Advancing Sustainable Herbal Medicine: Synthesizing Nanoparticles from Medicinal Plants

Abstract

The crucial challenge in herbal medicine development lies in ensuring the safety, quality, and effectiveness of herbal materials to comply with the regulatory standards in the herbal medicine industry. This research aims to synthesize nano-based herbal medicine by combining two medicinal plants: Bischofia javanica leaves and Phaleria macrocarpa fruits. Through the High-Energy Milling (HEM) process, both materials are transformed into nanoparticles to enhance the solubility and bioavailability of active compounds. The herbal medicine standards are measured through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Particle Size Analysis (PSA), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) tests. The SEM analysis results indicate optimal dispersion of nanoparticles, while PSA analysis reveals a reduction in particle size and increased homogeneity after nanonization with HEM. FTIR analysis results show various functional groups in nanoparticles, indicating the potential interaction between the combined components. The effectiveness of nanoparticles in the Rattus norvegicus Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) model demonstrates an increase in lipid profile comparable to the effectiveness of Vitamin C. These findings highlight the potential of combined herbal treatment with nanoparticles produced by HEM, offering better efficacy and potential safety improvement, particularly in addressing lipid metabolism disorders.