The immunomodulatory activity of ethanol extract of attarasa bark and fruit (Litsea cubeba (lour.) pers.) toward carbon clearance of mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract Background: Attarasa (L.a cubeba (Lour.) Pers.) is a potential Indonesian medicinal plant that is used as a cold remedy, head ulcers, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and anticancer drugs. Objective: This research was conducted to analyze the immunomodulatory effect of bark (EEKBA) and fruit of attarasa ethanolic extract (EEBA) by detecting its phagocytosis activity in male mice using carbon clearance method. Method: Total of 24 male mice were divided into 6 groups. Extract was orally administered to mices for 7 days at the dose of 100 mg/kg BW, 200 mg/kg BW, and 400 mg/kg BW. Imboost® suspension at the dose of 32.5 mg/kg BW and CMC-Na 1 % suspension was orally administered in positive control, negative control and normal groups. On the 8th day, 0.1 ml carbon suspension was given through intravenous tail injection. The blood samples were withdrawn at 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes after injection of carbon suspension to find out the carbon absorbance contained in the blood that was measured using spectrophotometer then the carbon elimination speed, phagocytic index, and the stimulation index has been calculated Result: EEKBA and EEBA at the dose of 400 mg/kg BW induced the higher carbon elimination rate in mice compared to EEKBA and EEBA dose of 100 and 200 mg/kg BW. Phagocytic index of macrophage in mice given with EEKBA and EEBA at dose of 100, 200, dan 400 mg/kg BW were 3.429, 3.501, and 3.925 for EEKBA consecutively; 4.289, 4.375 and 4.732 for EEBA respectively. Stimulation index of macrophage in mice given with EEKBA and EEBA at dose of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW were 1.00; 1.20, 1,02; 1,23, and 1,13; 1,33. Based on the results of statistical test, EEKBA and EEBA administration at the dose of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW stimulate the phagocytosis activity of the macrophage of male mice and significantly has different result compared to normal control group (p < 0.05). Phagocytosis activity was best shown at the mice group that administered EEKBA and EEBA at dose of 400 mg/kg BW and was shown not significantly different compared to positive control group (p > 0.05). Conclusion: EEKBA and EEBA have immunomodulatory effect by increasing the phagocytosis activity of mice. Keywords: immunomodulatory, Litsea cubeba, carbon clearance, phagocytosis activity