Bioprospecting of parijoto fruit extract (Medinilla speciosa) as antioxidant and immunostimulant: Phagocytosis activity of macrophage cells

Parijoto (Medinilla speciosa) is one of fruits in Indonesia that contains high anthocyanin, which is a flavonoid compound that exerts beneficial effects on blood pressure, endothelial function, oxidative stress and as antioxidants. Antioxidants helps in converting the radicals to less reactive species, or as an inhibitor of the process of oxidation. Antioxidants also can help the body's defense system if there are elements of disease generation. Compounds that can increase the body's resistance to various infections through increasing of the oxidative activity of neutrophils, phagocytic cell activity and stimulating cytotoxic cells are called immunostimulants. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant activity and phagocytosis of macrophage cells that were given methanol extract of parijoto pericarp and whole fruit (M. speciosa). Antioxidant activity of parijoto pericarp and whole fruit (M. speciosa) were calculated using DPPH test. Phagocytosis activity test was carried out in 5 groups, control; macrophage cells were given 125 ppm; 250 ppm; 500 ppm; and 1000 ppm of parijoto pericarp and whole fruit extract. Macrophage cells were isolated from the peritoneum part of mice, then cultured using RPMI medium for 24 hours. Non-specific phagocytosis ability tests were carried out in vitro using latex beads. The result showed that the total antioxidant activity of methanol extract of parijoto (M. speciosa) pericarp and whole fruit were very strong with IC₅₀ values of 29.68 ppm and 23.73 ppm respectively. Administration of methanol extract of parijoto (M. speciosa) pericarp and whole fruit increased phagocytosis capacity (highest at 1000 µg / ml with a value of 61.50% and 74.00%). Phagocytosis index values also increased, where the highest increase at concentrations of 500 µg / ml with values of 2.53 and 3.16.