The Scientific Base of Myrmecodia pendans as Herbal Remedies

Aims: To find out the scientific base of the traditional plant Myrmecodia pendans as a new natural source for herbal remedies in aspect of its therapeutic compounds and cytotoxic effect on normal cells.
Study Design: Experimental laboratory, in vitro study.
Place and Duration of Study: Laboratorium Bio Core Faculty of Dentistry Trisakti University, Jakarta, Balai Penelitian Tanaman Rempah dan Obat (BALITRO), Bogor and Pusat Studi Satwa Primata, Bogor, between March to August 2014.
Methodology: Several extraction methods of Myrmecodia pendans using maceration technique was done to evaluate their phytochemical contents and cytotoxic effects using (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium (MTT) assay method.
Results: The phytochemical test of both ethanol 70% extract and boiling water extraction produce active phenolic compounds, especially those of flavonoids. There is no cytotoxic effect of the ethanol 70% dried extract on fibroblast cells by MTT assay method. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test showed significant differences of % inhibition cells growth effect between M. pendans extracts and control group (p=0.00<0.05). Tukey’ high significant difference (HSD) test showed significant differences of % inhibition cells growth effect between each concentrations of 500; 250; 100; 50; 25; 12,5; 6,25; 3,125; 1,56 to 1.000 ppm and also between 1.000 ppm to control (p=0.00<0.05).
Conclusion: Myrmecodia pendans can be used as herbal remedies and moreover, the water boiling extraction can be employed as a simple manner for community herbal medicine without any toxic effect on cells.