Screening of Indonesian plant extracts for anti-human immunodeficiency virus—type 1 (HIV-1) activity

Of 30 Indonesian plant extracts tested for their human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) inhibitory activities, six were shown to be effective by assays using HIV-1-infected MT-4 cells: a methanol extract of mahoni (bark of Swietenia mahagoni) and water extracts of benalu teh (stems and branches of Loranthus parasiticus), kiules (fruit of Helicteres isora), supratul (fruits of Sindora sumatrana), sambiloto (leaves of Andrographis paniculata) and temu ireng (rhizoma of Curcuma aeruginosa). Their ED₅₀ values ranged from 4.2 to 175 μg/mL. The samples also suppressed the formation of syncytia in co-cultures of MOLT-4 and MOLT-4/HIV-1 cells. The most potent inhibitor was a methanol extract of mahoni, which also showed a significant inhibition of HIV-1 protease.     

A human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitory substance from Swietenia mahagoni

For the purpose of finding anti-HIV agents from natural sources, various plant extracts were screened for their inhibitory activity against HIV-protease, an enzyme essential for viral proliferation. By bioassay-directed fractionation of the methanol extract of Swietenia mahagoni (bark) which had shown inhibitory activity against this enzyme, we isolated and identified chlorogenic acid methyl ester as a inhibitory substance, its 50% inhibitory concentration being less than 40 μg/ml. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Protective and Therapeutic Effect of the Indonesian Medicinal Herb Curcuma xanthorrhiza on β-D-Galactosamine-induced Liver Damage

The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of a dose of C. xanthorrhiza on acute hepatotoxicity induced in rats by a single dose of β-D -galactosamine (288 mg/kg, i.p.), and its mechanism of action. C. xanthorrhiza (100 mg/kg) was administered p.o. to experimental animals according to the protocol followed by the i.p. administration of a single dose of hepatotoxin. Hepatoprotective activity was monitored by estimating serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) levels and histopathological changes in the livers of C. xanthorrhiza -treated and untreated groups of animals. The results clearly indicated that the extract of C. xanthorrhiza significantly reduced the acute elevation of serum transaminases induced by hepatotoxin, and alleviated the degree of liver damage at 24 h after the intraperitoneal administration of the hepatotoxins.