THE POTENTIAL COMBINATION OF CENTELLA ASIATICA, CURCUMA LONGA, AND PIPER NIGRUM EXTRACTS IN TREATING BRAIN INJURY: IN VITRO, IN VIVO AND SILICO STUDIES

ARISTIANTI; MUHAMMAD ASWAD; ARYADI ARSYAD; NURSAMSIAR; SYAMSU NUR; ANDI ASADUL ISLAM

doi:10.22159/ijap.2025v17i2.53173

Authors

ARISTIANTI Department of Pharmacology, Medicine Faculty, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7730-4414
MUHAMMAD ASWAD Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
ARYADI ARSYAD Department of Physiology, Medicine Faculty, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3492-0599
NURSAMSIAR Department of Pharmacology, Medicine Faculty, Hasanuddin University, Perintis Kemerdekaan Street, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5923-8812
SYAMSU NUR Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis and Medicinal Chemistry, Almarisah Madani University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7730-4414
ANDI ASADUL ISLAM Department of Neorosurgery, Medicine Faculty, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22159/ijap.2025v17i2.53173

Keywords:

Brain injury, Glutaminase, Natural resources, Molecular Docking, Molecular dynamic

Abstract

Objective: Traumatic brain injury is a head injury that causes brain dysfunction. This disorder can have a bad effect if not treated quickly and appropriately. This study aims to examine the extract of Gotukola (Centella asiatica), turmeric (Curcuma longa), and black pepper (Piper nigrum) as natural medicines that can treat brain injury problems.

Methods: The parameters tested in this study included testing the memory of experimental animals using the Y-Maze method, in vitro inhibition of glutaminase, and in silico research through molecular docking and molecular dynamics on the compounds of each extract that have been previously reported.

Results: Each extract had activity in increasing memory, but a combination formula of the three extracts showed a significant increase in memory (p<0.05, n = 5). The combination extract of gotu kola, turmeric, and black pepper in a ratio of 50:50:50 (combination 1), 25:50:50 (combination 5), and 25:12.5:50 (combination 8) continued its activity in inhibiting glutaminase. The results showed a significant decrease in glutaminase activity when applied to the three combination extract formulas. This study is also supported by in silico results showing that the asiaticoside compound identified in gotu kola extract, 1,5-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,4-pentadien-3-one compound from turmeric extract and Bacitritinib from black pepper extract have an important role in interacting with the target protein glutaminase with protein data bank 4O7D in molecular docking studies and interacting stably in molecular dynamics.

Conclusion: This study has supported the development of a combination extract formula of gotu kola, turmeric, and black pepper as a candidate for treating brain injury.

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