Increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the world influences quality of health in all respective countries, including Indonesia. Data from Indonesian Family Life Survey reported in 2019 showed that the prevalence of MetS in Indonesia currently is 21.66%, estimated with the provincial incidence ranging up to 50%; additionally, the most common components of MetS discovered in Indonesia were poor high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and hypertension. Management treatment of MetS involves a combination of lifestyle changes and pharmacological interventions to decrease cerebrovascular disease. Various natural substances have been shown to govern any cardiovascular or metabolic disorders through different mechanisms, such as triggering anti-inflammation, lipid profile correction, sensitization of insulin reception, or blood glucose control. In Indonesia, the utilization of natural compounds is part of the nation's culture. The community widely uses them; even though in general, their effectiveness and safety have not been thoroughly assessed by rigorous clinical trials. Scientific evidence suggested that cinnamon, mangosteen, and curcumin, as well as their derived components possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological activity. In this review, an enormous potential of cinnamon, mangosteen, and curcumin, which originated and are commonly used in Indonesia, could treat against MetS, such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. The findings suggested that cinnamon, mangosteen, curcumin and their derivatives may reflect areas of promise in the management of MetS.

Purpose: This study aimed to provide the method of preparation, characterization of curcumin-loaded chitosan-sodium tripolyphosphate (NaTPP) nanoparticle, and evaluate its pharmacokinetic profiles. Methods: Curcumin-loaded chitosan-NaTPP nanoparticles were synthesized using ionic gelation methods. Curcumin was dissolved using surfactants and cosurfactants. Chitosan polymer was then mixed in the curcumin solution and dripped with NaTPP solution until nanoparticle formation. The mucoadhesive study was evaluated by measuring the fluorescence of curcumin within the prepared nanoparticles. The pharmacokinetic profiles of curcumin particles and nanoparticles were then assessed in rats by administering a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg BW. Blood samples were taken from nine predetermined time points, and curcumin plasma concentrations were then analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS. Results: The particle size of the curcumin nanoparticles obtained were 11.5 nm. Entrapment efficiency (EE) of curcumin nanoparticles were exceeding 99.97%, and drug loading capacity (DLC) was 11.34%. The mucoadhesive properties of the nanoparticles were superior to that of curcumin particles. Pharmacokinetic evaluation in rats revealed that curcumin nanoparticles resulted in an increase of area under the curve (AUC), maximum concentration (Cmax), earlier time to reach maximum concentration (Tmax), and lower clearance (CL). Conclusion: Curcumin-loaded chitosan-NaTPP nanoparticles is an effective formulation to improve curcumin plasma concentrations. Thus, enable its applications for the treatment of various diseases.

Context: The molecular mechanism of doxorubicin (DOX) cardiotoxicity involves overproduction of free radicals that leads to intracellular calcium dysregulation and apoptosis. Mangiferin (MGR), a naturally occurring glucosylxanthone, has antioxidant and cardioprotective properties. However, its cardioprotection mechanism has yet to be revealed. Objective: This study determines whether the cardioprotective effect of MGR is caused by its effect on intracellular calcium regulation. Materials and methods: Male Sprague–Dawley rats were induced by DOX intraperitoneally with a total dose of 15 mg/kg bw. MGR was given orally at the doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg bw/d for seven consecutive weeks. The parameters examined were mRNA expression levels of proinflammatory cytokine gene (TNF-α), calcium regulatory gene (SERCA2a) and proapoptotic genes (caspase-9 and caspase-12), as well as cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium levels. Results: Treatment with MGR at 60 mg/kg bw/d significantly decreased the mRNA expression levels of TNF-α by 44.55% and caspase-9 by 52.79%, as well as the cytosolic calcium level by 24.15% (p < 0.05). SERCA2a and caspase-12 expressions were only slightly affected (27.27% increase and 24.85% decrease for SERCA2a and caspase-12, respectively, p > 0.05). Meanwhile, MGR 30 mg/kg bw/d gave insignificant results in all parameters. Discussion and conclusion: MGR protected against DOX-induced cardiac inflammation and apoptosis via down-regulation of proapoptotic and proinflammatory gene expressions, upregulation of SERCA2a gene expression, and normalization of cytosolic calcium level. Thus, the cardioprotective effect of MGR is at least in part due to the regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis.

Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in the medical field, including cardiovascular. However, limited research has investigated the effect of AgNPs on the protection of myocardial infarction (MI).Objectives: Isoproterenol (Iso)-induced MI and the cardiac protection offered by AgNPs were investigated in the present study. Additionally, we characterized the profile of Ag in the form of nanoparticles.Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: normal, Iso, Iso + AgNO₃, and Iso + AgNP groups. AgNPs and silver ion (AgNO₃) were administered intraperitoneally at 2.5 mg/kg BW for 14 days. Iso induction was performed using two doses of 85 mg/kg BW given subcutaneously on days 13 and 14. Blood and cardiac tissue samples were taken 24 h after the last dose of Iso and checked for Creatine Kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase in plasma along with oxidative stress parameters, mitochondria biogenesis markers, and inflammation representative genes in cardiac tissue. Additionally, we analyzed the histopathological features in cardiac tissue.Results: The silver was confirmed in the form of nanoparticles by its size at intervals of 8.72–37.84 nm. Both AgNO₃ and AgNPs showed similar cardioprotective effects, as shown by the decrease in biochemical markers of cardiac toxicity, namely, CK-MB. Additionally, AgNPs group have better efficacy compared with AgNO₃ group in ameliorating Iso-mediated oxidative stress production, as evidenced by the significant decrease in malondialdehyde level and increased superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.01, respectively) in cardiac tissue compared with the Iso group. Mechanistically, AgNPs, but not AgNO₃, enhanced the expression levels of mitochondrial transcription factor A and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha in post-MI heart and reduced the protein expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) assessed by western blot analysis. Furthermore, these results were confirmed with the histopathological evaluation of cardiac tissue. Nevertheless, pretreatment with either AgNO₃ or AgNPs improved the aspartate aminotransferase level.Conclusion: These results suggested that AgNPs have more superior cardioprotective effect compared with AgNO₃ against Iso-induced MI, at least in part through amelioration of NF-κB expression level induced by oxidative stress overproduction.

Background: The cognitive deficit has frequently been found in the elderly population. Several studies have shown that every single part of Moringa oleifera, including leaves, roots, and seeds, has abundant micronutrients, such as flavonoids, which improve the neurobehavioral capacity. However, herb parts that display optimal neuropharmacological properties remain unknown.Objective: We investigate whether M. oleifera seed oil (MOO) or aqueous M. oleifera leaves extracts (MOEs) may ameliorate memory impairment in mice induced with scopolamine (Sco). Additionally, the phytochemical analyses of those two independent formulations were analyzed.Methods: In this study, 2 ml/kg body weight (BW) of MOO and 500 mg/kg BW of MOE were orally administered to the mice for 28 days, followed by intraperitoneal injection of Sco (1 mg/kg) at the day 22–28 to induce cognitive impairment in those mice.Results: The Sco group showed memory retention impairment represented by the Y-maze and novel object recognition tests, significant enhancement of acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity in hippocampus tissue (p < 0.0001), and increased the level of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) in serum. Interestingly, the Sco-induced memory defect was improved and completely blunted the AChE exacerbation in Sco+MOO-treated mice (p < 0.0001), although the TAOC level was comparable among the groups. Mechanistically, both tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), as a brain-derived neurotrophic factor-receptor, and nuclear factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) protein expressions were enhanced with the hippocampus isolated from the Sco group. Nonetheless, pretreatment with MOO only, but not with MOE, ameliorated the enhanced protein expression levels of TrkB and NF-κB (p < 0.05 and p = 0.09, respectively).Conclusion: Our data reveal that MOO is preferable to MOE as a neuroprotective as evidenced by improving memory impairment. This effect, at least in part, through inhibiting the AChE and NF-κB activities and modulating the TrkB expression level.

Purpose: Ovarian carcinoma is one of the gynaecological malignancies that have the highest mortality rates due to its progressivity. Endothelin signalling plays a leading role in the progression of ovarian cancer through Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Cisplatin commonly used as potent chemotherapy; however, its application hindered by its nephrotoxic effect. Curcumin, a turmeric-derived compound, has an anticancer property, as well as a renal protective effect. Moreover, curcumin augments the affinity of the antioxidant enzyme, while inhibits endothelin-1 (ET-1) signalling. The effects of curcumin on ovarian cancer progression and cisplatin-induced kidney injury remain unknown. Methods: Curcumin was used as a supplementary therapy together with cisplatin in Human Ovarian Cancer Cell line (SKOV3) and also in rodent-induced ovarian cancer. The kidney phenotype in the ovarian cancer rat model after cisplatin ± curcumin administration will also be analyzed Results: Co-treatment of cisplatin with curcumin enhanced the expression of a gene involved in apoptosis in association with NRF2 enhancement, thus activated ETBR-mediated ET-1 clearance in SKOV3 cell and ovarian cancer model in rat. Moreover, curcumin treatment improved mitochondria biogenesis markers such as PGC-1α and TFAM and prevented the elevated of ET-1-mediated renal fibrosis and apoptosis in kidney isolated from cisplatin-treated ovarian cancer rat. Conclusion: Curcumin could be potentially added as an anticancer adjuvant with protective effects in the kidney; thus, improves the efficacy and safety of cisplatin treatment in the clinical setting.