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Kapulaga (Amomum cardamom) is one of herb which is commonly used for spices or medicine, especially the seeds. Previous studies showed that the essential oil of cardamom have antimicrobial, antiinflamatory, analgesic and antispasmodic activities. There was also evidence that A.cardamom has antiartherogenic and antidiabetic activity in rat. Despite the medicinal benefits of A.cardamom, this herb is not yet standardize for herb medicine. For its standardization, A.cardamom has to pass the preclinical and clinical studies to ensure its efficacy and safety profile. The aims of this study was to examine the safety profile of A.cardamom seed extract based on renal parameter function (ureum and creatine levels). Acute toxicity test was conducted based on the OECD 420 Fixed Dose Prosedure guideline that consists of two test steps, preliminary and main tests. For preliminary test, initially with 300 mg/kg BW dose of A.cardamom seed extract, followed by 2000 mg/kg BW. The main test consists of control and treatment group and each group used 5 rats. The rats in both groups were given 2000 mg/kg BW in a single dose of A.cardamom seed extract. The ureum and cretainine levels were assessed at day 14th using an enzymatic-photometric method. The data were analyzed by independent sample test. The results revealed that the ureum and creatinine levels in control and treatment groups were not statistically different. The mean of ureum levels in the control and tretment groups were 47.24±6.18 and 43.98±6.78 (p=0.45) and the mean of creatinine levels were 0.43±0.04 and 0.36±0.12 (p=0.31) respectively. These results show that a high single dose of A.cardamom seed extract (2000 mg/kgBW) did not toxic in rat based on renal function parameters.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorder is one of the most common psychiatric problems. Prolonged stress gives rise to anxiety-like behavior in animals. Environmental interventions influence the outcome of anxiety treatment. Environmental enrichment (EE) can modulate brain’s structure and function. AIM: The objective of the study was to evaluate EE effects on anxiety-like behavior and corticosterone (CORT) level after unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS). METHODS: A total of 28 rats were assigned into four groups randomly: Control, UCMS, UCMS+EE, and UCMS+fluoxetine. UCMS, EE, and fluoxetine were given for 21 days. Anxiety behavior was measured on day 22nd using Elevated Plus Maze. Behavioral measurement was based on the total time spent and total entries onto open and closed arms. CORT was measured using ELISA. RESULTS: UCMS increased anxiety-like behavior as seen from reduced number of entries and time spent in open arms as well as increased number of entries and time spent in in closed arms in UCMS group than control. Rats in EE group spent more time and made more entries in the open arms than UCMS group (both p = 0.002). Anxiolytic effect of EE was stronger than fluoxetine. Plasma CORT level among groups did not differ significantly (p = 0.351). CONCLUSION: EE can ameliorate stress-induced anxiety-like behavior without affecting CORT level.

Cervival cancer is one of the top rank of gynecological malignancy in the world, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent that is generally used to treat cervical cancer but the use of this drug is limited because of serious side effects. Metformin, a diabetic drug, decreases not only blood glucose levels but also cell viability of some cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-proliferative effect of combination metformin and cisplatin in HeLa cells (cervical cancer cell line). Anti-proliferative effect of these combined drugs was analized using MTT assay, combination index assay and HeLa cell morphology. Inhibitory concentration (IC 50) of cisplatin and metformin was determined before performing combination index assay. Administration of 10 mM metformin showed inhibition of HeLa cell proliferation and it reached 50% inhibition of cell proliferation at 60 mM. Whilst, cisplatin showed a stronger anti-proliferative effect with initial inhibition dose at 12 µM and IC 50 dose at 44 µM. Combination of 30 mM metformin and 5 µM cisplatin indicated the strongest anti-proliferative effect on HeLa cell. In conclusion, metformin may become a promising drug for treatment of cervical cancer in future which enhances anti-proliferative effect of cisplatin.

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