The aim of this work is to isolate antibacterial compounds from Sarang Semut (Myrmecodia pendans) and to evaluate their antibacterial activity against pathogenic oral bacteria of Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212 and inhibitory activity against MurA enzyme. The antibacterial compounds from Sarang Semut were isolated by a bioactivity-guided separation method with various solvents and combination of column chromatography on normal and reverse phases. The compounds with concentrations of 1000 and 5000 ppm were assessed against E. faecalis ATCC 29212 by agar well diffusion method, with chlorhexidine and fosfomicyn being used as positive controls. Two antibacterial compounds isolated from Sarang Semut were identified as two new flavonoids derivates of 1 (10 mg) and 2 (4 mg). Then, both compounds were tested for antibacterial activities against E. faecalis to find inhibition zones, MIC and MBC values, and it was found that their inhibition zones values of compounds 1 and 2 were 8.15 and 8.05 mm at 1000 ppm and 8.62 and 8.55 mm at 5000 ppm, respectively, while their MIC and MBC were 156 and 625 ppm for 1 and 625 and 2500 ppm for 2, respectively. In inhibitory murA enzyme activity assay, compounds 1 and 2 were shown to inhibit the enzyme activity by IC50 values of 21.7 and151.3 ppm. The study demonstrated that ethyl acetate fraction of Sarang Semut contained antibacterial flavonoids as active constituents that showed activity against E. faecalis. These results proved the plant's potential in herbal medicine and the development of new antibacterial agent for pathogenic dental caries.

BackgroundDental caries remains a serious problem due to its detrimental effects on individual health and quality of life. The bulbs of Myrmecodia pendans (Merr & Perry), native plants of Papua, have been used as natural remedies for tumours, gout, diarrhoea, and fever. In this study, one of the active compounds of M. pendans was isolated, and its biological activity against the formation of Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175 biofilm was tested.MethodsM. pendans was extracted with ethyl acetate using a Soxhlet apparatus. The extract was then separated, and chromatographic purification provided the isolated compound. The structure of the active compound was then characterized using UV, IR, NMR, and MS spectrometry. The obtained compound was added to S. mutans biofilms to determine the MBIC and MBEC values.ResultsThe compound isolated from M. pendans was determined to be a labdane diterpene derivative with the formula C31H50O3. The MBIC value of the terpenoid towards the S. mutans biofilms was 50 ppm, and the MBEC value for the 1 min induction time was 40%.ConclusionThe terpenoid extracted from M. pendans has the potential to be developed into an antibacterial agent particularly for preventing the formation of biofilms.

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is one of the important medical pathogens which have been recognised for many years as a remedyfor a wide case of oral infections. Nowadays, the use of herbal remedy for reducing bacteria in the oral cavity has been implemented widely due to thefewer side effects. Therefore, researchershave been findingwaysto use pineapple in dentistry to prevent many cases of oral diseases. The purpose of this study was to prove that pineapple extract indifferent concentration had the potential as an antibacterial agent towards Staphylococcus aureus. Methods: The study was an experimental laboratory conducted by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration of pineapple (Ananas comosus) with thetwo-fold serial dilution methods. Results:The The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the pineapple extract was 1.56%-0.78%. Conclusion: The pineapple extract had anantibacterial effect towards Staphylococcus aureus due to the bromelain compound and its phytochemical factor such as Vitamin C and flavonoid.

Background Streptococcus sanguinis is Gram-positive bacteria that contribute to caries. Many antibacterial agents are resistant against bacteria so that the discovery of new antibacterial agents is a crucial issue. Mechanism of antibacterial agents by disrupting cell wall bacteria is a promising target to be developed. One of the enzymes contributing to the cell wall is MurA enzyme. MurA is an enzyme catalyzing the first step of peptidoglycan biosynthesis in the cell wall formation. Inhibiting MurA is an effective and efficient way to kill the bacteria. Source of bioactive compounds including the antibacterial agent can be found in natural product such as herbal plant. Piper betle L. was reported to contain active antibacterial compounds. However, there is no more information on the antibacterial activity and molecular mechanism of P. betle ’s compound against S. sanguinis . Purpose The study aims to identify antibacterial constituents of P. betle L. and evaluate their activities through two different methods including in vitro and in silico analysis. Materials and Methods The antibacterial agent was purified by bioactivity-guided isolation with combination chromatography methods and the chemical structure was determined by spectroscopic methods. The in vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated by disc diffusion and dilution methods while the in silico study of a compound binds on the MurA was determined using PyRx program. Results The antibacterial compound identified as allylpyrocatechol showed inhibitory activity against S. sanguinis with an inhibition zone of 11.85 mm at 1%, together with MIC and MBC values of 39.1 and 78.1 μg/mL, respectively. Prediction for molecular inhibition mechanism of allylpyrocatechols against the MurA presented two allylpyrocatechol derivatives showing binding activity of −5.4, stronger than fosfomycin as a reference with the binding activity of −4.6. Conclusion Two allylpyrocatechol derivatives were predicted to have a good potency as a novel natural antibacterial agent against S. sanguinis through blocking MurA activity that causes disruption of bacterial cell wall.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the synthesis, mechanical strength, and morphology of chitosan–collagen membranes from barramundi scales for guided tissue regeneration technique. Materials and Methods Collagen was extracted from barramundi scales by immersion in acetic acid. The resulting wet collagen was later dried. The membrane was fabricated by mixing chitosan with collagen from barramundi scales. Membrane characterization parameters were measured using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and mechanical property. Results The FTIR spectrum showed the typical peak of the mixture of chitosan and collagen. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the membrane in dry condition were 0.28 MPa and 8.53%, respectively, while in the wet condition these were 0.12 MPa and 25.6%. The membrane porosity test result was 38.85%; SEM result showed a porous membrane surface with size varying around 16 to 100 µm. Conclusion The chitosan-collagen membrane from the barramundi scale showed the fibrous membrane surface that has ideal porous size as guided tissue regeneration membrane and the lower mechanical strength.

BackgroundPlacental soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) which is an antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor (PIGF), is considered as one of etiology factors cause endothelial damage in preeclampsia due to increase of sFlt-1 level that change vascular endothelial integrity. This study aims to analyze the difference of sFlt-1 and PlGF concentration in severe preeclampsia and normal pregnancy, and the correlation between both in occurrence of severe preeclampsia.MethodThis is case control study involving 18 subjects with severe preeclampsia and 19 subjects with normal pregnancy as controls who met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Concentration of sFlt-1 and PlGF are measured with ELISA. Statistical analysis is performed with Chi square test, Fisher’s exact test, T test, Mann–Whitney test, and Spearman’s rank correlation test.ResultsThis study results in no significant difference in characteristics of gestational age, and parity in both study groups. Median concentration of sFlt-1 in severe preeclampsia is higher (20,524.75 pg/mL) compared with normal pregnancy (6820.4 pg/mL). Concentration of PlGF is lower in severe preeclampsia (47 pg/mL) compared with normal pregnancy (337 pg/mL). sFlt-1 concentration is higher in severe preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. PlGF concentration is lower in severe preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. Ratio of sFlt-1 and PlGF concentration is significantly correlated in both severe preeclampsia and normal pregnancy.ConclusionsThere is a significant negative correlation between the concentration of sFLt-1 and PlGF in normal pregnancy.

Introduction: Lycopene has been discussed as a potential effector in the prevention and therapy of prostate cancer. It is red, lipophilic and naturally occurring in many fruits and vegetables, such as tomatoes. Several growth factors, including insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), play important roles in carcinogenesis and metastasis. IGF-1 is a mitogen that plays important roles in the regulation of proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Binding of IGF-1 to its cognate membrane receptor activates Ras/Raf/MAP kinase signaling pathways, which regulate cell-cycle progression, cell survival, and transformation. Lycopene has its protective effect, which affects multiple IGF-1-activated signaling pathways. Lycopene stimulates apoptosis through intrinsic pathways, by stimulating the pro-apoptotic factor of the mitochondrial cavity such as the Bax/Bak protein (an apoptotic promotor). Although tomatoes are widely consumed in Indonesia, there is no research study about the effect of lycopene on prostate cancer in Indonesia. Hence, this study is conducted to measure the influence of lycopene on the level of IGF-1 in Indonesian human prostate cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Prostate cancer cells were studied. In this experimental study, cells were taken from patients with Gleason score 6 and divided into 5 groups: 2 control groups and 3 treatment groups, which were given 1 µM, 2 µM and 4 µM of lycopene, respectively. Measurement of mean IGF-1 level was performed by ELISA. A comparative analysis was performed by two-way ANOVA. Results: The result showed that there was a significant difference in mean IGF-1 levels in the provision of various concentrations of lycopene and time of observation (p<0.05). Increased level of mean IGF-1 appeared on 2µM dose of lycopene at 48 hours observation and began to decline in 72 hours observation. This happened also on 4µM lycopene at 24 hours observation and began to decline in 48 hours observation (p<0.05). Conclusion: Lycopene could be administered as adjuvant therapy for prostate cancer patients to increase apoptosis, and eventually inhibit the progressivity of cancer cells.

A new phenolic compound (1), a steroid (2), a new steroid glycoside (4), two triterpenoids (3 & 6) and a new phloroglucinol-sesquiterpene (5) have been isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Sarang Semut (Myrmecodia pendans) and their structures were determined on the basis of the spectral data. The bioactivity evaluation was conducted with the inhibition zone of compounds (mm) using Kirby-Bauer method at concentrations of 1000 and 5000 ppm for compound 1 against pathogenic oral bacteria Enterococcus faecalis, was 8.55 and 8.05 mm, respectively. Compounds 2-3 against Streptococcus mutans were 9.00 and 8.45 mm (2) and 10.24 and 9.35 mm (3), respectively. Compound 5 against Porphyromonas gingivalis was 11.5 and 10.8 mm, respectively.