In vitro Immunomodulatory and Hepatoprotective Activities of Selected Indonesian Medicinal Plants

Bioactive compounds from plant extracts play a crucial role in drug discovery. These compounds can affect various physiological functions, including immunomodulation and hepatoprotection. This study sought to investigate the potential of selected Indonesian medicinal extracts possessing anti-hepatitis C activity as hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory agents. Eight plant extracts (Acacia mangium, Curcuma xanthorrhiza, Ficus carica, Piper crocatum, Phyllanthus niruri, Piper betle, Ruta angustifolia, Sida rhombifolia) were used in the study. Phagocytosis assay was performed on primary Mus musculus macrophages treated with each extract at various concentrations (Half-maximal Inhibitory Concentration (IC50), 1/2 IC50, 1/4 IC50, and 1/8 IC50) to obtain the phagocytosis percentage. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced damage in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells was also treated with extracts at the same gradient concentrations, and the hepatoprotective potential of the extracts was analysed using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Mitochondrial aspartate transaminase (mAST) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression was also analysed. The results revealed that the macrophage phagocytosis percentage was significantly higher than controls in the treatment groups receiving all extracts except for P. niruri. All extract-treated groups also showed higher IC50 values of CCl4 and higher cell viability. The extracts also reduced the expression of mAST compared to the sick control. In conclusion, all extracts showed in vitro hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory properties except for P. niruri, which only exhibited hepatoprotective effects without immunomodulation abilities.