Immunomodulatory potential of Massoia aromatica bark extract

Massoia aromatica Becc. (Lauraceae) is an indigenous plant of Indonesia. It is used in traditional medicine as an analgetic, antipyretic, insect and fungi repellents [1] and the oil is used as food flavoring. The bark has an antiinflamatory [1] and analgesic [2] effect. Our previous research has revealed its potency to be developed as antimicrobial [3, 4] as well as an immunomodulator [3]. To confirm the potency of M. aromatica bark as antiinfective, an investigation on its immunomodulator activity was conducted in vivo. The pulverized bark was boiled in hot water in (20% w/v) for 15 min to obtain the extract, which was freshly made before application. This method was used to imitate traditional preparation. Five animal groups consisting of 2 month old-five male Wistar rats each were treated as follows: negative control, positive control (commercial product “X”0.54 mL/rat), sample with application doses of 100; 300 and 500 mg/100 g BW. Extracts were subjected orally, once a day, everyday for 14 days, of which each animal was sacrificed on the day 15 and the macrophages were isolated to evaluate the changes of phagocytosis activity. Our preliminary experimental by in vitro assay showed that the extract caused increase phagocytosis activity of the macrophages. The finding was in accordance to the result of the in vivo assay, of which the phagocytosis index of the animal group subjected with 500 mg/kg BW of the water extract was significantly higher than controls. The content of C-10 massoialactone in the water extract was determined by TLC-densitometry as 12.21%w/v. This compound is believed to be responsible for the activity of the whole extract, as was suggested by our previous report [3}. We reported earlier that C-10 massoialactone caused prominent increase of macrophage phagocytosis activity, which was tested in an in vitro assay [4]. This research supports the traditional usage of M. aromatica bark as traditional medicine.

Acknowledgements: Authors wish to thank the Indonesia Ministry of Research and Higher Education for research funding.

Keywords: Massoia aromatica bark, macrophage phagocytosis, C-10 massoialactone.

References:

[1] Sa'roni S, Adjirni A. Efek Antiinflamasi Kulit Batang Massoia aromaticum Becc. (Masoyi) Pada Tikus Putih. Warta Tumbuhan Obat Indonesia 1999; 5: 9 – 10

[2] Widowati L, Pudjiastuti P. Khasiat Analgetika Kulit Batang Masoyi (Massoia aromaticum Becc.) Pada Mencit Putih. Warta Tumbuhan Obat Indonesia 1999; 5: 11 – 12

[3] Hertiani T, Pratiwi SUT, Yuswanto A, Permanasari P. Potency of Massoia Bark in Combating Immunosuppresed-related infection. Pharmacogn Mag in press.

[4] Pratiwi SUT, Lagendijk EL, de Weert S, Idroes R, Hertiani T, Van den Hondel C. Effect of Cinnamomum burmannii Nees ex Bl. and Massoia aromatica Becc. Essential oils on planktonic growth and biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. Int J App Res Nat Prod 2015; 8: 1 – 13

No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).