Extracellular-Signal Regulated Kinase Signalling Pathway Mediates the Increased Proliferation of EPCs Treated with Garlic (Allium sativum) Extract, Purple Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) Extract and Vitamin C

Abstract

MATERIAL AND METHODS Garlic extract, purple sweet potato extract, and vitamin C preparation Garlic and Purple sweet potato were obtained from UPT Materia Medica Batu, Indonesia and vitamin C powder was obtained from Sigma-Aldrich, USA. Purple sweet potato and garlic extract were produced with aqueous extraction method as described ABSTRACT The endothelial progenitor cell (EPCs) proliferation capability is reduced in the patient with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD). Garlic (Allium sativum), purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), and vitamin C are proven antioxidant which potentially improve EPCs proliferation ability. Objective: To investigate the effect of garlic (Allium sativum), purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas), and vitamin C in EPCs proliferation from CAD patients and identify the involvement of Extracellular-Signal Regulated Kinase (ERK) Signalling Pathway. Material and Method: Mononuclear cells were isolated from SCAD patients and cultivated with colony-forming unit (CFU)-Hill medium and divided into untreated (control), garlic extract (10 mcg/ml and 100 mcg/ml), purple sweet potato extract (1 mcg/ml and 25 μg/ml), and vitamin C (10 μg/ml and 250 μg/ml). EPCs proliferation was measured using the MTT Assay. Results: This research shows that EPCs proliferation was increased in the treatment with garlic extract at 10 mcg/ml and 100 mcg/ml dose (0.267 ± 0,003 and 0.391 ± 0.008 ; p < 0.05), purple sweet potato extract at 1 mcg/ml and 25 μg/ml dose (0.250 ± 0.005 and 0.3562 ± 0.023 ; p < 0.001), and vitamin C at 10 μg/ml and 250 μg/ml dose (0.259 ± 0.016 and 0.306 ± 0.022 ; p < 0.001). Increased ERK expression was found in the treatment with garlic extract, purple sweet potato extract and vitamin C. Conclusion: Garlic extract, purple sweet potato extract, and vitamin C can increase EPC proliferation through the ERK signaling pathway.