Anti-Inflammatory Activity of an Indole Alkaloid Isolated from Bebuas (Premna serratifolia)

Authors: Muhaimin Muhaimin, Muhammad Irhash Shalihin, Madyawati Latief

Abstract

Premna serratifolia known as bebuas has long been used by Malay community for both food and traditional medicine. The most notable advantage of this plant is to heal woman after childbirth and to raise the notion that contains anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds. The purpose of this research was to study the anti-inflammatory activity of Premna serratifolia leaves ethanolic extract and indole alkaloid isolated. This study was conducted by extraction of P. serratifolia leaves using hexane and ethanol and isolation of indole alkaloid isolated. The extract and isolate were tested anti-inflammatory activity on rat. In this study, the hexane extract of P. serratifolia leaves was only contained steroids. Meanwhile the ethanol extract contained various secondary metabolites such as phenolics, alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids and saponins. The ethanol extract was further separated since the targeted compound isolate was an alkaloid. The isolate obtained was a yellow crystal which transformed to yellow oil after being exposed to air. The anti-inflammatory evaluation of the compound gave a result with a strong activity with ED50 = 4.06 mg/kgBW. Characterization by UV-Vis, FT-IR and compared with references showed that the isolate had similarities with bufotenine. It revealed that the isolate shared the same basic skeleton with the bufotenine, especially the indole skeleton. Its physical form is the same with bufotenine. These evidences strengthened the assumption that the isolate was an indole alkaloid.