triggered spheroid destruction within 10 days. The CI of paclitaxel and ethyl acetate fraction of Stylissa carteri were less than 0.52. Moreover, this combination induced upregulation of the Mcl-1S protein. Furthermore, some fatty acid-based structures were predicted as the major compounds in this fraction. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of Stylissa carteri induces cell death and spheroid destruction in aggressive breast cancer cells. It has a synergistic cytotoxic effect with paclitaxel on MDA MB 231 cell death and upregulates Mcl-1S protein.

Isoniazid (INH) and pyrazinamide (PZA) are first-line drugs in the treatment of meningitis of tuberculosis, in addition to rifampicin. The use of these drugs will determine the success of therapy to kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis in brain tissue that is difficult to penetrate by other drugs. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research and monitor the use of this drug in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) patients with TBM. This study aimed to determine the method of analysis of INH and PZA using Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography Ultra Violet (UPLC-UV). The samples were taken from TBM patients who taken INH-PZA and others besides TBM patients who did not take INH-PZA. The analytic method carried out includes a comparison of the results of the analysis method for measuring levels of standard INH-PZA and INH-PZA in plasma and CSF samples. Analysis of INH-PZA in plasma and CSF can be performed using UPLC with UV detector, at least 100 uL plasma or CSF samples volume, with reproducible and accurate results.