The Potential of Ethanol Extract of Aleurites Moluccanus Leaves as TNF-α Inhibitor in Oral Incision Wound Care Model

Candlenut (Aleurites moluccanus) is a plant that has active components and is believed to have medical benefits in every part of this plant. This study aims Identified the active compounds in the ethanol extract of candlenut leaves from the Seulawah Mountains, Aceh, Indonesia, and evaluated their effectiveness in reducing inflammation through the inhibition of TNF-α. The extraction of candlenut leaves was conducted using ethanol as a solvent. The active compounds in the candlenut leaves extract were identified using phytochemical screening, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their biological activity was assessed using molecular docking. This study further examined the effects of candlenut leaves extract on wound healing in male white rats in vivo and the inhibition of TNF-α levels using the ELISA method through candlenut leaves extract mouthwash formulations at concentrations of 12.5%, 25%, and 50%. Phytochemical screening results revealed that the ethanol extract of candlenut leaves contains abundant secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids/terpenoids, tannins, phenols, and saponins. Antioxidant analysis demonstrated that the ethanol extract exhibited strong antioxidant activity with an IC₅₀value of 89.221 ppm. GC-MS analysis identified 54 individual compounds in the extract, with five major compounds: n-hexadecanoic acid, isophytol, 9,12-octadecanoate-1-ol, octadecanoic acid, and squalene. These major compounds have significant bioactivities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, and antimicrobial properties. Molecular docking tests identified stigmasta-5,22-dien-3-ol and cycloheptadecanol as showing strong docking activity against TNF-α. Rats treated with the extract showed significant wound size reduction over 14 days, along with an increase in body weight. The extract also demonstrated an inhibitory effect on TNF-α concentration based on the dosage used. The anti-inflammatory effect of certain active compounds can reduce the regulation of specific cytokines, thereby inhibiting inflammation. These findings suggest that the active compounds in the ethanol extract of candlenut leaves have the potential to inhibit TNF-α, a key of pro-inflammatory cytokine, through significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2024-05-04-010

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