The development of temulawak (Curcuma Xanthorrhiza) herb production and pharmacological test as anti-hypercholesterolemia

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to develop high-grade, safety test of temulawak herb production, and pharmacological test as anti-hypercholesterolemia. Materials and Methods: Capsules of temulawak were prepared from rhizome of temulawak herbs. The products were tested for its safety as capsule of temulawak. These included pathogenic microbe test (Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), moldy/leavened test, ALT test, and heavy metal level (Hg, Pb, and Cd) test. The quality of the product concerning water content, weight similarity and product stability associated with curcuminoid content and the volatile materials were also tested. The activity as anti-hypercholesterolemia assay was finally tested by in vivo using male Wistar strain rats aged 50 days with a weight around 150 g which was fed with pellets and quail egg yolk. The treatment to the tested rats was performed to observe the rat blood lipid profile due to the treatment with capsule of temulawak herb products, compared to the negative control (without quail egg yolk) and the positive control which was given the quail egg yolk and simvastatin as an anti-hypercholesterolemia. Results and Discussions: The capsule of temulawak product satisfied the demand of safety and product quality standard. The capsule of temulawak does not contain pathogenic bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella sp., S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa), pathogenic mold, and leavened, whereas ALT and heavy metal level (Hg, Pb, and Cd) do not exceed the highest limit of standard; the water content and weight similarity of the capsule of temulawak meet the requirements, whereas the stability of the product measured on the curcuminoid content and its volatile materials are relatively consistent from the 1st to the 3rd month. The results show the effect of the dose and 4-week duration of the administration of temulawak capsule on the levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipid, and low-density lipid in the rats’ blood. Conclusion: The results obtained from the work suggest a potential application of temulawak rhizome for treatment to anti-hypercholesterolemic.