Abstrak Disertasiku

ABSTRACT

IMMUNOMODULATOR AND CHEMOPREVENTIVE ACTIVITIES OF THE WATER EXTRACT OF BLACK CINCAU (Mesona palustris BL) AGAINST BENZO(a)PIRENE-INDUCED CARSINOGENESIS IN MICE

Tri Dewanti Widyaningsih

Black cincau (Mesona palustris BL) as a traditional beverage is believed to have a medicinal function. Black cincau was used to reduce hypertension, diabetes and liver disease. In China and Taiwan black cincau is called hsian tsao, a family of Mesona procumbens. Previous research also reported hsian-tsao extract had an ability to protect lymphocyte cells from DNA damage due to hydrogen peroxide and UV exposure. Water extract of hsian-tsao was also shown to have protective effect against tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced liver cells damage in rats. The objective of the present study was to test the potential effects of the water extract black cincau (Mesona palustris BL) as an immunomodulator and a chemopreventive agent against benzo(a)pirene-induced carcinogenesis in mice Essentially, the increase in IFN-γ and immunosurveillance components activity such as NK cells, T cytotoxic (CD 8+) cells and macrophage as well as increasing apoptosis induction were determined. The study was divided in two experiments: first experiment was to test the imunomodulator activity of black cincau extract in healthy mice and second experiment was to test the imunomodulator and chemopreventive activities of the extract in benzo(a)pirene-induced carcinogenesis mice. In the first experiment, mice were randomly selected and assigned to one of the 4 groups: a control group, a group with the extract dose of 100 mg/kg body weight, 500 mg/kg body weight and 1000 mg/kg body weight respectively. In the second experiment, mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: 1 control group; 1 negative control group; 3 groups of benzo(a)pirene-induced mice treated with different doses of extract i.e. 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg body weight; and 1 positive control group.  Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that : (1) The water extract of black cincau (Mesona palustris BL) had a potential effect as imunomodulator both in healthy mice and  benzo(a)pirene-induced carcinogenesis mice. The water extract of black cincau dose of 100 mg/kg body weight can be recommended as an immunomodulator (2) The water extract of black cincau (Mesona palustris BL) showed a chemo preventive activity (prevent the occurrence of carcinogenesis) in benzo(a)pirene-induced mice. Treatment with the highest extract dose of 1000 mg/kg body weight increased apoptosis in the highest level and increased the prevention of carcinogenesis incidence by 57%. (3) A highly significant correlation was found between apoptosis and interferon gamma (IFN-γ)  as well as with immune surveillance ( CD 8+, NK cells and macrophage). Increase of both IFN-γ and immune surveillance components would increase the apoptosis induction.

Keyword : Mesona palustris BL, immune surveillance, interferon gamma, imunomodulator, chemopreventive carcinogenesis