The outbreak of coronaviruses (CoVs) presents an enormous threat to humans. To date, no new therapeutic drugs or vaccines licensed to treat human coronaviruses remain undiscovered. This mini-review briefly reports the number of potential plants widely distributed in Indonesia for further research and development as anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents and the critical targets for SARS-CoV-2 therapy, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor, spike protein, 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL pro ), papain-like protease (PL pro ), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), helicase, and serine protease. Indonesia is rich in medicinal plants (herbal); it also has a long history of using plants to treat various hereditary diseases. However, since SARS-CoV-2 is a new disease, it has no history of plant-based treatment anywhere in the world. This mini-review describes natural products from several Indonesian plants that contain compounds that could potentially prevent or reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection, act as potential targeted therapy, and provide new therapeutic strategies to develop SARS-CoV-2 countermeasures.

BACKGROUND: Fast Orally Dissolving Film preparation can be used for patients with problems in ingesting solid dosage forms, such as mentally ill, elderly, geriatric and patients who are reducing fluid intake or nausea. AIM: This study aimed to formulate and evaluate the rapid dissolution of amlodipine besylate. METHODS: Amlodipine besylate film was prepared by solvent casting method by using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as film formers, crospovidone as superdisintegrant with Varian concentration F1 (2%), F2 (4%), F3 (6%) and F4 (8%), PEG 400 as plasticizer, sucralose and sorbitol as sweetener, citric acid as saliva stimulation, and grape essence as flavoring and coloring agent. Characteristics of films include organoleptic, weight uniformity, film thickness, surface pH, swelling, uniformity of content, time of disintegration, and dissolution. RESULTS: All formulated films produced a good film, smooth, transparent and uniform physical properties. F2 with polymer HPMC and the 4% concentration of crospovidone was the best formula with 31.50 seconds of disintegration time, the index expanding at the 15 second by 242.29% and the cumulative percent of the drug at 80 seconds by 98.08%. CONCLUSION: Amlodipine besylate can be formulated into fast orally dissolving film preparations using HPMC and crospovidone polymers so that they may be considered for use in the treatment of hypertension for patients with drug-induced problems in tablet or capsule form.

Pengobatan tradisional masih diminati. Salah satu tumbuhannya adalah daun ekor naga (Rhaphidophora pinnata (L.f.) Schott) yang digunakan sebagai obat antikanker dan antibakteri. Penggunaan nanoteknologi dalam sistem penghantaran obat terus diteliti dan dikembangkan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membuat dan mengetahui sifat-sifat nanopartikel ekstrak etanol daun ekor naga (Rhaphidophora pinnata (L.f.) Schott) menggunakan metode gelasi ionik. Ekstrak daun ekor naga dibuat dengan metode maserasi menggunakan pelarut etanol 96%. Nanopartikel dibuat dengan metode gelasi ionik, yaitu menggunakan larutan natrium tripolipospat 0,1% dan kitosan 0,2%, Nanopartikel kemudian dikarakterisasi menggunakan Particle Size Analyzer untuk mengetahui distribusi ukuran partikel dan Scanning Electron Microscopy untuk mengetahui bentuk permukaan partikel. Nanopartikel yang dihasilkan berupa serbuk berwarna coklat muda dengan distribusi ukuran partikel 234,49-1479,50 nm pada perbandingan kitosan 0,2% dan natrium tripolipospat 0,1% (5:1). Bentuk permukaan nanopartikel ekstrak etanol daun ekor naga yaitu tidak rata dan membentuk agregat longgar. Ekstrak etanol daun ekor naga dapat dibuat menjadi nanopartikel dengan kitosan 0,2% dan natrium tripolipospat 0,1% menggunakan metode gelasi ionik.   Traditional medicine is still popular. One of them is ekor naga Leaves (Rhaphidophora pinnata (L.f.) Schott) that has been used as anti-cancer and anti-bacteria. Nanotechnology in drug delivery system is still being studied and developed. This research aimed to prepare and evaluate the characterization of nanoparticle of Ekor Naga Leaves Ethanol Extract (Rhaphidophora pinnata (L.f.) Schott) by Ionic Gelation Method. The Ekor naga leaves extract was prepared by maceration with ethanol 96%. Nanoparticle was prepared by ionic gelation method, using sodium trypholiphosphat 0.1% and chitosan 0.2%, then it was characterized using Particle Size Analyzer to determine particle size distribution and Scanning Electron Microscopy to determine surface structure  particle. The nanoparticle was light brown with particle size distribution of  234.49-1479.50 nm in ratio of chitosan 0.2% and sodium trypholiphosphat 0.1% was 5:1. The surface structure of nanoparticle of ekor naga leaves extract was not smooth and form loose aggregates. The ethanol extract of ekor naga leaves can be prepared into nanoparticle with sodium trypholiphosphat 0.1% and chitosan 0.2% by Ionic Gelation Method

Objectives:Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. is a plant which has the potential as an anti-cancer agent. To enhance the bioavailability of an extract, it is necessary to transform the extract into nanoparticles. This research aimed to create nanoparticles of the extract and investigate the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptosis effects on T47D breast cancer cell lines.Materials and Methods:The extraction with ethanol was performed using maceration method. The nanoparticles were prepared by using the ionic gelation method. Cytotoxic assay method evaluation of the proliferation of T47D cell line (using doubling time) was carried out using the MTT assay. Apoptosis was observed using the flow cytometry assay.Results:Treatment with Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. ethanolic extract nanoparticles (PAEEN) inhibited the proliferation of T47D cell lines after 48 hours and 72 hours of incubation at concentrations of 22.3 µg/mL, 44.6 µg/mL, and 89.2 µg/mL. The viable cells were 93%, 86%, 54% (48 hours), and 98%, 71%, 57% (72 hours), respectively. The nanoparticles of extract also induced apoptosis at concentrations of ¼ IC50 (2.16%), ½ IC50 (1.57%), and IC50 (2.43%).Conclusion:PAEEN exhibits the anti-proliferative effect on T47D breast cancer cells via apoptosis. Further study is required to confirm the mechanism of PAEEN in the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction on T47D cells.

The current research seeks to examine the anticancer effect of polyisoprenoids from mangrove palm, Nypa fruticans, leaves in WiDr cells by analyzing the cell cycles of cancer and regulating the expression of p53, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), PI3K, AKT1, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) genes by using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). An inhibited cell cycle analysis was conducted using the flow cytometry, and the upregulation or downregulation of the expression of p53, EGFR, PI3K, AKT1, and mTOR genes was obtained using RT-PCR. The data were then statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance by a post hoc test, a parametric statistical analysis using Tukey’s honest significant difference. Polyisoprenoids in N. fruticans extracts worked as chemotheraupetic in the G0-G1 cycle is 79.0%, however, with positive control 5-fluorouracil as 88.1% and are carried out by the specific upregulation of the expression of the p53 gene and the downregulation of the expression of the EGFR, PI3K, AKT1, and mTOR genes. This study can also explain the significant pharmacological properties of the leaves of the species N. fruticans that work specifically in the G0-G1 phase to upregulate the expression of the p53 gene and downregulate the expression of the EGFR, PI3K, AKT1, and mTOR genes. This study also revealed polyisoprenoid (100% dolichol), which blocked the growth and development of WiDr colon cancer cells.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the characteristic pectin from banana peels (Musa balbisiana ABB) and formulation as a polymeric carrier in gastrorententive floating beads.Methods: Pectin from banana peel was isolated using a citric acid solvent with varying concentration (2.5%, 5%, and 7.5%) at 80°C for 90 min. Characterization of pectin included determination of yield, equivalent weight methoxyl content (Me), galacturonic acid (GaA), and degree esterification. Floating beads of amoxicillin prepared by the ionotropic gelation method used calcium ion as cross-linking and sodium bicarbonate as gas-forming agent. Three formulations of amoxicillin were formulated using different percentage of pectin. The prepared beads were evaluated for particle size, drug entrapment efficiency, morphological study, floating lag time, floating time, swelling properties, in vitro drug release, and study of drug release kinetics.Results: The result showed citric acid concentration 7.5% was optimum condition for isolated pectin from banana peels with the percent of yield was 9.51%; 6.29% Me; 62.82% GaA; and degree of esterification 48.46%. Floating time of beads was ≥12 h and drug entrapment efficiency F3 was highest (51%). In vitro drug release confirmed F3 was the best formulation as it releases 92% at 5 h with followed Higuchi model kinetics drug release. Floating beads amoxicillin showed differences of drug release compared with conventional dosage form of amoxicillin (p<0.05).Conclusion: This study confirmed these beads can entrap amoxicillin and also can successfully deliver the drug targeted stomach for a prolong duration drug release.

BACKGROUND: The effect of an active substance in a dosage form can be influenced by the different method of preparation. Nanotechnology has been used widely in all aspects including drug delivery system. Nanocream is one of the cosmetic dosage forms to improve the absorption of active substances on the skin. AIM: The study was to compare macadamia nuts oil nanocream with conventional cream as skin antiaging dosage form. METHODS: The formulation of nanocream was consisted of macadamia nuts oil 10%, tween 80, propylene glycol, cetyl alcohol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben and distilled water. The anti-aging was conducted by comparing the nanocream and conventional cream. The evaluation of anti-aging activity was conducted using skin analyzer apparatus. The aging parameters were moisture, evenness, pore size, black spot, and wrinkle of the skin. The data were collected for 4 weeks. All the data obtained were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Macadamia nut oil nanocream dosage form showed better antiaging activity on the skin compared to conventional cream which were characterized by changes in skin condition on each aging skin parameter such as water content, pore size, melanin, and wrinkles. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that macadamia nuts oil in nanocream dosage form has better antiaging activity on the skin compared to conventional cream and macadamia nuts oil can be used as an effective skin anti-aging dosage form.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate diclofenac sodium patches using chitosan (Ch) and polyvinyl (PVA) alcohol cross-linked tripolyphosphate sodium (TPP) to increased transdermal permeation of the drug from the matrix system across rabbit skin.Materials and Methods: The chemical characterization of diclofenac sodium was done by ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. Formulation of diclofenac sodium patches using solvent evaporation method with cross-link technique. Evaluation of physical character of the film includes organoleptic observation, weight test, thickness, % moisture absorption, fold resistance, interaction between materials used Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and active substance levels. The drug release was determined using Franz diffusion cells in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4).Results: The result of physiochemical parameters of the transdermal patch were found satisfactory. Formula F1, F2, F3, and F4 produce patches with fine texture, F5 and F6 formulas produce patches with coarse texture. Formula F1, F2, F5, and F6 are flexible and fulfill the multiplier test requirements, while the F3 and F4 formulas are not flexible and do not meet the multiplier test requirements. The patch weight, thickness, and drug content were uniform. The release of patches with following the zero-order release. The optimal formula with the total sodium diclofenac released as much as 17.89 μg, the release flux of 89.42 μg/cm²/h of permeation time of 10 h and the moisture absorption rate of 1.07±0.193. The FTIR data of rabbit skin indicated Ch and PVA alcohol cross-linked TPP increase transdermal permeation of diclofenac sodium in the stratum corneum.Conclusion: The diclofenac sodium can be prepared by cross-linked method, resulted in a better discharge profile.