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.

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.