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.

Introduction: A medicinal plant from Central Kalimantan, Spatholobus littoralis Hassk., with a local name bajakah tampala, has long been used to treat gout or uric acid disease. This study aimed to develop the optimum conditions of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, phytochemical screening, and to obtain the antigout activity of S. littoralis Hassk. Methods: Before performing the phytochemical screening, we performed a simplicia maceration with water and 70% ethanol solvents. The development of the optimum conditions for XO was carried out using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) combined Box-Behnken Design (BBD). Toxicity assay (LC 50) on both extracts was assessed by BSLT (Brine Shrimp Lethality Test). The two extracts were then evaluated for antigout activity. Results: The yield of 70% ethanol extract (11.24%) was higher than the aqueous extract (7.29%). The phytochemical screening on the simplicia and the two extracts positively contained steroids, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. The optimum conditions of XO activity were temperature of 20 ℃, pH of 8.0, and xanthine concentration of 1.40 mM. The toxicity of the 70% ethanol extract (LC 50 662.25 mg/L) was stronger than the aqueous extract (LC 50 774.68 mg/L). Moreover, the 70% ethanol extract (IC 50 224.14±8.62 mg/L) showed higher XO inhibition than the water extract (IC 50 348.83±4.85 mg/L). Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis showed that 70% ethanol and water extracts inhibited XO competitively with the inhibition constant (K I) of 272.68 mg/L and 378.44 mg/L, respectively.

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.

Inflammation is an immune response to foreign substances, pathogens, and cellular damage, characterized by redness, pain, and swelling. The use of synthetic anti-inflammatory drugs may cause adverse side effects, prompting the need for natural alternatives. This study aimed to evaluate the total flavonoid content and anti-inflammatory activity of single and combined extracts of sembung (Blumea balsamifera) [S], binahong (Anredera cordifolia) [B], and meniran (Phyllanthus niruri) [M] leaves. Extraction was performed using a 70% ethanol and water solution. Total flavonoid content was determined spectrophotometrically using quercetin as the standard. LC-HR-MS/MS results showed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, and amino acids in each single extract (S, B, and M). Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed through the inhibition of albumin denaturation and the inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The highest flavonoid content (35.27 mg QE/g DW) in single extracts was found in B of the ethanolic extract, while the highest flavonoid content (40.24 mg QE/g DW) in all formulations was discovered in a combination of the ethanolic extract S:B:M (1:0:1). Moreover, the ethanolic extract S:B:M (1:0:1) gave the strongest inhibition (76.47%) of the albumin denaturation at 300 µg/mL and the strongest inhibition (98.5%) of the COX-2 inhibition at 100 µg/mL. Sembung extract was highest for reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and TNF-α was 97.66% at an extract concentration of 15.625 ppm. As for S, S:B:M (1:0:1) and S:B:M (1:1:1) can reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as IL-6 was 100% in 0 pg/mL at an extract concentration of 15.625 ppm.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by progressive deterioration in lung function and persistent symptoms, particularly dyspnea, which can lead to death. Inflammation is important in COPD pathogenesis because it causes persistent inflammatory responses in the respiratory tract. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate H₂O extracts derived from Wedelia (Sphagneticola trilobata) and Sembung Rambat (Mikania micrantha), respectively, as anti-inflammatory agents and to analyze the metabolite profiles contained in the extracts. The results showed that Sembung Rambat H₂O extract demonstrated significant inhibition of IL-2 (100 ± 0.00%), while Wedelia extract inhibited 74.68 ± 7.13% release of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6. Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis mainly identified the presence of amino acids, phenolic acids, organic acids, and terpenoids in both extracts. These results suggest the promising potential of Wedelia and Sembung Rambat extracts as herbal therapy for COPD.