The rising prevalence of infectious diseases and immune-related disorders underscores the need for effective and accessible therapeutic solutions. Herbal immunostimulants derived from medicinal plants offer promising alternatives, enhancing immune responses with lower toxicity and fewer side effects than synthetic drugs. This review explores the immunostimulatory potential of Morinda citrifolia, Echinacea purpurea, and Phyllanthus niruri, focusing on their bioactive compounds, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic relevance. These plants modulate innate and adaptive immune responses by activating macrophages, dendritic cells, and lymphocytes while regulating cytokine production to maintain immune homeostasis. Their immunomodulatory effects are linked to key signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK/STAT. In vitro and in vivo studies highlight their potential to strengthen immune responses and control inflammation, making them promising candidates for managing infectious and immune-related diseases. However, further research is needed to standardize formulations, determine optimal dosages, and validate safety and efficacy in clinical settings. Addressing these gaps will support the integration of herbal immunostimulants into evidence-based healthcare as sustainable and accessible immune-enhancing strategies.

Obesity is characterized by the accumulation of excessive fat, potentially leading to degenerative diseases. Pancreatic lipase, an enzyme responsible for converting 50–70% of dietary fat into monoglycerides, free fatty acids, and various other smaller molecules, plays a crucial role in fat metabolism. Therefore, this study aimed to review selected Indonesian medicinal plants with the potential to inhibit the activity of the pancreatic lipase enzyme. The results showed that kunci pepet (Kaempferiae angustifolia Rosc.), asam gelugur (Garcinia atroviridis), temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza), jombang (Taraxacum officinale F. H. Wigg), pegagan (Centella asiatica), and pala (Myristica fragrans) had strong inhibitory effects, exceeding 50% for both in vitro and in vivo studies. Therefore, further studies are needed to explore the potential of these medicinal plants as anti-obesity treatments.

A characteristic of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the inflammation of the respiratory pathway. Inflammatory regulators affected in COPD include cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Therefore, this systematic review aimed to investigate the biological activity of Indonesian medicinal plants as anti-inflammation through in vitro, in silico, and in vivo studies. A digital search was conducted using Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed online databases to find relevant articles by applying specific keywords related to the subject of interest. The results showed 18 studies that reported five Indonesian medicinal plants proven to inhibit inflammation regulation. The five plants were sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata), legetan warak (Adenostemma lavenia), kersen (Muntingia calabura), babadotan (Ageratum conyzoides), and sembung rambat (Mikania micrantha Kunth). In vitro studies, A. paniculata, A. lavenia, and M. calabura can suppress the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In silico studies, compounds that have strong binding to bind inflammatory receptors are andrographiside contained in A. paniculata; ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid contained in A. lavenia; 7-Hydroxyflavone contained in M. calabura; and 22,23-Dihydrospinasterol contained in A. conyzoides. In vivo studies, extracts of A. paniculata, M. calabura, A. conyzoides, and M. calabura can reduce inflammation in lung tissue in animal models (hamsters, mice, and rats). This systematic review might help to develop COPD treatment and build scientifically natural products from Indonesian medicinal plants for future investigations.

This study delves into the antioxidant potential of Justicia gendarussa, commonly known as gendarussa, and its response to varying doses of nitrogen fertilizer. Gendarussa exhibits the potential for antioxidant activity. The diverse ecological conditions in which it thrives may influence its biological activity and lead to inconsistent production of secondary metabolites. Nitrogen, a pivotal factor in secondary metabolite production in plants, has become a focal point of this research. This research aims to determine the optimal nitrogen fertilizer dose on gendarussa antioxidant capacity and metabolites using a metabolomics approach. Employing a randomized block design for cultivation, the investigation revealed that a maximum harvest weight of 10.9 g/aerial parts of the plant was achieved with 270 kg/ha of nitrogen fertilizer. This study explored the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays of antioxidant effect, and found insignificant differences between the various nitrogen treatments. UHPLCQ-Orbitrap HRMS was employed to identify 30 metabolites in positive and 18 in negative ionization modes. Gendarusin A, a major metabolite in gendarussa, is identified in both positive and negative ionization. PCA and heatmap analysis successfully categorized these metabolites in the aerial parts of gendarussa at different nitrogen fertilizer dosages. Based on the metabolomics approach, variations in nitrogen fertilizer made metabolites at doses of 90 kg/ha had higher relative concentrations of metabolites compared to doses of 180 kg/ha and 270 kg/ha. So, 90 kg/ha are the optimal nitrogen fertilizer dose for cultivation and utilization strategies.

This study aimed to optimize a formulation of Spatholobus littoralis Hassk. stems and Sauropus androgynus L. leaves using Simple Lattice Design (SLD). In this context, the response variable was DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) antioxidant activity, while the optimum extract concentration of the two plants served as the experimental factor. Subsequently, the optimum formula was investigated for its in vitro anti-inflammatory activity against COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2) and through in silico study. Molecular docking on the COX-2 receptor (PDB ID: 5IKQ) from the secondary metabolite profile was validated for the optimum formula. The formulation recommended by SLD comprised a 1:1 mixture of 70% ethanol extract of S. littoralis Hassk. stems and S. androgynus L. leaves. This optimum formula had an IC₅₀ value of 108.70 µg/mL for the DPPH antioxidant with a synergistic effect due to the production of higher COX-2 inhibitory activity (73.05 ± 2.36%) than the single extract at 100 µg/mL. Daidzein (−8.514 kcal/mol), (10E,12Z)-9-Hydroperoxy-10,12-octadecadienoic acid (−7.604 kcal/mol), arteannuic acid (−7.114 kcal/mol), L-Proline,4-hydroxy-5-oxo-4-(tetrahydro-2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-furanyl)- (−6.480 kcal/mol), and Androst-2-en-17-amine,4,4-dimethyl-N-(2-phenylethyl)-, (5.alpha.)- (−5.440 kcal/mol) were the five compounds from the 70% ethanol extract of S. littoralis Hassk. stems and S. androgynus L. leaves that strongly bound 5IKQ. These compounds were obtained from five groups of compounds, namely flavonoids, fatty acids, terpenoids, amino acid derivatives, and amine derivatives. The formulation of S. littoralis Hassk. and S. androgynus L. extract has potential as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.

Kaempferia angustifolia originated in Southeast Asia and is widely used for its medicinal properties. One of which is from its flavonoids. The research aims to determine the optimal dosage of organic and inorganic fertilizers for promoting the growth and flavonoid production of K. angustifolia. The study was laid out in a split-plot design using organic fertilizers as the main plots (chicken and cow manure at 10 t.ha-1) and inorganic fertilizers as the subplots, consisting of 19 combinations of urea, SP36, and KCl. Each treatment has three replications. The results showed that there is no interaction between organic and inorganic fertilizers in affecting the growth of Kaempferia angustifolia. Plants treated with chicken manure at 10 tons per hectare have a higher fresh weight than those treated with cow manure. Plants without inorganic fertilizer application showed suppressed growth and yielded more rhizomes three months after planting. Inorganic fertilizer promoted more shoots and tillers, with the highest value obtained from 100 kg.ha-1 urea + 200 kg.ha-1 SP36 + 200 kg.ha-1 KCl application. The range of total flavonoids in inorganic fertilizer applications is 39.30-131.51% higher than the control, with the highest value observed at 200 kg.ha-1 SP36 + 200 kg.ha-1 KCl application. The results of this study would be useful for producing K. angustifolia for the medicinal industry, using either organic or inorganic fertilizers.